Enforcement Services for the Child Maintenance Service

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-060078-2026-05-06T16:13:09+01:00",
    "date": "2026-05-06T16:13:09+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-060078",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PJCP-7274-TLRQ",
            "name": "Department for Work & Pensions",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PJCP-7274-TLRQ"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Caxton House, 6-12 Tothill Street, London, SW1H 9NA",
                "locality": "London",
                "postalCode": "SW1H 9NA",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKI32"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Cathryn McCrink",
                "email": "cd.debtservcies@dwp.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - central government"
                    }
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        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PJCP-7274-TLRQ",
        "name": "Department for Work & Pensions"
    },
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), acting on behalf of the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) , intends to procure a concession service across England and Wales in early 2026 for the recovery of child maintenance arrears owed by parents who have a responsibility to pay maintenance for their children. It is envisaged that the contract will be for an initial two year fixed period and could be extended for a further three years. The value of the contract stated reflects the total estimated value of the contract over the full term excluding any start up costs. DWP wishes to consult a range of suppliers in the market , including both enforcement agencies who provide enforcement services directly and also managing platform suppliers of enforcement services, to establish the level of interest in participating in a tender exercise and supplying the bespoke service requirements of the Child Maintenance Service. The Buyer wishes to consult with the market on the optimal approach to delivering an outcomes orientated service which supports the growth and financial viability of the Supply Chain whilst ensuring that service delivery supports any next stage debt enforcement activity within the Child Maintenance Service. The required service will also potentially include additional administrative activities which would need to be provided by the supplier(s). These administrative elements of the service are not covered by the Taking Control of Goods Fees Regulations and will be paid directly by the Buyer. The service will continue to be a concessions service irrespective of any additional paid administrative elements as the value of the contract will be largely based on the fees earned by the Supplier or by any sub-contractors. Specific areas on which the buyer wishes to consult the market therefore include the following:- 1.Market feedback on Supplier's experience of managing supplier platforms model v direct enforcement model and various linked operational delivery issues associated with delivering bespoke CMS requirements. 2.Pricing mechanisms for payment of any additional administrative elements involved in delivering the service required by DWP and market feedback on DWP draft pricing proposals 3.The procurement methods available for concession type procurements (including market feedback on potential use of the new Open Competitive Flexible Procedure with a Participation Stage). This might include a supplier demonstration stage based on the bespoke service requirements. 4. Lotting across the England and Wales footprint. The Buyer has not made a final decision on the model or route to market at the point of issuing this notice and will use the feedback from market engagement to assist with final decision making and pricing approaches. Suppliers interested in attending a market engagement event which it is proposed to hold online on Wednesday 28th January 2026 should register their interest by emailing cd.debtservices@dwp.gov.uk by 22nd January 2026. Following the market engagement session outlined above the Buyer reserves the right to seek additional market feedback, including via one to one meetings with interested suppliers, in order to resolve any remaining operational issues prior to issuing a tender opportunity.",
                "dueDate": "2026-01-28T23:59:59Z",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "000853-2026",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/000853-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-01-06T18:21:03Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "(C9174) P_0708",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Enforcement Services for the Child Maintenance Service",
        "description": "Debt Recovery service across England and Wales linked to the recovery of child maintenance arrears owed by parents who have a responsibility to pay maintenance for their children.",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "75242110",
                        "description": "Bailiff services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UK",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
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                    {
                        "region": "UKL",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKC",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKD",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKF",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKG",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKH",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKJ",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKK",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
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        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 4252680,
            "amount": 3543900,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "specialRegime": [
            "concession"
        ],
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-10-14T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2028-10-13T23:59:59+01:00",
                    "maxExtentDate": "2031-10-13T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "hasRenewal": true,
                "status": "active",
                "value": {
                    "amountGross": 4252680,
                    "amount": 3543900,
                    "currency": "GBP"
                },
                "awardCriteria": {
                    "criteria": [
                        {
                            "type": "quality",
                            "name": "Technical (Quality) Questions",
                            "description": "Final Award Criteria applicable at Stage 3 of the Tender: Technical Questions and Scoring Methodology will be issued when Stage 3 is issued during the tender process.",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 100,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
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                    ]
                },
                "selectionCriteria": {
                    "criteria": [
                        {
                            "type": "economic",
                            "description": "1. The Supplier must be a legal entity capable of entering into the Contract."
