Discretionary Assistance Fund Framework Agreement

Concepts

• discretionary assistance fund
• cardiff
• general public
• discretionary social fund
• discretionary assistance fund framework agreement
• emergency assistance payments
• key aim of the discretionary assistance fund
• individual assistance payments
• social fund
• lifetime of the framework

Location

Cardiff

Description

The UK Government’s Welfare Reform Act 2012 abolished the discretionary Social Fund, which was administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and replaced parts of it (crisis loans and community care grants) with new locally based provision. From April 2013 funding for the Social Fund was devolved to the Welsh Government, the Scottish Government and to local authorities in England. The Discretionary Assistance Fund was established and has operated as the replacement scheme in Wales since 2013. The fund comprises two distinct elements: - Emergency Assistance Payments (EAP) – which provide assistance with an emergency or disaster situation when there is an immediate threat to health and well being; and - Individual Assistance Payments (IAP) – which are in place to meet an urgent identified need necessary to enable or support independent living thereby preventing the need for institutional care. Eligibility for an IAP is based upon an applicant being entitled to and in receipt of income related benefits. All IAP applications are required to be supported by a Partner from an established Partner Network comprising support and advice organisations across Wales.

Total Quantity or Scope

The key aim of the Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF) is to offer payments or in kind support to enable or maintain independent living and to provide urgent assistance to people where there is an identified need to safeguard health and well being. These payments are made available to people who have no other means of meeting the immediate cost of living and are not intended to meet the cost of ongoing expenses. As such, payments from this fund are not repayable. The aim of this contract is to ensure the fund is delivered to the most financially vulnerable people in Wales. The successful Bidder will be responsible for all aspects of the management, implementation, administration and monitoring of the DAF grant scheme.

Award Detail

Renewal Options

Additional call off contracts may be required during the Framework Agreement duration for contracts that may be required as a result of any change in Ministerial priorities in response to emerging policy changes, for example having to respond to possible unprecedented emergency situations, i.e Welsh Government response to flooding or other such emergencies.

Award Criteria

CPV Codes

• 75110000 - General public services
• 75112000 - Administrative services for business operations
• 79512000 - Call centre
• 72262000 - Software development services
• 72263000 - Software implementation services
• 75131000 - Government services

Indicators

• Options are available.
• Award on basis of price and quality.

Other Information

The value is GBP6m to GBP15m for the initial 3 years. 6m reflects historical spend prior to the covid-19 pandemic and the cost of living crisis. Spend during 2018-2021 is GBP3.5m per annum the value may be less at circa GBP2m per annum. The 15m value reflects changes to Ministerial priorities in response to unknown priorities. The max value over the lifetime of the framework/ contract is GBP30m. The Framework Agreement term is 3 years plus 1 year extension option (with the option to award a further 2 year contract in year 4 of the framework agreement). The contract value included in section V.2.4 of the notice is per annum, and the maximum framework agreement value for the initial 3 year contract term is GBP 15m. Should the up to 3 year contract extension be utilised the maximum value will be up to GBP 15m. (WA Ref:128702)