Official UK procurement notice
VCMA project - Fuel Bank Foundation - Further expand Fuel Bank across Northern England
Authority: NORTHERN GAS NETWORKS LIMITED (Public body)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionA contract has been awarded as the FBF has delivered support since 2015, however our network of partners significantly
increased from 2022, with support from Northern Gas Networks via the VCMA Programme enabling the charity to expand to meet some of the increased demand we saw following the COVID pandemic, and then the cost-of-living crisis. This funding removed some of the barriers to expansion where previously our network shape and the support we could provide was constrained by the funding we had available.Given that our Fuel Bank infrastructure is already in place, that we have already tested and proven the provision of support to households across the country, and the short time required to launch new Fuel Bank centres we have the potential to expand with a further 75 partners over the colder winter months and providing longer-term surety as we move into 2024. In peak winter 2023-24 we forecast average monthly prepayment meter top up will approach £300, a 74% increase on the winter 2021- 22 peak, further demonstrating the need for crisis fuel support being made available.
CPV: Research and development services and related consultancy services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedLot #1A contract has been awarded to the FBF who has delivered support since 2015, however…Awarded
A contract has been awarded to the FBF who has delivered support since 2015, however our network of partners significantly
increased from 2022, with support from Northern Gas Networks via the VCMA Programme enabling the charity to expand to meet some of the increased demand we saw following the COVID pandemic, and then the cost-of-living crisis. This funding removed some of the barriers to expansion where previously our network shape and the support we could provide was constrained by the funding we had available.Given that our Fuel Bank infrastructure is already in place, that we have already tested and proven the provision of support to households across the country, and the short time required to launch new Fuel Bank centres we have the potential to expand with a further 75 partners over the colder winter months and providing longer-term surety as we move into 2024. In peak winter 2023-24 we forecast average monthly prepayment meter top up will approach £300, a 74% increase on the winter 2021- 22 peak, further demonstrating the need for crisis fuel support being made available.
An extension for the project has been approved as people in fuel crisis are continuing to require Fuel Bank emergency financial support and advice. We anticipate over a quarter of a million people in the UK will ask us for emergency help this winter to keep their lights, power and heating on because they must prepay for energy but cannot afford to. Overall this project helps many customers who are struggling to put credit on their gas or electric
meters.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0025 Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016 (Directive 2014/25/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
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 7 Feb 2025, 10:25 GMT
- Last source update
- 21 Mar 2025, 13:44 GMT
- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-010698- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-04dc9eFind 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
These services are only able to be delivered by this independent charity.
The Fuel Bank Foundation (FBF) is an independent charity that aims to support families who pay in advance for energy, typically via a prepayment energy meter and are at risk of selfdisconnection or severe rationing or indeed have self-disconnected. Self-disconnection is an unfortunate term: people don't choose to selfdisconnect, when the money runs out the
electricity and gas switch off too. And in the current climate we are seeing more people than ever turn to the Foundation for much-needed support.
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel Bank FoundationSMEVCMA project - Fuel Bank Foundation - Further expand Fuel Bank across Northern England - Extension | £698,150 †same award published again · counted once | — | Awarded |
| Fuel Bank FoundationSME | £698,150 † | — | Awarded |
Contracts
Contract 010698-2025-VCMA project - Fuel Bank Foundation - Further expand Fuel Bank across Northern England - Extension-1 · Fuel Bank FoundationSME
- Signed
- 21 Feb 2025
- Value
- £698,150
- Status
- active
VCMA project - Fuel Bank Foundation - Further expand Fuel Bank across Northern England - Extension · Fuel Bank FoundationSME
- Signed
- 5 Feb 2025
- Value
- £698,150
- Status
- active
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Dispute resolution & review bodies
- Northern Gas NetworksReview body
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- Fuel Bank FoundationAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications
Official links; attachments are not copiedNo document links were published on the notice.