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "technical",
                            "description": "Accreditation with the Enforcement Conduct Board: 1.The Supplier (and its Subcontractors) must be accredited with the Enforcement Conduct Board in respect of any Regulated Enforcement Services performed by the Supplier (and its Subcontractors.) 2. System Availability: The Supplier must either own or have a direct licence to use an existing IT system or platform as a Case Management System to facilitate the provision of Management Services. This requirement is not intended to preclude the use of third-party software used by the Supplier for these purposes."
                        }
                    ]
                },
                "renewal": {
                    "description": "A further period(s) of up to three years . The value of the contract listed includes the total value (payments made directly by the DWP plus estimated fees earning potential based on current performance) for the full maximum five year term of the contract. Any one off start up costs payable will be in addition to the above value."
                }
            }
        ],
        "communication": {
            "futureNoticeDate": "2026-02-26T23:59:59Z"
        },
        "status": "active",
        "procurementMethod": "open",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Competitive flexible procedure",
        "procedure": {
            "features": "This procurement relates to the award of a below-threshold concession contract, within the meaning of section 5 and section 8 of the Procurement Act 2023 (the \"Act\"), and therefore it is not a 'public contract' and does not constitute a 'covered procurement' for the purposes of section 1 of the Act. Section 84 of the Act provides that the rules relating to below threshold procurements do not apply to concession contracts. Therefore, only limited provisions of the Act will apply to this procurement. Notwithstanding the above, the DWP has chosen, for the purpose of continuity and good administrative practice, to conduct this procurement using a procedure modelled on a competitive flexible procedure as provided for in the Act. This is a voluntary decision and does not signify that the Act applies in full to this procurement. The DWP has issued this UK4 Tender Notice for reasons of practicality and convenience (and on a strictly voluntary basis), to streamline the administration of the procurement for the DWP and all bidders and to ensure that information is easily accessible to bidders. The categorisation in this notice of the procurement as an \"Above Threshold- Competitive Flexible Procedure\" is solely due to limitations in IT functionality and flexibility and shall not in any way deem that the Act will apply to this procurement, other than to the extent that the Act applies to below threshold concession contracts generally. This notice does not therefore need to contain the information that would usually be required if this were a regulated procurement using the competitive flexible procedure under the Act. Please note this tender process will include a pre-qualification stage. The tender process will consist of three stages: Stage 1: PSQ and Financial Capacity Assessments Stage 2: Supplier Demonstrations of System Availability/Capability Stage 3: Final Written Submissions; 100% Technical (Quality) Questions and Submission of any Start Up Costs for consideration. The outcome of Stage 3 will be the basis on which the Successful Supplier will be selected from those Suppliers who have progressed to Stage 3. The Buyer reserves the right to amend the procurement during the tender in accordance with the terms of the Instructions to Suppliers document."
        },
        "submissionMethodDetails": "The final submission deadline for Stage 3 is 11/8/26. See the Invitation to Suppliers document for submission deadlines for all other stages of the procurement process. Dates are subject to change and may be updated as outlined in the Invitation to Suppliers document. https://dwp2.my.salesforce-sites.com/?searchtype=Projects",
        "submissionTerms": {
            "electronicSubmissionPolicy": "allowed",
            "languages": [
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        "tenderPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-08-11T12:00:00+01:00"
        },
        "enquiryPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-08-05T23:45:00+01:00"
        },
        "awardPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-09-11T23:59:59+01:00"
        },
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "L-4001",
                "documentType": "biddingDocuments",
                "description": "Go to Live Opportunities on the DWP Portal",
                "url": "https://dwp2.my.site.com/s/Welcome"
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            {
                "id": "conflictOfInterest",
                "documentType": "conflictOfInterest"
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            {
                "id": "041605-2026",
                "documentType": "tenderNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK4",
                "description": "Tender notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041605-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-05-06T16:13:09+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
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    "language": "en"
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