DF Finance, Benefits and Debt National

The Authority is seeking to procure Finance, Benefits and Debt services for People on Probation within the majority of Probation Regions in England and Wales. The competition will be run via the Probation Dynamic Framework (PSDF) with an expected launch date between November 21 and January 2022, and an indicative Contract Award Date of April 2022.

Having sufficient, lawfully obtained money to live on is key to rehabilitation, but some individuals will face significant problems achieving that financial security. Previous statistics suggest over 23,000 People on Probation had financial problems linked to offending such as low incomes, debt, disrupted access to benefits advice and insufficient income on release from prison. Ensuring that these individuals have sufficient, lawfully obtained money to live on and are able to manage their debts is key to rehabilitation and some will benefit from support to overcome significant problems in achieving that financial security.

Providers will be required to provide a broad range of Finance, Benefit and Debt Services and support, ensuring that People on Probation have the tools they need to overcome these barriers.

Each Probation Region is seeking to procure their services on a different geographical basis which cannot be confirmed at this point in time, further details will be provided to the sector once it is known.

Actions required:

1. Interested bidders should submit Selection Questionnaires in order to be qualified on to

the Probation Service Dynamic Framework (PDSF) under service category DF.03 Finance, Benefits and Debt in order to then be invited to bid for these opportunities.

2. The Authority is also seeking for bidders to respond to a Request for Information (RFI) in order to inform the future content of the ITT and give bidders the ability to submit their views on various aspects of the specification and overall requirement. Bidders who wish to submit an RFI should contact [email protected] for a copy of the RFI by no later than Friday 15th October 2021 for a submission deadline of Friday 22nd October 2021.

The Authority is happy to be contacted by any providers that may be able to provide services to these regions. Please contacts us at [email protected]. Please note, the procurement will be conducted through the PSDF. Only Providers who have submitted a PSDF SQ and qualified onto the PSDF under service category DF.03 Finance, Benefits and Debt will be invited to bid.