Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
London Borough of Southwark
Southwark Council, 160 Tooley Street
London
SE1 2QH
Contact
Mr Jake Tobin
Telephone
+44 2075254074
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKI44 - Lewisham and Southwark
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
one.5) Main activity
Economic and financial affairs
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Delivering and Evaluating Support for Low-income Residents in Southwark
Reference number
DN779449
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85312310 - Guidance services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Centre for Responsible Credit (‘CfRC’) has been commissioned by Southwark
Council deliver and evaluate the impact of the Breakthrough project.
Breakthrough is an experimental action research project targeting foodbank users with additional monthly income boosts made from the Household Support Fund (‘HSF’) over a ten-month period. The project is evaluating how these - together with possible Council debt write downs and advice on benefits and debt issues from Citizens Advice Southwark – impact foodbank use, payment behaviours, and the wellbeing of residents.
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: £99,999
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKI44 - Lewisham and Southwark
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Centre for Responsible Credit (CfRC) will continue to deliver a comprehensive suite of services aimed at supporting low-income residents in Southwark. These services are designed to provide both immediate financial relief and long-term stability for vulnerable households, and will be delivered in partnership with Citizens Advice Southwark.
CfRC will oversee the overall delivery and evaluation of the programme, ensuring that all components are effectively coordinated and that outcomes are rigorously assessed. Their role includes managing the project timeline, liaising with delivery partners, and producing a final evaluation report that captures the impact of the intervention. This evaluation will be critical in understanding the effectiveness of the support provided and in informing future policy and service design.
Citizens Advice Southwark, working under CfRC’s coordination, will be responsible for the direct delivery of advice and casework services. This includes verifying household income, offering tailored benefit and debt advice, and assisting residents in completing detailed income and expenditure statements. These activities are essential for assessing the affordability of financial arrangements and ensuring that residents receive the full benefit of the support available.
The services will also include the provision of income boost payments, which are designed to alleviate immediate financial pressures. Although these payments are funded separately through the Household Support Fund, they are a central component of the support model. The project will ensure that all participants receive a full ten-month cycle of support, including financial advice and income supplementation.
The project will be monitored through regular reporting to the Breakthrough Project Board, which includes representatives from CfRC, Southwark Council, and Citizens Advice Southwark. This board will meet monthly to review progress, manage risks, and ensure that delivery remains aligned with agreed milestones. The approach is designed to be adaptive, with clear communication channels enabling timely responses to emerging issues.
In terms of community impact, the services provided by CfRC are expected to enhance financial and emotional stability among low-income households. Expectations include reductions in foodbank reliance and rent arrears, as well as improvements in wellbeing and reduced anxiety. The project also aligns with the Council’s Public Sector Equality Duty by supporting residents from protected groups and promoting fairness and inclusion.
This procurement represents a holistic and responsive approach to tackling financial hardship in Southwark, with a strong emphasis on partnership working, rigorous evaluation, and sustained support for those most in need.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 30
Price - Weighting: 70
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
Restricted procedure
Accelerated procedure
Justification:
CfRC are already working carrying out work on this project through the Financial Shield programme and are the only supplier who would be able to provide a ready made control group for this project.
No one else can offer this and any other route would take so long as to make the project unviable. By adopting CfRC as a single supplier we can set the project can be progressed quickly which is crucial given limitations on the use of the Household Support Fund. CFRC is a credible partner.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2025/S 000-000000
Section five. Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
7 May 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 1
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Centre for Responsible Credit
27, Cambridge Street
Leicester
LE3 0JQ
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKI44 - Lewisham and Southwark
Companies House
12488846
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £99,999
five.2.5) Information about subcontracting
The contract is likely to be subcontracted
Value or proportion likely to be subcontracted to third parties
Proportion: 70 %
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
This is a contract award notice as a result of requests for quotations off an approved list. There is no prior publication of this opportunity. The notice number in section IV.2.1 is just to bypass system errors.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Royal Courts of Justice
London
Country
United Kingdom