Find a TenderAwarded without competition
Published 18 Jan 2022, 16:35 GMT

Official UK procurement notice

The Fuel Bank Foundation - Fuel Crisis Support

Official notice

Authority: NORTHERN GAS NETWORKS LIMITED (Public body)

ServicesAward procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Sectors: Architecture & Engineering (71) Delivery: UK
Awarded value£500,000published contract · exc. VAT
Awarded 1 Mar 2022no call for competition
Awarded to Fuel Bank Foundation2 awards

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Contract for the partnership with the Fuel Bank Foundation will deliver direct financial support and practical help to maintain a safe and warm home to vulnerable households identified via a network of community support partners and where required by direct referral from the funding networks.

Through the partnership and directly provided by the Fuel Bank Foundation existing and new organisations requiring support for financially vulnerable households will have a pathway to access immediate or next day emergency fuel funds and the provision of additional support services to address long term debt and poverty. The provision of support will be tailored to meet household need with the overall ambition to provide immediate help but not a long-term dependency on aid to maintain a safe and warm home.

The partnership aims to;

  • Provide emergency fuel vouchers to households in fuel crisis so they can access immediate financial support and where needed ongoing assistance to increase financial resilience and avoid dependency on emergency funds
  • Broaden the network of organisations working to identify households in crisis based upon a growing need in the community in partnership with the regional gas network
  • Introduce a referral pathway for gas networks to refer into the Fuel Bank Foundation where they identify a household in crisis
  • Provide an audit on the allocation of funds allocated to ensure that household level usage is monitored to avoid creating a dependency on the scheme and to mitigate the fraudulent use of the scheme
  • Introduce the provision of CO safety information and a pathway to access CO alarms where required
  • Make a positive social impact as we work together to alleviate the pressures on community organisations and the NHS, reducing the need to use key care services

CPV: Energy and related services

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published
Lot #1The scope and objectives of the VCMA Project should be clearly defined including the…Awarded

The scope and objectives of the VCMA Project should be clearly defined including the benefits which would directly impact customers on the participating GDNs' network(s), and where the benefits of the VCMA Projects lie.

The partnership with the Fuel Bank Foundation will deliver direct financial support and practical help to maintain a safe and warm home to vulnerable households identified via a network of community support partners and where required by direct referral from the funding networks.

Through the partnership and directly provided by the Fuel Bank Foundation existing and new organisations requiring support for financially vulnerable households will have a pathway to access immediate or next day emergency fuel funds and the provision of additional support services to address long term debt and poverty. The provision of support will be tailored to meet household need with the overall ambition to provide immediate help but not a long-term dependency on aid to maintain a safe and warm home.

The partnership aims to;

  • Provide emergency fuel vouchers to households in fuel crisis so they can access immediate financial support and where needed ongoing assistance to increase financial resilience and avoid dependency on emergency funds
  • Broaden the network of organisations working to identify households in crisis based upon a growing need in the community in partnership with the regional gas network
  • Introduce a referral pathway for gas networks to refer into the Fuel Bank Foundation where they identify a household in crisis
  • Provide an audit on the allocation of funds allocated to ensure that household level usage is monitored to avoid creating a dependency on the scheme and to mitigate the fraudulent use of the scheme
  • Introduce the provision of CO safety information and a pathway to access CO alarms where required
  • Make a positive social impact as we work together to alleviate the pressures on community organisations and the NHS, reducing the need to use key care services
Delivery: UK

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Legal basis
CELEX · 32014L0025 Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016 (Directive 2014/25/EU)
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Awarded without competition
Procurement threshold
Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Direct award (no call for competition)
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
18 Jan 2022, 16:35 GMT
Last source update
4 Mar 2022, 14:42 GMT
FTS notice number
2022/S 000-006053
Classification (CPV)
Energy and related services
Delivery area
UK
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-030c7e Find a Tender
Why no open competition

The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator due to absence of competition for technical reasons

Published justification

Collaborative VCMA project with Southern Gas Networks plc, Scotland Gas Networks plc, Wales & West Utilities Limited, Northern Gas Networks Limited and Cadent Gas Limited and we intend to put a contract in place with Fuel Bank Foundation as nationally only this one supplier offers this service. The five utility Networks cannot risk this delivery of services and requires contract assurance, with no other companies able to provide/undertake the scope of requirements as this requirement has been developed specifically to meet all needs.

The Services to be provided by the Supplier -

A supporting network of crisis support organisations to deliver same or next day financial support via the provision of emergency fuel credit top ups and a follow up service to address fuel poverty and reduce dependency on financial aid.

Increase the network of community organisations, including charities, working to identify households in fuel crisis who can access this funding.

Provide follow on services to include but not limited to registration to the Priority Services Register (PSR), energy advice, CO safety advice and access to CO alarms.

Providing services to reach a minimum of 8,000 households using the GDN Vulnerability and Carbon Monoxide Allowance allocated funding.

Provide regional reporting, case studies, and contribute to the GDN national showcase event to demonstrate the impact of the partnership to householders accessing the emergency funds and support provided by the network of partners.

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 2
Awarded value £500,0001 contract exc. VAT · 1 repeated publication of the same award counted once
Contracts signed 2latest 1 Mar 2022
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Fuel Bank FoundationSME£500,000 †same award published again · counted once—Awarded
Fuel Bank FoundationSME£500,000 †—Awarded

Contracts

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

NORTHERN GAS NETWORKS LIMITED

Contracting authorityPublic bodyProduction, transport and distribution of gas and heat 1100 Century Way Thorpe Park, LEEDS, Yorkshire & Humber, LS158TUContact name, email, phone

Dispute resolution & review bodies

  • Northern Gas NetworksReview body Leeds

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice

Official documents & specifications

Official links; attachments are not copied

No document links were published on the notice.