Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Broxtowe Borough Council
Beeston
NOTTINGHAM
NG91AB
UK
Telephone: +44 1159177777
E-mail: procurement@broxtowe.gov.uk
NUTS: UKF1
Internet address(es)
Main address: www.broxtowe.gov.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.eastmidstenders.org
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://www.eastmidstenders.org
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://www.eastmidstenders.org
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
BP1031 - Housing Benefit Subsidy Assurance Services
Reference number: BP1031
II.1.2) Main CPV code
79212000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Broxtowe Borough Council is conducting the procurement exercise on behalf of the Council's listed below, to establish contracts for the supply of Housing Benefit Assurance Services.
• Broxtowe Borough Council
• Gedling Borough Council
• Newark and Sherwood District Council
• Rushcliffe Borough Council
(The Council/s)
Each of the participating Councils will award contracts separately and day-to-day transactions under the agreement will be conducted between the appointed Service Provider (Auditor) and the particular Council concerned. In any event, any formal contracts which emerge from this process will be entered into separately with the Service Provider by each council, with no relationship of joint or several liabilities between them.
The Council requires a Service Provider (Auditor) to audit their Housing Benefit (HB) Subsidy Grant claims in England, commencing with the subsidy period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. (equivalent dates for any extension period), to meet the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) requirements to give the DWP assurance of a valid and true claim. The Service Provider will conduct testing of all Housing Benefit Assurance Procedure (HBAP) aspects of the audit.
Bidders must be currently registered on the Local Public Audit Register and available to facilitate the HBAP in respect of the FYE ending March 2023 and FYE March 2024, as detailed in the LA Welfare Direct Bulletin - LAWD 12/2022, otherwise your bid will fail.
The initial contract period is 12 months. The contract is estimated to commence 1 April 2024 and expire 31 March 2025.
There will be an option to extend the contract for 24 months in 12 month increments, subject to satisfactory performance and business needs. Maximum contract period is 36 months, covering 2023, 2024 and 2025 audit requirements
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKF15
UKF16
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Council requires a Service Provider (Auditor) to audit their Housing Benefit (HB) Subsidy Grant claims in England, commencing with the subsidy period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. (equivalent dates for any extension period), to meet the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) requirements to give the DWP assurance of a valid and true claim. The Service Provider will conduct testing of all Housing Benefit Assurance Procedure (HBAP) aspects of the audit.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 12
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
up to a further 24 months
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
up to a further 24 months
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions:
Bidders must be currently registered on the Local Public Audit Register and available to facilitate the HBAP in respect of the FYE ending March 2023 and FYE March 2024, as detailed in the LA Welfare Direct Bulletin - LAWD 12/2022, otherwise your bid will fail.
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
17/03/2023
Local time: 10:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 4 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
17/03/2023
Local time: 11:00
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
Yes
Estimated timing for further notices to be published:
01/11/2026
VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Broxtowe Borough Council
Nottingham
NG9 1AB
UK
VI.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:
Precise information on deadline(s) for lodging appeals:
The contracting authority will incorporate a minimum 10 calendar day standstill period following electronic notification (minimum of 15 calendar days for any other means of communication) to tenderers of the award decision. This period allows unsuccessful tenderers to seek further debriefing from the contracting authority before the contract is entered into. If an appeal regarding the award of a contract has not been successfully resolved the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Si 2015 No 102) provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). Any such action must be brought promptly (generally within 3 months). Where a contract has not been entered into the Court may order the setting aside of the award decision or order the authority to amend any document and may award damages. If the contract has been entered into the Court may only award damages. The purpose of the standstill period referred to above is to allow parties to apply to the Courts to set aside the award decision before the contract is entered into.
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
10/02/2023