Prior information notice
This notice is for prior information only
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Department for Work and Pensions
Manchester Corporate Hub
Manchester
M2 3AA
UK
Contact person: Nicola Redman
E-mail: cddigital.ucwa@dwp.gov.uk
NUTS: UK
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
I.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from another address:
Nicola Redman
Blackpool
UK
E-mail: nicola.redman@dwp.gov.uk
NUTS: UK
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisions
I.5) Main activity
Social protection
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
DWP Open Banking
II.1.2) Main CPV code
66000000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
The purpose of this Prior Information Notice (PIN) is to alert potential suppliers to a future opportunity with specific requirements related to Open Banking services for use by DWP customers.
Universal Credit (UC) is a benefit from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). It helps citizens with their daily living costs – those that are out of work or in work and have low earnings.
Citizens need to register online and provide various details about their circumstances including information on their earnings, housing, money, savings and investments. These are required to confirm eligibility to receive UC and calculate the amount to be paid.
In October 2024, UC started a trial for Open Banking providing citizens with a secure and simple online process to share bank balance and transaction data. This removes the need to provide paper statements in Job Centers or upload them to the UC service.
DWP is now looking for a strategic supplier for Open Banking who will partner with UC to provide:
The ability for citizens to share bank balance and transaction details for all their bank accounts;
The ability to verify bank accounts for a citizen.
The use cases noted above are not exhaustive and DWP may wish to access additional Open Banking products based on future market developments.
The chosen supplier should therefore be open to future provision of these services, as DWP identifies further Open Banking opportunities.
The chosen supplier must be able to partner with DWP to explore and exploit the growth of Open Banking functionality as the need, and use cases, arise.
DWP reserves the right to suspend, withdraw or amend any intention to proceed with any procurement competition in relation to the Services identified in this section II and reserves the right not to award any contract. Any costs incurred by bidders in engaging with DWP for this opportunity and preparing and submitting bids, will be borne by the bidder.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
66100000
66170000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
It is envisaged that the Invitation to Tender will be published between March 2025 and April 2025 with an aim to award a contract in between June and July 2025.
DWP will be running this procurement through the Open Banking (Data, Digital Payments & Confirmation of Payee Services) DPS (RM6301) and interested parties must be registered as a supplier on the DPS in order to formally access and respond to the ITT.
II.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice:
24/03/2025
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
Suppliers Instructions:
How to Express Interest in this Tender:
1. Register on the eSourcing portal (this is only required once):
https://dwp.bravosolution.co.uk & click the link to register - Accept the terms & conditions & click 'continue' - Enter your correct business & user details - Note your chosen username & click 'Save'. You will receive an email with your password (keep this secure)
2. Express an Interest in the tender - Login to the portal with the username/password - Click the 'PQQs / ITTs Open To All Suppliers' link. (These are Pre-Qualification Questionnaires or Invitations to Tender open to any registered supplier) - Click on the relevant exercise to access the content. - Click the 'Express Interest' button at the top of the page. - This will move the PQQ /ITT into your 'My PQQs/ My ITTs' page. (A secure area reserved for your projects only) -You can now access any attachments by clicking 'Buyer Attachments' in the 'PQQ/ ITT Details' box
3. Responding to the tender - Click 'My Response' under 'PQQ/ ITT Details', you can choose to 'Create Response' or to 'Decline to Respond' (please give a reason if declining) - You can now use the 'Messages' function to communicate with the buyer and seek any clarification - Note the deadline for completion. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the PQQ/ ITT - There may be a mixture of online & offline actions to complete (detailed online help available). To submit your reply, use the 'Submit Response' button (top of the page).
For further assistance please consult the online help, or the eTendering help desk.
DWP expressly reserves the rights(i)to use a reverse auction; (ii)to cancel this procurement at any stage; (iii)to not award any contract as a result of the procurement process commenced by publication of this notice; (iv)and in no circumstances will DWP be liable for any costs incurred by potential suppliers.
Further details for this DPS can be found at https://supplierregistration.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/dps under the 'Financial Services – Open Banking' section.
Interested potential Bidders are urged to register as a DPS supplier using the above link and completing the DPS Registration as soon as possible. This DPS is managed by CCS and not DWP, therefore for any technical assistance please ensure you direct queries to CCS.
Important: For both new and existing suppliers, please ensure that the category filters which you are appointed for on the DPS are up to date and match the relevant criteria:
Service Type: Fraud Services, Identify Services, Income Verification Services, Risk Identification Services, Transaction/Fund Tracing and Monitoring Services
Hosting Location: United Kingdom,
Delivery Capabilities: API Integration, Platform Access, Offline/Data Exports
For DPS info email: info@crowncommercial.gov.uk
Potential suppliers will not be prejudiced by any response to this PIN, or failure to respond. This PIN does not formally signify the beginning of a procurement and does not constitute a commitment by DWP to undertake any procurement exercise. In the event that DWP decides to formally commence the procurement of the Open Banking Service, a separate contract notice will be issued.
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
20/02/2025