The Functional Assessment Service (FAS) 2024 - Lot 4

Concepts

• health and social work
• sheffield
• south west england lot
• scotland lot
• functional health assessments
• hm courts and tribunals service
• fas suppliers
• 2024
• assessments
• fas

Location

Sheffield

Description

Contract Award Notice reference: 2023/S 000-030453 Published 16 October 2023 This 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. To 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. FAS Suppliers will be expected to deliver functional health assessments in relation to the following benefits: • Personal Independence Payment (PIP)- https://www.gov.uk/pip • Employment Support Allowance (ESA)- https://www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance • Universal Credit (UC)- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-if-you-have-a-disabi... • 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 DWP 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. The service will be divided into five (5) geographical lots: Lot 1 – Northern England and Scotland Lot 2 – Midlands and Wales Lot 3 – South West England Lot 4 – London, South East & East Anglia Lot 5 – Northern Ireland

Ammendments to Previous Notice

Award Detail

CPV Codes

• 85000000 - Health and social work services

Indicators

• Contract modified due to additional needs.

Legal Justification

1. Given that the FAS contract was entered into in September 2023 and the FAS suppliers have just 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. 2. Appointing a new supplier to address the additional services would have also led to a significant duplication of costs, particularly as during the handover period, the Department was paying incumbent suppliers to deliver the assessment services. 3. There would be interchangeability issues 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

Other Information

Suppliers Instructions: How to Express Interest in this Tender: 1. Register on the eSourcing portal (this is only required once): https://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) 2. 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 3. 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). For further assistance please consult the online help, or the eTendering help desk. DWP 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.