Debt Collection and Enforcement Services (DCES)

Concepts

• debt collection and enforcement services
• law courts
• leeds
• bailiff services
• administrative services
• debt collection
• dces
• enforcement services
• enforcement of legal aid contributions
• national debt collection

Location

The Services cover all Crown Courts in England and Wales

Description

The Supplier will be required to provide national debt collection and enforcement services in relation to monies owed by means tested defendants who are in receipt of legal aid in respect of a case to be heard, or a case that has been heard and resulted in a conviction, in the Crown Court. The Services covers all Crown Courts in England and Wales.

Total Quantity or Scope

This procurement is for the delivery of Crown Court Means Testing (CCMT) – Debt Collection and Enforcement Services (DCES) for the Legal Aid Agency (LAA). The Supplier will be required to provide national debt collection and enforcement services in relation to monies owed by means tested defendants who are in receipt of legal aid in respect of a case to be heard, or a case that has been heard and resulted in a conviction, in the Crown Court. The Services covers all Crown Courts in England and Wales. The Supplier will be responsible for the collection and enforcement of Legal Aid Contributions which requires case management, collection, enforcement and refund of monies where appropriate. The Supplier must keep individuals fully engaged throughout the lifetime of the debt. LEGAL AID MEANS TEST REVIEW - Current estimates suggest that Crown Court Means Testing policy changes resulting from the Legal Aid Means Test Review consultation are likely to be implemented around Spring 2025, during the life of this Contract. The Authority reserves the right to change the requirements under this Contract, especially in respect of the thresholds and provisions for calculating the contributions as well as the forecasted volumes of work and administrative costs, to reflect the outcomes of the Legal Aid Means Test Review (MTR). The Supplier will be required to implement changes to its digital systems and processes in accordance with the outcomes of the Legal Aid Means Test Review (each such Change being an MTR Change). Further information is provided in the Invitation to Tender documentation. This requirement is being competed under the Open Procedure. Please note that this is not a call for Expressions of Interest and potential suppliers are therefore required to submit their full tender in accordance with the instructions in the Invitation to Tender (ITT) Instructions for Bidders document. The Cabinet Office has introduced mandatory requirements relating to data handling, security, and information assurance in Government contracts. Information, systems, equipment and processes must be protected and Government suppliers must provide an appropriate level of security. Please note that this is a mandatory requirement that suppliers must hold Cyber Essentials Plus certification. The original contract duration will be 48 months with a potential to extend for a maximum of a further 24 months.

Renewal Options

The original contract duration will be 48 months with a potential to extend for a maximum of a further 24 months. The estimated value given above includes the optional renewal period.

CPV Codes

• 75231100 - Law-courts-related administrative services
• 75242110 - Bailiff services

Indicators

• Bids should cover the whole contract.
• This is a recurring contract.
• Renewals are available.
• Performance considerations apply.
• Professional qualifications are sought.
• Award on basis of price and quality.

Other Information

1. REGISTRATION The Ministry of Justice will be performing events through its e-Sourcing Portal. The eSourcing Portal is an online application that allows all potential suppliers to create and submit their responses to any Requests for Information, Requests for Quotes or Requests for Proposals via the internet rather than in paper form (where they have been invited to respond). The eSourcing Portal will also be used by the Ministry of Justice to run Reverse Auctions. 2. TRANSPARENCY HM Government requires that tender documentation issued by Government departments for contracts with a value exceeding £10,000 over the life of the contract are published online [https://www.contractfinder.businesslink,gov.uk] for the general public. The resulting contract shall also be published. The Ministry of Justice may use its discretion to redact information to protect key commercial interests or on prescribed grounds. Therefore, bidders who wish information not to be published if successful should secure agreement with the Ministry of Justice prior to submission. Only documentation relating to awarded contracts will be published. Key commercial interests would be trade secrets and commercial interests which would be prejudiced by publication, following the tests in section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/information-access-rights/foi/foi-s43-exempt... The prescribed grounds for redaction are: (a) national security (b) personal data (c) information protected by intellectual property law; (d) information which it is not in the public interest to disclose (following the tests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000) (e) third party confidential information (f) IT security; or (g) prevention of fraud 3. GOVERNMENT SECURITY CLASSIFICATION From 2nd April 2014 the Government introduced its new Government Security Classifications (GSC) classification scheme to replace the current Government Protective Marking Scheme (GPMS). A key aspect of this is the reduction in the number of security classifications used. All potential suppliers should make themselves aware of the changes as it may impact on this Requirement. The link below to the Gov.uk website provides information on the new GSC: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-security-classifications