Modification notice

Modification of a contract/concession during its term

Section I: Contracting entity

I.1) Name and addresses

Section II: Object

II.1) Scope of the procurement

II.2) Description

Section V: Award of contract/concession

Contract No: UI_DWP_100431

V.2 Award of contract/concession

V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract/concession

31/07/2012

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/concessionaire

V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)

Total value of the contract/lot: /concession: 886 213 751.00  GBP

Section VI: Complementary information

VI.4) Procedures for review

VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice

17/01/2023

Section VII: Modifications to the contract/concession

VII.1) Description of the procurement after the modifications

VII.1.1) Main CPV code

85000000

VII.1.2) Additional CPV code(s)

VII.1.3) Place of performance

NUTS code:

UK

VII.1.4) Description of the procurement

— The objective and independent assessment of the impact of health conditions and disabilities on claimants is central to the process of determining entitlement to PIP. The provider will carry out this assessment and provide information and advice to support the Authority’s decision making processes.

— The key elements of the service will include:

— The consideration of a claimant’s health conditions or disabilities and the impact on their daily life and mobility,

— Assessing individuals against criteria prescribed by the Authority,

— The delivery of Consultations to support the above,

— The gathering and consideration of evidence to support the above including, where necessary, paying appropriate fees for evidence,

— The completion of reports, including advice, to the Authority,

— The referral of assessment reports and any associated evidence to the Authority,

— Interpretation and advice to the authority on technical evidence,

— Follow up liaison with the Authority in relation to assessments, including the provision of relevant health professional expertise as required,

— The administration and management of the service, including scheduling of Consultations, ensuring that they are completed within timescales set down by the Authority,

— The recruitment, training and ongoing support of Health Professionals, including liaison with relevant professional bodies,

— The development of guidance and training in conjunction with the Authority,

— The provision of an enquiry service for individuals being assessed,

— The provision of a quality control regime, including a complaints function,

— The provision of management information as defined by the Authority,

— Initiatives and liaison with relevant organisations to support the provision of evidence,

— Liaison and collaborative working with local and national partners, including disability organisations, health professional bodies and the devolved administrations,

— Liaison and collaborative working with the PIP Assessment Providers for other Lots as required.

— Support for Test and Learn Activity.

VII.1.5) Duration of the contract, framework agreement, dynamic purchasing system or concession

Start: 31/07/2012

End: 01/03/2024

VII.1.6) Information on value of the contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)

Total value of the procurement: 886 213 751.00 GBP

The contract/concession has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

VII.1.7) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire

VII.2) Information about modifications

VII.2.1) Description of the modifications

Extension of contract term by additional 7 months until 01.03.2024 due to an ongoing procurement process.

On 5 March 2020, DWP published a Prior Information Notice 2020/S 046-109668 as notification of its intent to re-procure the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Contracts for assessment services in accordance with Section 7, PCR as part of a larger procurement for other types of assessment services (FAS procurement). Due to the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic the new procurement was delayed and the PIP Contracts were extended for the reasons set out in Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice 2020/S 249-622817. The FAS procurement was launched on 12 November 2021 and, although a light touch regime procurement, was based on a competitive dialogue procedure, the commencement of which included the submission of indicative bids.

During dialogue it became apparent that the contract value envelope for the FAS procurement needed to be revised in order to provide these key public services effectively. The procurement was therefore halted temporarily with a view to re-engaging with stakeholders.

It had also become clear that the ratio of face to face assessments versus remote assessments needed to be reviewed given the continuation of the Pandemic and further time was spent ensuring the contractual arrangements had built-in flexibility to deal with changing circumstances and impact the above changes. DWP also considered that a further round of commercial dialogue (not originally planned) was necessary to ensure the quality of BAFO submissions in the face of the revised contractual framework. Due to these various activity streams, it was therefore impossible for DWP to avoid a negative impact on its original timetable.

The procurement is now well underway. DWP do not envisage there will be cause for further delay. However, due to the additional activities and subsequent delay (see above) in order to ensure an efficient and smooth handover between the PIP and the new FAS providers during an appropriate implementation period, DWP considers an extension of 7 months to the PIP contracts term is necessary. Without an extension there could be a delay to provision of assessments for the critical statutory welfare benefit which PIP services encompass. As the recipients of PIP constitute a vulnerable section of society, DWP is of the view such an extension is necessary to ensure they are not disadvantaged further.

VII.2.2) Reasons for modification

Need for additional works, services or supplies by the original contractor/concessionaire

Description of the economic or technical reasons and the inconvenience or duplication of cost preventing a change of contractor:

For the reasons in VII.2.I) and:

(i) interchangeability issues with a new supplier means these key services could be negatively impacted. The implementation of the contract currently being procured necessitates a lengthy handover period therefore it is not possible to introduce a new provider for the additional 7 months. A change in supplier without a full handover programme (which includes transition to a new managed IT service necessitating dual running of systems) would risk delivery of these services which provide critical statutory benefits to vulnerable people;

(ii) appointing a new supplier to cover the extra 7 months (which DWP do not consider a viable option) at the same time as the incumbent was engaged in handover to the new FAS supplier means significant duplication of costs particularly as DWP would be paying additional costs already during the implementation period; and

(iii) value of the contract for the extended period does not exceed 50% of value of original contract

VII.2.3) Increase in price

Updated total contract value before the modifications (taking into account possible earlier contract modifications and price adaptions and, in the case of Directive 2014/23/EU, average inflation in the Member State concerned)

Value excluding VAT: 886 213 751.00 Currency: GBP

Total contract value after the modifications

Value excluding VAT: 948 155 005.00 Currency: GBP