Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Leeds City Council - PACS
Civic Hall
Leeds
LS11UR
Contact
Philippa Elliott
Telephone
+44 1133785882
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKE4 - West Yorkshire
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
LEEDS ADVICE SERVICE
Reference number
DN556151
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 79140000 - Legal advisory and information services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Advice services to the citizens of Leeds including Welfare Benefits, Debt, Housing and Immigration.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Lowest offer: £4,500,000 / Highest offer: £9,000,000 taken into consideration
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKE42 - Leeds
Main site or place of performance
Leeds
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Advice Service provides an effective and efficient high quality service that is free, independent, impartial and confidential to the citizens of Leeds. The service includes telephone, email and face to face advice. Areas of advice covered includes Welfare Benefits, Debt, Housing and Immigration. The service responds to fluctuating levels of demand and changes in legislation. The service proactively seeks solutions to issues and works closely with other advice services in Leeds to signpost clients so they receive a comprehensive service to meet their needs.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
Yes, the authority may extend the original term of the contract by 12 months annually depending on confirmation of funding.
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Negotiated without a prior call for competition
- The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
- absence of competition for technical reasons
Explanation:
Due to the unique way in which these services are delivered by the Leeds Advice Consortium the council intends to directly award a contract on the grounds set out at Regulation 32 (2) (b) (ii) - Negotiated Procedure without prior publication - of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.
The Leeds Advice Consortium are the only organisations that can deliver this service due to their capacity to offer the full range of services required. Market research conducted prior to the previous procurement exercise provided evidence to support this, and only one tender was submitted, from Leeds Advice Consortium.
The Consortium was developed specifically for the purposes of the contract. Their model of service delivery handles a significant volume of enquiries ensuring an efficient, effective and economic advice service for the people of Leeds. It includes a choice of access routes and covers the full range of social welfare law subjects from assisted self-help to generalist level, with casework support in welfare benefits, debt, housing and immigration. They have offered face to face advice as well as integrated telephone, webchat and email services which have proved invaluable during the pandemic.
The Consortium has staff resources in place to meet all requirements of the service and deliver the range of advice required. Their teams of advisers are suitably qualified and have extensive advice experience.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
Section five. Award of contract/concession
Contract No
DN556151
Title
Leeds Advice Service
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
15 July 2021
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Citizens Advice Leeds
Westminster Buildings, 31 New York Street
Leeds
LS2 7DT
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKE42 - Leeds
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot/concession: £4,500,000
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £9,000,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
Contract award to Leeds Advice Consortium under Regulation 32 (2) (b) (ii)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
The High Court of Justice
The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
The authority will incorporate a minimum 10 calendar day standstill period at the point information on the award of the contract is communicated. This period allows potential tenderers to seek further information from the contracting authority before the contract is entered into.
Such additional information should be requested from the addressee found in I.1. If an appeal regarding the award of a contract has not been successfully resolved the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (SI 2015 No 102) provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). Any such action must be brought promptly (within 30 days beginning with the date when the economic operator first knew or ought to have known that grounds for such action had arisen).
Where a contract has not been entered into the court may order the setting aside of the award decision or order the authority to amend any document and may award damages. Following the correct implementation of a 10 day standstill period and publication of appropriate notices the court may only award damages once the contract has been entered into.