Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Swindon Borough Council
Swindon Borough Council, Civic Offices, Euclid Street
Swindon
SN1 2JH
Contact
Mr Andy Stevens
Telephone
+44 7584151304
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKK14 - Swindon
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Council Tax, Benefits & Business Rates Services
Reference number
DN579867
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 75000000 - Administration, defence and social security services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Council Tax, Benefits & Business Rates Services
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 75310000 - Benefit services
- 75313100 - Temporary disablement benefits
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKK14 - Swindon
two.2.4) Description of the procurement at the time of conclusion of the contract:
To enhance and modernise the Council Services administering the billing, collection and recovery of Council Tax from over 99,000 households and Business Rates from approximately 5,800 businesses. Including calculating discounts, exemptions, rate reliefs and Business Improvement District charges in accordance with legislation and Council policies. Determine applications for Housing Benefits, Discretionary Housing Payments and Council Tax Support from new claimants and administering and amending the claims of 12,200 existing claimants when their circumstance change or when reviews are required. Invoicing and recovery of Over payments of Housing Benefit commencing 1 April 2023 and expiring 31 March 2033.
Swindon Borough Council intends to modify the contract to implement an incentive scheme with the current supplier to enable the employment of additional resources with the aim of increasing the collection of council tax arrears that are in excess of 3 years old. The modification to run from 1 September 2024 to 31 March 2026.
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement, dynamic purchasing system or concession
Duration in months
144
In the case of framework agreements, provide justification for any duration exceeding 4 years
The contract is for a period of 10 years commencing 1st April 2023 with the option to extend for a further 2 years as per the contract terms and conditions.
Duration of the modification 19
In the case of framework agreements, provide justification for any duration exceeding 4 years
N/A
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: 2022/S 000-010953
Section five. Award of contract/concession
Contract No
1
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract/concession award decision:
3 September 2024
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
Liberata UK Limited
5th Floor Knollys House, 17 Addiscombe Road
Croydon
CR0 6SR
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKK14 - Swindon
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: £29,880,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Swindon Borough Council
Swindon
SN1 2JH
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
- 75000000 - Administration, defence and social security services
seven.1.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 75310000 - Benefit services
- 75313100 - Temporary disablement benefits
seven.1.3) Place of performance
NUTS code
- UKK14 - Swindon
seven.1.4) Description of the procurement:
Swindon Borough Council entered into a contract with Liberata UK Ltd for the administration of the Council tax service including collection and recovery of council tax. Under the existing contract, the supplier has to meet targets to collect debts for the current financial year and previous 3 financial years. Under the proposed modification, the Council and supplier intends to implement an incentive scheme to enable the collection of debts that are in excess of 3 years old. The modification would be in place from 1 September 2024 to 31 March 2026
seven.1.5) Duration of the contract, framework agreement, dynamic purchasing system or concession
Duration in months
144
In the case of framework agreements, provide justification for any duration exceeding 4 years:
In the case of framework agreements, provide justification for any duration exceeding 4 years:
N/A
seven.1.6) Information on value of the contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession:
£29,880,000
seven.1.7) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Liberata UK Limited
5th Floor Knollys House, 17 Addiscombe Road
Croydon
CR0 6SR
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKK14 - Swindon
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):
Modification of contract to increase collection of Council Tax arrears that are in excess of 3 years old and will operate from 1 September 2024 until 31st March 2026.
Two additional staff will be employed by the Contractor at no direct cost to the Council. If in excess of £225,000 is collected in respect of the arrears older than 3 financial years, the staffing costs of up to £71,250 will be paid to the Contractor. If in excess of £296,250 is collected this will be shared as 50-50 incentive.
The Council is relying on Regulation 72 1 (b) of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 to enable this modification.
(b) for additional works, services or supplies by the original contractor that have become
necessary and were not included in the initial procurement, where a change of
contractor—
(i) cannot be made for economic or technical reasons such as requirements of
interchangeability or interoperability with existing equipment, services or
installations procured under the initial procurement, and
(ii) would cause significant inconvenience or substantial duplication of costs for the
contracting authority.
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:
Liberata UK limited are already collecting Council Tax from many of the customers for the current financial year and three previous years and it is likely that they will have already been in contact with customers in relation to outstanding debts. The transfer of the contract would result in significant inconvenience and duplication of costs if there was a change of contractor. The authority would have to deal with two organisations undertaking the same or similar work.If the work was separated, Members of the public with arrears would be pursued by two different entities at the same time for Council Tax, leading to confusion and potential hardship.
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: £29,880,000
Total contract value after the modifications
Value excluding VAT: £30,072,500