Contract award notice – utilities
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
NORTHERN GAS NETWORKS LIMITED
NORTHERN GAS NETWORKS LIMITED
1100 Century Way Thorpe Park
LEEDS
LS158TU
UK
Contact person: Rebecca Rowley
Telephone: +44 7935077342
E-mail: rrowley@northerngas.co.uk
NUTS: UKE42
Internet address(es)
Main address: www.northerngasnetworks.co.uk
I.6) Main activity
Production, transport and distribution of gas and heat
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
VCMA project - Holistic app energy debt & Welfare advice
II.1.2) Main CPV code
73000000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
A contract has been awarded to Citizens Advice Northumberland, a registered local charity which provides the people of Northumberland with free, confidential, independent and impartial information and advice on a wide range of subjects including welfare benefits, debt, financial capability, fuel poverty, housing, relationships and employment matters. Since 1st April this year we have helped more than 4,000 clients with more than 22,000 issues. Our help and support is delivered through face to face interview, telephone, digital and virtual conversations and includes end to end casework as required.
We have been the foremost provider of energy advice in the County for more than 10 years and through our collaboration with Northumberland County Council we have identified priority wards in the county that suffer most from factors related to fuel poverty and therefore why these services are only able to be provided by Citizens Advice Northumberland.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
450 477.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKC
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
A contract has been awarded to Citizens Advice Northumberland, a registered local charity which provides the people of Northumberland with free, confidential, independent and impartial information and advice on a wide range of subjects including welfare benefits, debt, financial capability, fuel poverty, housing, relationships and employment matters. Since 1st April this year we have helped more than 4,000 clients with more than 22,000 issues. Our help and support is delivered through face to face interview, telephone, digital and virtual conversations and includes endtoend casework as required.
We have been the foremost provider of energy advice in the County for more than 10 years and through our collaboration with Northumberland County Council we have identified priority wards in the county that suffer most from factors related to fuel poverty and therefore why these services are only able to be provided by Citizens Advice Nortumberland.
We have Focused on wards with:
● The highest proportion of households with income of below £20k/annum
● That have the highest levels of hospital admissions and excess winter deaths
● Where more than 1⁄3 of homes are estimated to have EPC below band C.
This approach has highlighted wards, for example Hirst, Newbiggin Central & East, Isabella, Croft, Ashington Central and Cowpen - all urban/coastal settlements and will target the delivery of advice directly into vulnerable households in these communities. We have an established track record of targeted support into these communities - our historic data shows that more than 30% of our general advice beneficiaries live in the 10 worst affected wards in the county.
County-wide statistics for Northumberland can mask the extreme deprivation experienced in the poorest urban and rural settlements, however notwithstanding this anomaly, the data in the June 2022 report, Research on Vulnerable Customer Groups for Northern Gas Networks supports our view that the County has a strong claim on additional resources to combat the effects of fuel poverty on its vulnerable households.
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
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 IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition
Justification for selected award procedure:
The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason: absence of competition for technical reasons
Explanation
Citizens Advice Northumberland is a registered local charity which provides the people of Northumberland with free, confidential, independent and impartial information and advice on a wide range of subjects including welfare benefits, debt, financial capability, fuel poverty, housing, relationships and employment matters. These specific services are only able to be delivered by this independent charity.
They have been the foremost provider of energy advice in the County for more than 10 years and through our collaboration with Northumberland County Council they have identified priority wards in the county that suffer most from factors related to fuel poverty and therefore why these services are only able to be provided by Citizens Advice Northumberland.
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
No
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2024/S 000-002655
Section V: Award of contract
Title: VCMA project - Holistic app energy debt & Welfare advice
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
22/02/2024
V.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Citizens Advice Northumberland
Citizens Advice Northumberland
Northumberland
UK
NUTS: UKD
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 450 477.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Northern Gas Networks
Leeds
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
23/02/2024