Functional Assessment Services (FAS) 2023 – Lot 2

{
  "id": "011759-2025",
  "tag": [
    "awardUpdate",
    "contractUpdate"
  ],
  "date": "2025-03-28T12:42:20Z",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-04fa06",
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-FTS-15219",
    "name": "Department for Work and Pensions"
  },
  "awards": [
    {
      "id": "011759-2025-ecm_11065-1",
      "title": "Functional Assessment Services (FAS) 2023 – Lot 2",
      "status": "active",
      "suppliers": [
        {
          "id": "GB-FTS-142227",
          "name": "Capita Group Plc"
        }
      ],
      "relatedLots": [
        "Lot 2: Midlands and Wales"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "tender": {
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-04fa06",
    "lots": [
      {
        "id": "Lot 2: Midlands and Wales",
        "title": "Functional Assessment Services (FAS) 2023 – Lot 2",
        "description": "Contract Award Notice reference: 2023/S 000-030453\nPublished 16 October 2023\nThis contract will be for the use of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) (Lots 1 to 4) and the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland (Lot 5). The service provision will be primarily contracted through this procurement to the Authority but may allow other Government Departments and their Agencies, Non-Departmental Public Bodies, and devolved administrations (including but not limited to HM Revenue and Customs, Ministry of Defence, HM Courts and Tribunals Service, National Health and Social Care) to access the services.\nTo support the determination of an individual's entitlement to benefit, the Authority requires the delivery of a range of compatible and sympathetic Functional Health Assessments (FAS). The results of these assessments form one part of the evidence utilised by the Authority Decision Maker in making the ultimate decision on benefit entitlement on behalf of the Secretary of State.\nFAS Suppliers will be expected to deliver functional health assessments in relation to the following benefits:\n• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)- https://www.gov.uk/pip\n• Employment Support Allowance (ESA)- https://www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance\n• Universal Credit (UC)- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-if-you-have-a-disability-or-health-condition-quick-guide/universal-credit-if-you-have-a-disability-or-health-condition\n• The delivery of assessments/advice associated with 15 other specialist benefits, for both DWP and other Government Departments, including Veterans UK, HM Courts and Tribunals Service and HM Revenue and Customs.\nDWP ran a procurement using the Light Touch Regime and a modified process with commercial dialogue in accordance with Regulations 74 to 76 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. For Lot 5, DWP conducted aspects of the procurement process on behalf of the Department for Communities (DfC) in Northern Ireland. The procedure is set out clearly in the published Invitation to Tender document.\nThe service will be divided into five (5) geographical lots:\nLot 1 - Northern England and Scotland\nLot 2 - Midlands and Wales\nLot 3 - South West England\nLot 4 - London, South East & East Anglia\nLot 5 - Northern Ireland",
        "contractPeriod": {
          "endDate": "2031-09-06T23:59:59+01:00",
          "startDate": "2023-09-19T00:00:00+01:00"
        }
      }
    ],
    "items": [
      {
        "id": "Lot 2: Midlands and Wales",
        "relatedLot": "Lot 2: Midlands and Wales",
        "deliveryAddresses": [
          {
            "region": "UK"
          }
        ]
      }
    ],
    "title": "Functional Assessment Services (FAS) 2023 – Lot 2",
    "legalBasis": {
      "id": "32014L0024",
      "scheme": "CELEX"
    },
    "classification": {
      "id": "85000000",
      "scheme": "CPV",
      "description": "Health and social work services"
    },
    "mainProcurementCategory": "services"
  },
  "parties": [
    {
      "id": "GB-FTS-15219",
      "name": "Department for Work and Pensions",
      "roles": [
        "buyer"
      ],
      "address": {
        "region": "UK",
        "locality": "Sheffield",
        "postalCode": "S1 2FD",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "streetAddress": "Hartshead Square"
      },
      "details": {
        "url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions"
      },
      "identifier": {
        "legalName": "Department for Work and Pensions"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "fas.lot2@dwp.gov.uk"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "GB-FTS-142227",
      "name": "Capita Group Plc",
      "roles": [
        "supplier"
      ],
      "address": {
        "region": "UK",
        "locality": "London",
        "postalCode": "W2 6BD",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "streetAddress": "First Floor, 2 Kingdom Street"
      },
      "details": {
        "scale": "large"
      },
      "identifier": {
        "legalName": "Capita Group Plc"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "GB-FTS-16210",
      "name": "Department for Work and Pensions",
      "roles": [
        "reviewBody"
      ],
      "address": {
        "locality": "Sheffield",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
      },
      "identifier": {
        "legalName": "Department for Work and Pensions"
      }
    }
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "contracts": [
    {
      "id": "011759-2025-ecm_11065-1",
      "items": [
        {
          "id": "Lot 2: Midlands and Wales",
          "title": "Functional Assessment Services (FAS) 2023 – Lot 2",
          "relatedLot": "Lot 2: Midlands and Wales",
          "classification": {
            "id": "85000000",
