Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Department for Communities formerly the Department for Social Development DSD
Causeway Exchange, 1-7 Bedford Street
BELFAST
BT2 7EG
healthtransformation@communities-ni.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
DSD Medical Support Services
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement at the time of conclusion of the contract:
— The objective and independent assessment of the impact of health conditions and disabilities on claimants is central to the process of determining entitlement to UC, ESA and a number of smaller benefits. The provider will carry out this assessment and provide information and advice to support the Authority’s decision making processes,
— The key elements of the service will include:
— The consideration of a claimant’s health conditions or disabilities and the impact on their daily life and mobility,
— Assessing individuals against criteria prescribed by the Authority,
— The delivery of Consultations to support the above,
— The gathering and consideration of evidence to support the above including, where necessary, paying appropriate fees for evidence,
— The completion of reports, including advice, to the Authority,
— The referral of assessment reports and any associated evidence to the Authority,
— Interpretation and advice to the authority on technical evidence,
— Follow up liaison with the Authority in relation to assessments, including the provision of relevant health professional expertise as required,
— The administration and management of the service, including scheduling of Consultations, ensuring that they are completed within timescales set down by the Authority,
— The recruitment, training and ongoing support of Health Professionals, including liaison with relevant professional bodies,
— The development of guidance and training in conjunction with the Authority,
— The provision of an enquiry service for individuals being assessed,
— The provision of a quality control regime, including a complaints function,
— The provision of management information as defined by the Authority,
— Initiatives and liaison with relevant organisations to support the provision of evidence,
— Liaison and collaborative working with local and national partners, including disability organisations, health professional bodies and the devolved administration.
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement, dynamic purchasing system or concession
Duration in months
150
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section four. Procedure
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Contract award notice concerning this contract
Notice number: 2007/S 063-077231
Section five. Award of contract/concession
Contract No
Project 71
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract/concession award decision:
11 January 2011
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract/concession has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Atos IT Services UK Ltd formerly Atos Origin IT Services UK
Second Floor, Mid City PLace, 71 High Holburn
London
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
National registration number
01245534
Internet address
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot/concession (at the time of conclusion of the contract;excluding VAT)
Total value of the procurement: £92,515,928
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
The Department for Communities formerly the Department for Social Development DSD
Causeway Exchange 1-7 Bedford Street
Belfast
Country
United Kingdom
Section seven: Modifications to the contract/concession
seven.1) Description of the procurement after the modifications
seven.1.1) Main CPV code
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
seven.1.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
- 75000000 - Administration, defence and social security services
- 75311000 - Sickness benefits
- 75313100 - Temporary disablement benefits
- 75313000 - Disability benefits
seven.1.3) Place of performance
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
seven.1.4) Description of the procurement:
— The objective and independent assessment of the impact of health conditions and disabilities on claimants is central to the process of determining entitlement to UC, ESA and a number of smaller benefits. The provider will carry out this assessment and provide information and advice to support the Authority’s decision making processes.
— The key elements of the service will include:
— The consideration of a claimant’s health conditions or disabilities and the impact on their daily life and mobility,
— Assessing individuals against criteria prescribed by the Authority,
— The delivery of Consultations to support the above,
— The gathering and consideration of evidence to support the above including, where necessary, paying appropriate fees for evidence,
— The completion of reports, including advice, to the Authority,
— The referral of assessment reports and any associated evidence to the Authority,
— Interpretation and advice to the authority on technical evidence,
— Follow up liaison with the Authority in relation to assessments, including the provision of relevant health professional expertise as required,
— The administration and management of the service, including scheduling of Consultations, ensuring that they are completed within timescales set down by the Authority,
— The recruitment, training and ongoing support of Health Professionals, including liaison with relevant professional bodies,
— The development of guidance and training in conjunction with the Authority,
— The provision of an enquiry service for individuals being assessed,
— The provision of a quality control regime, including a complaints function,
— The provision of management information as defined by the Authority,
— Initiatives and liaison with relevant organisations to support the provision of evidence,
— Liaison and collaborative working with local and national partners, including disability organisations, health professional bodies and the devolved administrations,
seven.1.5) Duration of the contract, framework agreement, dynamic purchasing system or concession
Duration in months
150
seven.1.6) Information on value of the contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession:
£92,515,928
seven.1.7) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Atos IT Services UK Ltd formerly Atos Origin IT Services UK Limited
Second Floor Mid City Place 71 High Holburn
London
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
National registration number
01245534
Internet address
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
seven.2) Information about modifications
seven.2.1) Description of the modifications
Nature and extent of the modifications (with indication of possible earlier changes to the contract):
Secure assessment service continuity and stability beyond the current contracts agreements end date on 31/07/21 extending the agreement for the period 01/08/21 to 31/07/23.
Provide the contractual flexibility for any subsequent changes to ongoing service design necessitated by Covid-19 measures and any associated Policy changes made, during the extension period.
Transition to a Cost Plus funding model for the extension period to strike the right level of risk ownership to drive optimal performance and to address the continuing impact of Covid-19.
The impact of COVID-19 has been, and continues to be, very significant. The assessment service has had to be very quickly adapted, in particular to suspend face to face assessments and mobilise alternative methods of delivery to support claimants. Alongside this departmental and supplier staff and resources have had to be restructured and redeployed to help deliver DfC and the wider governments ’s operational response to COVID-19. DWP has also consulted with the market on the impacts of COVID-19.
Given that UC, ESA and the numerous other smaller benefits are critical statutory welfare benefits that cater for vulnerable people, a gap in service provision is not an option.
seven.2.2) Reasons for modification
Need for modification brought about by circumstances which a diligent contracting authority/entity could not foresee.
Description of the circumstances which rendered the modification necessary and explanation of the unforeseen nature of these circumstances:
The impact of COVID-19 has meant that DWP and DfC were not able to launch the re procurement of a new Work Capability Assessment (WCA) contract for MSS as planned in March 2020. Extensions to the existing contracts are needed to fully understand and evaluate the impacts of COVID-19 ahead of future procurements as well as to stabilise the assessment service.
seven.2.3) Increase in price
Updated total contract value before the modifications (taking into account possible earlier contract modifications, price adaptions and average inflation)
Value excluding VAT: £92,515,928
Total contract value after the modifications
Value excluding VAT: £112,513,090