Award

VCMA project - Fuel Bank Foundation - Further expand Fuel Bank across Northern England

NORTHERN GAS NETWORKS LIMITED

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

21 Mar 2025 at 13:44

Award

07 Feb 2025 at 10:25

Summary of the contracting process

Northern Gas Networks Limited has awarded a contract to the Fuel Bank Foundation (FBF) under the VCMA project to further expand the Fuel Bank across Northern England. The procurement process, finalised on 21 March 2025, falls under the "Research and development services and related consultancy services" industry category. This contract aims to address the increased demand for crisis fuel support following the COVID-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis by expanding the network to support households at risk of self-disconnection. The project, with a value of £698,150, will span regions UKC, UKD, and UKE, focusing on aiding families throughout the colder winter months and into 2024.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses within the service and consultancy sectors, particularly those related to research and development. Companies specialising in energy support services, crisis management, and related consultancy can benefit from collaborating with the Fuel Bank Foundation. The procurement was conducted through a limited procedure due to the absence of viable competition for these specific services, highlighting a unique opportunity for specialised providers capable of delivering tailored support to households affected by energy crises.

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Notice Title

VCMA project - Fuel Bank Foundation - Further expand Fuel Bank across Northern England

Notice Description

A contract has been awarded as the FBF has delivered support since 2015, however our network of partners significantly increased from 2022, with support from Northern Gas Networks via the VCMA Programme enabling the charity to expand to meet some of the increased demand we saw following the COVID pandemic, and then the cost-of-living crisis. This funding removed some of the barriers to expansion where previously our network shape and the support we could provide was constrained by the funding we had available.Given that our Fuel Bank infrastructure is already in place, that we have already tested and proven the provision of support to households across the country, and the short time required to launch new Fuel Bank centres we have the potential to expand with a further 75 partners over the colder winter months and providing longer-term surety as we move into 2024. In peak winter 2023-24 we forecast average monthly prepayment meter top up will approach PS300, a 74% increase on the winter 2021- 22 peak, further demonstrating the need for crisis fuel support being made available.

Lot Information

Lot 1

A contract has been awarded to the FBF who has delivered support since 2015, however our network of partners significantly increased from 2022, with support from Northern Gas Networks via the VCMA Programme enabling the charity to expand to meet some of the increased demand we saw following the COVID pandemic, and then the cost-of-living crisis. This funding removed some of the barriers to expansion where previously our network shape and the support we could provide was constrained by the funding we had available.Given that our Fuel Bank infrastructure is already in place, that we have already tested and proven the provision of support to households across the country, and the short time required to launch new Fuel Bank centres we have the potential to expand with a further 75 partners over the colder winter months and providing longer-term surety as we move into 2024. In peak winter 2023-24 we forecast average monthly prepayment meter top up will approach PS300, a 74% increase on the winter 2021- 22 peak, further demonstrating the need for crisis fuel support being made available. An extension for the project has been approved as people in fuel crisis are continuing to require Fuel Bank emergency financial support and advice. We anticipate over a quarter of a million people in the UK will ask us for emergency help this winter to keep their lights, power and heating on because they must prepay for energy but cannot afford to. Overall this project helps many customers who are struggling to put credit on their gas or electric meters.

Procurement Information

These services are only able to be delivered by this independent charity. The Fuel Bank Foundation (FBF) is an independent charity that aims to support families who pay in advance for energy, typically via a prepayment energy meter and are at risk of selfdisconnection or severe rationing or indeed have self-disconnected. Self-disconnection is an unfortunate term: people don't choose to selfdisconnect, when the money runs out the electricity and gas switch off too. And in the current climate we are seeing more people than ever turn to the Foundation for much-needed support.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04dc9e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/010698-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services


CPV Codes

73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£698,150 £500K-£1M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Mar 202511 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
5 Feb 20251 years ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NORTHERN GAS NETWORKS LIMITED
Contact Name
Becky Handforth
Contact Email
rhandforth@northerngas.co.uk
Contact Phone
+44 7935077342

Buyer Location

Locality
COLTON LEEDS
Postcode
LS15 8TU
Post Town
Leeds
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLE4 West Yorkshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLE42 Leeds
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber

Local Authority
Leeds
Electoral Ward
Garforth & Swillington
Westminster Constituency
Leeds East

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

FUEL BANK FOUNDATION

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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