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Summary

OCID:: ocds-h6vhtk-04dd44
Published by:: Stoke-on-Trent City Council
Authority ID:: AA20560
Publication date:: 12 March 2025
Deadline date:: -
Notice type:: Prior Information Notice
Has documents:: No
Has SPD:: No
Has Carbon Reduction Plan:: N/A

Abstract

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is seeking to procure a provider for prepaid cards for use by families and children in care. These cards will replace cash payments and must allow the council to securely manage and reload funds for eligible users. The prepaid cards must have the following functionalities:

- Be reloadable with funds by the council

- Have PIN protection for security

- Allow for council staff to log in and manage top-ups

- Be secure, ensuring transactions are restricted to appropriate purchases

- Provide real-time transaction monitoring and reporting

Full notice text

Prior information notice

This notice is for prior information only

Section I: Contracting authority

I.1) Name and addresses

STOKE-ON-TRENT CITY COUNCIL

Civic Centre

STOKE-ON-TRENT

ST41HH

Contact person: Agnes Ashun

Telephone: +44 1782237651

E-mail: agnes.ashun@stoke.gov.uk

Fax: +44 1782237651

NUTS: UKG23

Internet address(es)

Main address: https://www.stoke.gov.uk/

Address of the buyer profile: https://www.stoke.gov.uk/

I.3) Communication

Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address

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

Prepaid Cards for Families and Children in Care

II.1.2) Main CPV code

66100000

II.1.3) Type of contract

Services

II.1.4) Short description

- Be reloadable with funds by the council

- Have PIN protection for security

- Allow for council staff to log in and manage top-ups

- Be secure, ensuring transactions are restricted to appropriate purchases

- Provide real-time transaction monitoring and reporting

II.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

II.2) Description

II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

30162000

66172000

II.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS code:

UKG23

II.2.4) Description of the procurement

The contract will involve the provision of a prepaid card service with the following key features:

1. **Prepaid Card Functionality:**

- Cards must be reloadable by the council.

- Designed for use by families and children in care.

2. **Security Features:**

- PIN protection for all transactions.

- Ability to restrict transactions to specific merchant categories (e.g., no ATM withdrawals, no gambling or alcohol purchases).

3. **Council Management Portal:**

- A secure online platform must be provided for council staff to:

- Top up funds onto cards.

- Monitor transactions in real time.

- Set spending limits or restrictions.

4. **Timely Income Management:**

- Funds must be available to users immediately upon top-up.

- Preferably secure integration with council systems for payment tracking.

5. **Transaction Monitoring & Reporting:**

- Secure web-based portal for real-time transaction monitoring.

- Transaction data must be accessible in multiple formats, preferably in multiple formats but at a minimum must have CSV.

- Automated data transfers via **SFTP**.

- **API integration** for seamless data exchange with council systems.

6. **Scalability and Flexibility:**

- The solution must accommodate fluctuating demand.

- Ability to issue additional cards as needed.

The council wishes to continue fulfilling its current services to the same high standard, though recognizes the need to engage with the innovative providers within the market to better understand the wider offer which may be available in an ever developing digital service area.

If you are interested in any further discussions regarding this notice please contact Gabriella.brown@stoke.gov.uk with the reference 'Prepaid Cards' where additional details can be discussed.

II.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice:

01/04/2025

Section IV: Procedure

IV.1) Description

IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes

Section VI: Complementary information

VI.3) Additional information

The procurement will be conducted as an open and competitive tender process, ensuring compliance with public sector procurement regulations.

This PIN serves as early notification to potential suppliers regarding this upcoming opportunity. Interested parties are encouraged to express interest and provide feedback on the proposed scope of services.

VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice

10/02/2025

Coding

Commodity categories

ID	Title	Parent category
66100000	Banking and investment services	Financial and insurance services
66172000	Financial transaction processing and clearing-house services	Financial consultancy, financial transaction processing and clearing-house services
30162000	Smart cards	Magnetic cards

Delivery locations

ID	Description
100	UK - All

Alert region restrictions

The buyer has restricted the alert for this notice to suppliers based in the following regions.

ID	Description
There are no alert restrictions for this notice.

About the buyer

Main contact:: agnes.ashun@stoke.gov.uk
Admin contact:: N/a
Technical contact:: N/a
Other contact:: N/a

Further information

Date	Details
No further information has been uploaded.