Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Ministry of Justice
5 Wellington Place
Leeds
LS1 4AP
UK
Telephone: +44 02033343555
E-mail: joanne.shakespeare@justice.gov.uk
NUTS: UK
Internet address(es)
Main address: www.gov.uk
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://ministryofjusticecommercial.bravosolution.co.uk
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://ministryofjusticecommercial.bravosolution.co.uk
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to the abovementioned address
Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at:
https://ministryofjusticecommercial.bravosolution.co.uk
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
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Debt Collection & Enforcement Services (DCES)
Reference number: itt_8084
II.1.2) Main CPV code
75231100
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
The Supplier will be required to provide national debt collection and enforcement services in relation to monies owed by means tested defendants who are in receipt of legal aid in respect of a case to be heard, or a case that has been heard and resulted in a conviction, in the Crown Court. The Services covers all Crown Courts in England and Wales.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
75242110
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
Main site or place of performance:
The Services cover all Crown Courts in England and Wales.
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
This procurement is for the delivery of Crown Court Means Testing (CCMT) - Debt Collection and Enforcement Services (DCES) for the Legal Aid Agency (LAA). The Supplier will be required to provide national debt collection and enforcement services in relation to monies owed by means tested defendants who are in receipt of legal aid in respect of a case to be heard, or a case that has been heard and resulted in a conviction, in the Crown Court. The Services covers all Crown Courts in England and Wales. The Supplier will be responsible for the collection and enforcement of Legal Aid Contributions which requires case management, collection, enforcement and refund of monies where appropriate. The Supplier must keep individuals fully engaged throughout the lifetime of the debt.
LEGAL AID MEANS TEST REVIEW - Current estimates suggest that Crown Court Means Testing policy changes resulting from the Legal Aid Means Test Review consultation are likely to be implemented during the life of this Contract. The Authority reserves the right to change the requirements under this Contract, especially in respect of the thresholds and provisions for calculating the contributions as well as the forecasted volumes of work and administrative costs, to reflect the outcomes of the Legal Aid Means Test Review (MTR). The Supplier will be required to implement changes to its digital systems and processes in accordance with the outcomes of the Legal Aid Means Test Review (each such Change being an MTR Change). Further information is provided in the Invitation to Tender documentation.
This requirement is being competed under the Open Procedure. Please note that this is not a call for Expressions of Interest and potential suppliers are therefore required to submit their full tender in accordance with the instructions in the Invitation to Tender (ITT) Instructions for Bidders document.
The Cabinet Office has introduced mandatory requirements relating to data handling, security, and information assurance in Government contracts. Information, systems, equipment and processes must be protected and Government suppliers must provide an appropriate level of security. Please note that it is a mandatory requirement that suppliers must hold Cyber Essentials Plus certification.
The original contract duration will be 48 months with a potential to extend for a maximum of a further 24 months.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
14 000 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 72
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
The original contract duration will be 48 months with a potential to extend for a maximum of a further 24 months.
The estimated value given above includes the optional renewal period.
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:
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 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:
Full details and selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
III.2.2) Contract performance conditions
Details as stated in the procurement documents
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:
No
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2022/S 000-016767
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
19/12/2023
Local time: 12:00
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: 6 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
19/12/2023
Local time: 12:00
Place:
via Ministry of Justice eSourcing System
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
Yes
VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
VI.3) Additional information
1. REGISTRATION
The Ministry of Justice will be performing events through its e-Sourcing Portal. The eSourcing Portal is an online application that allows all potential suppliers to create and submit their responses to any Requests for Information, Requests for Quotes or Requests for Proposals via the internet rather than in paper form (where they have been invited to respond). The eSourcing Portal will also be used by the Ministry of Justice to run Reverse Auctions.
2. TRANSPARENCY
HM Government requires that tender documentation issued by Government departments for contracts with a value exceeding £10,000 over the life of the contract are published online [https://www.contractfinder.businesslink,gov.uk] for the general public. The resulting contract shall also be published.
The Ministry of Justice may use its discretion to redact information to protect key commercial interests or on prescribed grounds. Therefore, bidders who wish information not to be published if successful should secure agreement with the Ministry of Justice prior to submission. Only documentation relating to awarded contracts will be published.
Key commercial interests would be trade secrets and commercial interests which would be prejudiced by publication, following the tests in section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/information-access-rights/foi/foi-s43-exemptions.pdf
The prescribed grounds for redaction are:
(a) national security
(b) personal data
(c) information protected by intellectual property law;
(d) information which it is not in the public interest to disclose (following the tests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000)
(e) third party confidential information
(f) IT security; or
(g) prevention of fraud
3. GOVERNMENT SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
From 2nd April 2014 the Government introduced its new Government Security Classifications (GSC) classification scheme to replace the current Government Protective Marking Scheme (GPMS). A key aspect of this is the reduction in the number of security classifications used. All potential suppliers should make themselves aware of the changes as it may impact on this Requirement. The link below to the Gov.uk website provides information on the new GSC:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-security-classifications
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Royal Courts of Justice
Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
08/11/2023