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "description": "Health and social work services"
          },
          "deliveryAddresses": [
            {
              "region": "UK"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "title": "Functional Assessment Services (FAS) 2023 – Lot 2",
      "value": {
        "amount": 681730070,
        "currency": "GBP"
      },
      "period": {
        "endDate": "2031-09-06T23:59:59+01:00",
        "startDate": "2023-03-19T00:00:00Z"
      },
      "status": "active",
      "awardID": "011759-2025-ecm_11065-1",
      "amendments": [
        {
          "id": "2",
          "rationale": "Need for additional works, services or supplies by the original contractor/concessionaire: Appointing a new supplier to address the additional services would have also led to a significant duplication of costs, due to overlap in supplier personnel and duplication of processes and systems and particularly as during the handover period, the Department was paying incumbent suppliers to deliver the assessment services. There would be interchangeability issues with existing processes and systems with a new supplier which would negatively impact the delivery of key services. A change in supplier without the lengthy handover period and a transition to the new managed IT System would risk the delivery of the services which provide critical statutory benefits to vulnerable claimants. The increase in price does not exceed 50% of the value of the original contract.",
          "description": "This notice is in relation to modification of an existing Contract, pursuant to regulation 72(1)(b) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (“PCR 2015”), and is published for transparency purposes.\n\n          \nThe Functional Health Assessments (“FAS”) contracts were signed in September 2023 and included an assessment of supplier capacity as of November 2021 (the launch of the procurement). In the intervening period demand for Personal Independence Payment (“PIP”) assessments has continued to rise whilst the Authority has worked with incumbent suppliers to successfully recruit and retain a higher number of Health Professionals (“HPs”) which has enabled the highest ever volume delivery of PIP assessments. The increased number of HPs helps the Authority better meet the demand for assessments across PIP and Work Capability Assessment (“WCA”) (as well as other benefits), and better protects the delivery of the service. Retention of the HP’s into FAS ensured that capacity for assessments will meet the current levels of PIP, WCA and other benefits. Collectively, this helps by reducing the length of a customer's journey and minimises the backlog of claims.\nIn addition to the increased clinical staffing, there were some changes to supplier costs to reflect IT solution changes to address technical constraints and levels of integration. \nPursuant to regulation 72(1)(b) of the PCR 2015, the Authority has agreed an extension to the previous Side Letter with the FAS supplier to vary the FAS contract to cover the increased clinical staffing which leads to the provisions of additional services, in addition to the additional costs to reflect the changes to the IT solution to address various technical constraints. The additional services are required to address an increase in the number of FAS assessments over the number initially envisaged during the procurement. \nGiven that the FAS contract was entered into in September 2023 and the FAS suppliers have recently completed a lengthy hand over period prior to commencing operational services commencement in September 2024, it would not have been possible to appoint a new supplier to deal with the additional services outlined in this modification notice, as the new supplier would not have had the benefit of the handover period."
        }
      ],
      "dateSigned": "2023-09-19T00:00:00+01:00"
    }
  ],
  "description": "Suppliers Instructions:\nHow to Express Interest in this Tender:\n1. Register on the eSourcing portal (this is only required once):\nhttps://dwp.bravosolution.co.uk & click the link to register - Accept the terms & conditions & click 'continue' - Enter your correct business & user details - Note your chosen username & click 'Save'. You will receive an email with your password (keep this secure)\n2. Express an Interest in the tender - Login to the portal with the username/password - Click the 'PQQs / ITTs Open To All Suppliers' link. (These are Pre-Qualification Questionnaires or Invitations to Tender open to any registered supplier) - Click on the relevant exercise to access the content. - Click the 'Express Interest' button at the top of the page. - This will move the PQQ /ITT into your 'My PQQs/ My ITTs' page. (A secure area reserved for your projects only) -You can now access any attachments by clicking 'Buyer Attachments' in the 'PQQ/ ITT Details' box\n3. Responding to the tender - Click 'My Response' under 'PQQ/ ITT Details', you can choose to 'Create Response' or to 'Decline to Respond' (please give a reason if declining) - You can now use the 'Messages' function to communicate with the buyer and seek any clarification - Note the deadline for completion. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the PQQ/ ITT - There may be a mixture of online & offline actions to complete (detailed online help available). To submit your reply use the 'Submit Response' button (top of the page).\nFor further assistance please consult the online help, or the eTendering help desk.\nDWP expressly reserves the rights(i)to use a reverse auction; (ii)to cancel this procurement at any stage; (iii)to not award any contract as a result of the procurement process commenced by publication of this notice; (iv)and in no circumstances will DWP be liable for any costs incurred by potential suppliers.",
  "initiationType": "tender"
}