Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Northumberland County Council
County Hall
Morpeth
NE61 2EF
Contact
Mrs Leanne Stewart
leanne.stewart@northumberland.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 7500065690
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKC21 - Northumberland
Internet address(es)
Main address
http://www.northumberland.gov.uk
Buyer's address
http://www.northumberland.gov.uk
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
Agreement for the Provision of Community Welfare Advice Services in Northumberland
Reference number
DN622421
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Council intends to enter into a contract with Citizens Advice Northumberland to provide free advice to people across the County of Northumberland on a wide range of topics, including (but not limited to) debt, employment, consumer rights and housing. The service will contribute to preventing and reducing the problems faced by people living or working in Northumberland, including people who are homeless, that can be influenced by advice services. The Service will be delivered from Citizen Advice Northumberland’s existing county wide office / outreach provision, in areas and venues where it can have the widest reach and most impact, with particular attention to communities experiencing higher levels of deprivation
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: £1,820,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKC21 - Northumberland
Main site or place of performance
Northumberland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The award of this contract is being made under Regulation 32(2)(b)(ii).
The Council intends to award a contract, subject to a 10-day standstill period, without prior publication of a contract notice.
In compliance with the Public Contract Regulations 2015, all awards of contracts that are subject to UK Procurement Directives are subject to a mandatory “standstill” period of at least 10 days. A Contract cannot be entered into with the preferred provider until at least the eleventh calendar day following notification. The standstill period is expected to end at midnight at the end of 15th August 2022. If steps are taken during this period to suggest that there may be a formal legal challenge to this award, or the Council determines an issue/concern with the process or preferred submission, then the contract award may be suspended until the matter is resolved (or not concluded if the matter cannot be resolved).
Subject to no legal challenge being received, the Council intends to execute the Contract at the conclusion of the standstill period on Tuesday 9th August 2022.
A contract will be entered into with Citizens Advice, Northumberland for a period of three years starting 1st October 2022 and ending on 30th September 2024. There will be an optional extension available for a further 18 months.
A copy of the contract is available at the following link: https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/ap/w-59584e83/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnorthumberland365.sharepoint.com%2F%3Aw%3A%2Fs%2FStaffPortal%2FEbPf9U6odylOlm1-AxpPCgYBgCURZwMTms2Dxm-qw6H7JQ%3Fe%3DyNSqUh&data=05%7C01%7CDaniel.Warnock%40northumberland.gov.uk%7Ca55ba88cd9184d880b1408da75833534%7Cbb13a9de829042f0a980dc3bdfe70f40%7C0%7C0%7C637951503630349081%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=nvapRZfNp1HuhP24z0XxFKH34ao6CWD0gHkB%2FoKz%2BsI%3D&reserved=0
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
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.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations
Explanation:
The Council seeks to secure a single service provider able to deliver throughout the County free to access, confidential advice and information on a range of topics that include but are not limited to debt, employment, consumer rights, benefits and housing. Market research has identified only one Provider able to meet the need and deliver across the whole of the County to ensure a consistent and joined up approach. Northumbrian Citizens Advice Bureau are known locally as Citizens Advice Northumberland and deliver their service throughout the County on a universal basis via 8 main offices and supported by additional outreach venues. The contract requires the existing provision to be maintained or improved and for consultation regarding relocation of any office. The service operates under a national framework operated by the Citizens Advice Bureau to confirm fidelity to its model and offering oversight for the standard of the advice provided. Whilst other organisations may be able to offer advice the scope is limited to specific topic(s) and/or aimed at a specific group or locality. There is no other organisation able to provide the breadth of knowledge, reach in terms of population, and delivery infrastructure across the whole of the County, which is underpinned by a quality assurance framework, to be able to deliver the service sought..
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section five. Award of contract/concession
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
29 July 2022
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
Northumbrian Citizens Advice Bureau
Unit 6, Sovereign House, Lennep Way, Jubilee Industrial Estate
Ashington
NE638UG
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKC21 - Northumberland
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £1,820,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Royal Courts of Justice
Strand
London
WC2A2LL
Country
United Kingdom