DSD Medical Support Services

CPV: Administration, defence and social security services · Disability benefits · Health and social work services · IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support · Sickness benefits · Temporary disablement benefits

Procedure method

Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition

Legal basis

CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)

Procurement category

Services

Notice status

Awarded without competition

Procurement threshold

Unspecified in notice

Regulatory regime

Standard

Commercial structure

Stand-alone contract (no framework)

Competition type

Direct award (no call for competition)

GPA / WTO covered

Yes (GPA)

Recurring procurement

Unspecified in notice

First published

4 Aug 2023, 10:33 BST

Last source update

4 Aug 2023, 10:33 BST

Authority reference

Project 71

FTS notice number

2023/S 000-022693

Classification (CPV)

Administration, defence and social security servicesDisability benefitsHealth and social work servicesIT services: consulting, software development, Internet and supportSickness benefitsTemporary disablement benefits

Delivery area

Northern Ireland (UKN)

Official registry OCID

ocds-h6vhtk-03ecfd Find a Tender

Why no open competition

The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the directive

Published justification

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) led FAS procurement, based on 5 geographic Lots (Lot 5 in Northern Ireland), was launched on 12 November 2021.

On 15 March 2023, DWP notified FAS bidders of the outcome of the procurement in Lots 1, 2, 4 and 5. Procurement activity in Lot 3 (Southwest England) continues, resulting in a DWP and DfC agreement to delay contract signature in all Lots to support full alignment in FAS transition to ‘go-live’ in 2024. DfC has a number of dependencies on DWP to enable it to comply with key Authority obligations in relation to FAS Lot 5 service delivery.

It is anticipated that the completion of the FAS procurement exercise in Lot 3 will result in a 6-month delay in the contract signature for Lot 3 and consequently in Lots 1, 2, 4 and 5.

Without an extension there would be a service provision gap, adversely impacting MSS customers and resulting in a failure of DfC to meet its statutory obligations. Furthermore, the absence of continuity in service provision would put at significant risk a vulnerable group of MSS recipients and create further hardship and disadvantage.

DfC considers Regulation 72(1)(b) PCR applicable. For the reasons set out above, the provision of additional services until 6 September 2024 is necessary and:

(i) interchangeability issues with a new supplier means these key services could be negatively impacted for technical and economic reasons. The implementation of the contract currently being procured will necessitate a lengthy handover period, and make it impossible therefore to introduce a new provider for a short extension period. A change in supplier, without a full handover programme (to include transition to a new IT service necessitating dual running of systems), would risk delivery of these services which provide critical statutory benefits to vulnerable people;

(ii) appointing a new supplier to cover a short extension period (which DfC does not consider a viable option) at the same time an incumbent is engaged in handover to a new FAS supplier, would result in significant duplication of costs and a loss of value for money for the taxpayer;

(iii) the value of the contract for the extended period does not exceed 50% of value of original contract; and

(iv) DfC will publish a modification notice pursuant to Regulation 72(3) of PCR.

• Atos Origin IT Services LtdAwarded supplier London, UKContact emailShow contact details

No document links were published on the notice.