Published date: 8 November 2023

This notice was replaced on 13 September 2024

This notice does not contain the most up-to-date information about this procurement. The most recent notice is:

Awarded contract (published 13 September 2024)

Closed opportunity - This means that the contract is currently closed. The buying department may be considering suppliers that have already applied, or no suitable offers were made.


Contract summary

Industry

  • Law-courts-related administrative services - 75231100

  • Bailiff services - 75242110

Location of contract

North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East, South West, Wales

Value of contract

£14,000,000

Procurement reference

tender_395059/1278391

Published date

8 November 2023

Closing date

19 December 2023

Closing time

12pm

Contract start date

3 February 2025

Contract end date

2 February 2029

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Open procedure (above threshold)

Any interested supplier may submit a tender in response to an opportunity notice.

This procedure can be used for procurements above the relevant contract value threshold.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

No

Description

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 this 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.

More information

Links

About the buyer

Address

5 Wellington Place
Leeds
LS1 4AP
England

Email

joanne.shakespeare@justice.gov.uk