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.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement at the time of conclusion of the contract:
Continuation of the provision of work capability assessment services in Northern Ireland.
For full details of the nature of the services please see OJEU 2007/S 063-077231.
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement, dynamic purchasing system or concession
Duration in months
158
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:
31 December 2010
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 Origin IT Services Ltd
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: £121,392,886
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
DFC - Department for Communities formerly the Department for Social Development DSD
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.1.3) Place of performance
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
seven.1.4) Description of the procurement:
Continuation of the provision of work capability assessment services in Northern Ireland.
For full details of the nature of the services please see OJEU 2007/S 063-077231.
seven.1.5) Duration of the contract, framework agreement, dynamic purchasing system or concession
Start date
31 December 2010
End date
6 September 2024
seven.1.6) Information on value of the contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession:
£121,392,886
seven.1.7) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Atos Origin IT Services Ltd
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):
Nature and extent of the modifications (with indication of possible earlier changes to the contract):
Extension of contract term by additional 6 months until 06.09.2024 due to an ongoing procurement process.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) led Functional Assessment Services (FAS) procurement, based on 5 geographic Lots (Lot 5 in Northern Ireland), was launched on 12 November 2021. FAS will replace the services currently provided by the MSS and PIP contracts.
On 15 March 2023, DWP notified FAS bidders of the outcome of the procurement in Lots 1, 2, 4 and 5. Procurement activity in Lot 3 (Southwest England) continues, resulting in a DWP and DfC agreement to delay contract signature in all Lots to support full alignment in FAS transition to ‘go-live’ in 2024. DfC has a number of dependencies on DWP to enable it to comply with key Authority obligations in relation to FAS Lot 5 service delivery.
It is anticipated that the completion of the FAS procurement exercise in Lot 3 will result in a 6-month delay in the contract signature for Lot 3 and consequently in Lots 1, 2, 4 and 5.
Without an extension there would be a service provision gap, adversely impacting MSS customers and resulting in a failure of DfC to meet its statutory obligations. Furthermore, the absence of continuity in service provision would put at significant risk a vulnerable group of MSS recipients and create further hardship and disadvantage.
seven.2.2) Reasons for modification
Need for additional works, services or supplies by the original contractor/concessionaire.
Description of the economic or technical reasons and the inconvenience or duplication of cost preventing a change of contractor:
duplication of cost preventing a change of contractor:
DfC considers Regulation 72(1)(b) PCR 2015 (as amended) is applicable. For the reasons in VII.2.I) above, the provision of additional services until 6 September 2024 is necessary and:
(i) interchangeability issues with a new supplier means these key services could be negatively impacted for technical and economic reasons. The implementation of the contract currently being procured will necessitate a lengthy handover period and make it impossible therefore to introduce a new provider for a short extension period. A change in supplier, without a full handover programme (to include transition to a new IT service necessitating dual running of systems), would risk delivery of these services which provide critical statutory benefits to vulnerable people;
(ii) appointing a new supplier to cover a short extension period (which DfC does not consider a viable option) at the same time as an incumbent is engaged in handover to a new FAS supplier, would result in significant duplication of costs and a loss of value for money for the taxpayer;
(iii) the value of the contract for the extended period does not exceed 50% of value of original contract
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: £121,392,886
Total contract value after the modifications
Value excluding VAT: £127,701,886