Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Welsh Government
Corporate Procurement Services, Cathays Park
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ
cpsprocurementadvice@gov.wales
Telephone
+44 3000257095
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKL - Wales
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0007
one.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Discretionary Assistance Fund Framework Agreement
Reference number
C317/2021/2022
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 75110000 - General public services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The UK Government’s Welfare Reform Act 2012 abolished the discretionary Social Fund, which was administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and replaced parts of it (crisis loans and community care grants) with new locally based provision. From April 2013 funding for the Social Fund was devolved to the Welsh Government, the Scottish Government and to local authorities in England. The Discretionary Assistance Fund was established and has operated as the replacement scheme in Wales since 2013.
The fund comprises two distinct elements:
- Emergency Assistance Payments (EAP) – which provide assistance with an emergency or disaster situation when there is an immediate threat to health and well being; and
- Individual Assistance Payments (IAP) – which are in place to meet an urgent identified need necessary to enable or support independent living thereby preventing the need for institutional care. Eligibility for an IAP is based upon an applicant being entitled to and in receipt of income related benefits. All IAP applications are required to be supported by a Partner from an established Partner Network comprising support and advice organisations across Wales.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £3,936,183.95
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 75112000 - Administrative services for business operations
- 79512000 - Call centre
- 72262000 - Software development services
- 72263000 - Software implementation services
- 75131000 - Government services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKL - Wales
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The key aim of the Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF) is to offer payments or in kind support to enable or maintain independent living and to provide urgent assistance to people where there is an identified need to safeguard health and well being. These payments are made available to people who have no other means of meeting the immediate cost of living and are not intended to meet the cost of ongoing expenses. As such, payments from this fund are not repayable. The aim of this contract is to ensure the fund is delivered to the most financially vulnerable people in Wales. The successful Bidder will be responsible for all aspects of the management, implementation, administration and monitoring of the DAF grant scheme.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 75
Cost criterion - Name: Cost / Weighting: 25
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
Additional call off contracts may be required during the Framework Agreement duration for contracts that may be required as a result of any change in Ministerial priorities in response to emerging policy changes, for example having to respond to possible unprecedented emergency situations, i.e Welsh Government response to flooding or other such emergencies.
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2.14) Additional information
The value is GBP6m to GBP15m for the initial 3 years. 6m reflects historical spend prior to the covid-19 pandemic and the cost of living crisis. Spend during 2018-2021 is GBP3.5m per annum the value may be less at circa GBP2m per annum. The 15m value reflects changes to Ministerial priorities in response to unknown priorities. The max value over the lifetime of the framework/ contract is GBP30m.
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2022/S 022-123067
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
C317/2021/2022
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
12 January 2023
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 1
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
NEC Software Solutions UK Limited
Suite 101, 1st Floor, iMex Centre, 575-599 Maxted Road
Hemel Hempstead
HP27DX
Telephone
+44 1442768445
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £15,000,000
Total value of the contract/lot: £3,936,183.95
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
The Framework Agreement term is 3 years plus 1 year extension option (with the option to award a further 2 year contract in year 4 of the framework agreement).
The contract value included in section V.2.4 of the notice is per annum, and the maximum framework agreement value for the initial 3 year contract term is GBP 15m. Should the up to 3 year contract extension be utilised the maximum value will be up to GBP 15m.
(WA Ref:128702)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court
Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Telephone
+44 2079477501
Country
United Kingdom