Published date: 3 February 2021

Last edited date: 3 February 2021

This notice was replaced on 4 March 2021

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

Opportunity (published 4 March 2021)

Closed early engagement


Contract summary

Industry

  • Other community, social and personal services - 98000000

Location of contract

England

Procurement reference

21-21G

Published date

3 February 2021

Closing date

9 February 2021

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

No

Description

Background

Breathing Space is a HMT policy which begins on 4th May 2021. It gives customers protection from creditor interest, charges, enforcement activity and collection communication, enabling them to stabilise their financial situation, engage with advice and find a solution.

Most customers will enter by seeking debt advice. However, individuals in mental health crisis care will enter via the Mental Health Access Mechanism (MHAM). Within this, advisers will enter individuals into Breathing Space after receiving evidence they are receiving crisis care from an Approved Mental Health Practitioner (AMHP). Unlike the main part of the scheme where 60 days of protection is applied, customers entering via the MHAH have no time limit to the protections while they remain in crisis care.

Further details on the policy can be found at:
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/1311/contents/made

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/debt-respite-scheme-breathing-space-guidance

The Money and Pensions Service is considering going out to market to commission a debt advice provider(s) to deliver the Mental Health Access Mechanism via a pathfinder project:
• Serving customers referred into the MHAM between May 2021 - March 2023
• Helping us to develop an efficient, effective service.

As part of a market engagement exercise, MaPS is issuing this request for information to identify potential suppliers that would be able and willing to meet our requirements in delivering this service.

Further information about this requirement is provided as an attachment in section 5: Attachments.

Suppliers who are interested in submitting a response to this RFI should also refer to Section 5 for instructions.

More information

Attachments

Additional text

Suppliers who wish to respond should please submit their response to commercial@maps.org.uk using the provided RFI Response template by the submission deadline: 9am on 9th February 2021.

About the buyer

Address

120 Holborn
London
EC1N 2TD
England

Email

commercial@maps.org.uk