Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
Culham Campus
Abingdon
OX14 3DB
Contact
Caroline Gow
Telephone
+44 123546
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKJ14 - Oxfordshire
National registration number
N/A
Internet address(es)
Main address
http://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-atomic-energy-authority
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Other activity
Fusion Research
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Pension administration services
Reference number
JNCA/CG157/23
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 66522000 - Group pension services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Pension administration services
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: £6,500,000
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 66500000 - Insurance and pension services
- 66520000 - Pension services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKJ14 - Oxfordshire
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Pension administration services
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
Negotiated without a prior call for competition
- The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
- absence of competition for technical reasons
Explanation:
The contract is to supply pension administration services to UKAEA. UKAEA acts as scheme manager for several pension schemes, meaning there is a statutory requirement to run the schemes. There is no service requirement for investment management or advice under this contract.
Reason for non-competitive action - Timing and cost Issue caused by legislation (see below)
Under the Public Service Pensions Act 2013 the UKAEA pension scheme (‘Scheme’) is required to close to future accrual (i.e. individuals will stop building up pension) and ensure active members start building up pension in ‘alpha’, part of the civil service pension scheme. The alpha contract is overseen by the Cabinet Office. UKAEA’s role in this will be as an employer, rather than contract manager.
This legally-mandated change was due to occur in 2017-18, however this has now been delayed until late 2026.
The existing contract for Pension administration services expires in March 2025.
Once the move to alpha occurs, the existing Scheme will have only deferred and pensioner members. Deferred members are those who are no longer building up pension but have not yet retired.
The UKAEA Scheme has 40k members, of which 4k are active.
Due to the transition costs and the duration it would take to transition to a new supplier with then having to halt any active member work from 2026 due to alpha ie the contract will need to have 12-18 months of a full admin service, then dropping down to just deferred/pensioners we will direct awarded to our existing administration providers to ensure continuity of service for this work.
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
Title
Pension administration services
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
8 October 2024
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
Paymaster (1836) Limited
Sutherland House, Russell Way, Crawley, West Sussex RH10 1UH
Crawley
RH10 1UH
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKJ2 - Surrey, East and West Sussex
National registration number
03249700
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £6,500,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
UK Atomic Energy Authority
Culham Science Centre
Abingdon
OX14 3DB
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-atomic-energy-authority
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
UK Atomic Energy Authority
Culham Science Centre
Abingdon
OX14 3DB
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-atomic-energy-authority
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
VI.4.2)Body responsible for mediation procedures
VI.4.3)Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:
The authority will incorporate a minimum 10 calendar day standstill period at the point information on the award of the contract is communicated to tenderers.
This period allows unsuccessful tenderers to seek further debriefing from the authority before a contract is entered into applicants have 2 working days from the notification of the award decision to request. Additional debriefing and that information have to be provided within a minimum of 3 working days before the expiry of the standstill period. Such additional information should be sought from the contact named in this notice.
If an appeal regarding the award of a contract has not been successfully resolved, the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (SI 2015 No. 102) provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland).
Any such action must be brought promptly.
(generally within 3 months).
six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
UK Atomic Energy Authority
Culham Science Centre
Abingdon
OX14 3DB
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-atomic-energy-authority