Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
North Lanarkshire Council
Civic Centre, Windmillhill Street
Motherwell
ML1 1AB
Contact
Alan Clark
Telephone
+44 3451430015
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM84 - North Lanarkshire
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/
one.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
one.5) Main activity
Housing and community amenities
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Void Energy Management Scheme
Reference number
NLC-CPT-24-071
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 71314000 - Energy and related services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
As part of the preparatory work for a potential future procurement procedure, North Lanarkshire Council (the “Council”) is looking to engage with the market for a future Void Energy Management Scheme contract.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 09300000 - Electricity, heating, solar and nuclear energy
- 09121200 - Mains gas
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM84 - North Lanarkshire
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Within any future potential future Void Energy Management Scheme contract., services required would involve the provision of gas and / or electricity to the Council on a short-term basis following the departure of a tenant from the Council’s housing stock to enable repairs etc.in preparation for new tenants and provide any new tenant with gas and / or electricity as their entry supplier.
Historically, an average of 2,804 properties per year within the pilot, with an additional benefit of the free provision of 4 pay points.
The energy used when a house is void should be supplied to the Council on a standard tariff plan. This is because the Council are the customer for only a short period and therefore could incur financial penalties in a fixed tariff plan. Therefore for best value, any future contract should be of sufficient length to ensure continuity whilst permitting the opportunity for best value in terms of tariff prices.
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
25 November 2024
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
To enable the Council to plan and prepare for any future procurement procedure to award an agreement for required services, the Council would like to invite interested parties to complete and return the attached Market Engagement Questionnaire as instructed within.
The main objectives of this PIN and any future contract are to:
- provide a comprehensive concession style service (no cost to Council) in related to void energy management service to the Council’s housing repairs team to ensure uninterrupted supply of gas and electricity during void tenancy periods;
- arrange switching of suppliers; clearing of legacy debt and deal with metering issues such as tampered / damaged or missing meters and prepayment device management;
- enable the service to be available for the Councils mainstream housing and temporary accommodation;
- minimise the cost to the Council and provide best value to its tenants to alleviate fuel poverty fears;
- enable energy supply is to be based on best available fixed rate tariff for minimum time period during the void period with the new tenant having the option to change tariff on taking over the tenancy;
- explore the potential of zero fee standing charge;
- provide the figures of the volume of properties being switch with consumption usage and rates;
- explore if VUS operated by licensed gas / electric / heat supplier i.e. not an intermediary;
- discover what tariff options and ranges are available i.e. standard electric, gas, dual fuel and E7 / E10 / Comfort Plus / Total Heat Total Control (Preferable but noted that these are restricted to certain suppliers);
- ensure direct lines of communication for operational staff and streamline switching process;
- enable provision of an online platform for void management service and provide training to appropriate staff
- learn more about energy supplier switching timescales in line with industry i.e. 17 days gas and 7 day electric etc.
- identify meters (dry etc.) to be replaced where possible with smart meters without causing a delay in the Councils void repairs process (preferably SMETS2).
- enable regular billing for consumption – preferably grouped account with individual sub accounts
- provide 4 pay points for the Service to utilise.
- assist and further develop this proposed management scheme, the Service requires to engage with existing providers within the current market who would be interested in providing this management service.
Additional Info
Issues with property meters can be a barrier to optimising void performance. Although the delay caused due to metering is not measured, it is acknowledged that a process / service to address this particular issue is a benefit to the Council.
It was acknowledged that there was a lack of robust statistical evidence to demonstrate a benefit to the Council however anecdotally it was felt this type of service provided a level of geographical coherence, and therefore positively impacted on the council’s void processes and performance.
Please respond with your completed questionnaire to Alan Clark, clarkalan@northlan.gov.uk, no later than 17:00 18 October 2024.
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=779099.
(SC Ref:779099)