Independent Insurance Claims Handling Services

CPV: Insurance services

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

17 Jan 2025, 14:05 GMT

Last source update

17 Jan 2025, 14:05 GMT

FTS notice number

2025/S 000-001714

Classification (CPV)

Insurance services

Delivery area

UK

Official registry OCID

ocds-h6vhtk-04d43f Find a Tender

Why no open competition

The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator due to absence of competition for technical reasons

Published justification

FSCS has awarded the contract to Western Mortgage Services Limited (WMSL) under Regulation 32(2)(b)(ii) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 on the basis that the services can only be provided by that firm as competition is absent for technical reasons and no reasonable alternative exists. This is for two principal reasons. Specifically, this contract is for Independent Insurance Company Limited (in liquidation) (“IICL”) insurance run-off claims handling for FSCS in the context of FSCS carrying out its public law statutory function. It is a technical exercise requiring a unique set of knowledge and skills and not simply an administrative or straightforward claims handling. The complex and bespoke nature of the service (and vulnerable nature of individuals benefitting from it) means that a particularly experienced and skilled cohort of staff is essential for the delivery to the required quality standards. FSCS does not consider that it would be possible for any other provider to develop sufficient skills and knowledge nor to recruit and train sufficiently qualified staff within an acceptable time period, leading to an unacceptably long transition period, given the initial contract term of only two years. Such a long transition period would have an adverse effect on timely meeting of claims and risk destabilising service provision. FSCS therefore considers that to award the contract to an alternative provider would lead to an unacceptable degree of risk to performance of the services and FSCS being able to discharge its statutory duties. The documentation and data required for the ongoing work is held across a number of platforms, some dating back many years and incompatible with current technology. The firm appointed needs full access to, and ability to use, all such documentation and data as it relates to FSCS “protected claims” to carry out the work. As a result, the identification, conversion, extraction and migration of the relevant data to a state and platform which would be usable by any service provider other than this company (or an associated company) would be so complex, time-consuming and costly as to be prohibitive. In addition, aspects of the arrangement are subject to confidentiality obligations to which FSCS is not a party, adding further complication. All of FSCS’s requirements for this service are objectively justified by the nature, complexity and context of the services, factors relating to the individuals making the relevant claims, the way in which documents and data are held and the existence of third party confidentiality arrangements to which FSCS is not a party. The absence of competition is not the result of an artificial narrowing of the parameters of the procurement and no reasonable alternative exists. It is not reasonable to relax any of the above requirements as this would expose FSCS and its customers to an unacceptable degree of risk.

Publisher note: The initial contract duration is until 31st March 2027. There will be an option for FSCS to extend the contract from the expiry of the Initial Term on up to 2 occasions for a maximum duration of up to 12 months on each of those occasions. Please note in relation to Section II.2.5) Award Criteria. Due to the process, the default values of the notices have been entered To view this notice, please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=861817177 GO Reference: GO-2025117-PRO-29162857

• Western Mortgage Services LimitedAwarded supplier03191608 2 Kingdom Street, Paddington, London, UK, W2 6BD

No document links were published on the notice.