--- title: "Functional Assessment Services (FAS)- Prior Information Notice" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-6e7a3dd1-0df6-4893-9cb7-8112a64db400" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-6e7a3dd1-0df6-4893-9cb7-8112a64db400" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-6e7a3dd1-0df6-4893-9cb7-8112a64db400.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-6e7a3dd1-0df6-4893-9cb7-8112a64db400.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "DEPARTMENT FOR WORK AND PENSIONS" published: "2021-04-12" --- # Functional Assessment Services (FAS)- Prior Information Notice Buyer: DEPARTMENT FOR WORK AND PENSIONS Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-b5fd17-6e7a3dd1-0df6-4893-9cb7-8112a64db400 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-6e7a3dd1-0df6-4893-9cb7-8112a64db400) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-6e7a3dd1-0df6-4893-9cb7-8112a64db400.json) ## Summary The Department for Work and Pensions is planning to procure Functional Assessment Services (FAS) contracts starting from 1st August 2023, aimed at facilitating functional health assessments across England and Wales. This initiative falls under the health and social work services industry category, focusing on assessments for benefits such as Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit, and Personal Independence Payment. The planned procurement notice was published on 12th April 2021, and interested parties can expect further details, including the structure of geographical lots, to be shared by 4th June 2021. Contracts will ultimately have confirmed durations and values, which are still under discussion. This procurement represents a significant opportunity for SMEs and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSE) that specialise in health assessment services. The new contract will enable businesses to support the welfare of vulnerable individuals by delivering functional health evaluations, allowing them to compete for contracts that enhance their service portfolios. Companies with experience in health services, welfare benefits assessments, or those looking to expand into new geographical areas will find this tender particularly advantageous for growth. ## Notice The Department intends to procure Functional Assessment Service (FAS) contracts from 1st August 2023, to provide functional health assessments through a single supplier in each geographical Lot. Functional health assessment providers support the payment of welfare benefits to some of the most vulnerable in our society. Functional health assessments currently assess eligibility for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Universal Credit (UC) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP); focusing on needs arising from a condition rather than the condition itself. These assessments are only one part of the evidence that the DWP Decision Maker will consider and decisions on assessment criteria and benefit entitlement will rest with the DWP Decision Maker alone on behalf of the Secretary of State. PIP is a DWP benefit intended to compensate for some of the extra costs of those who have long term ill-health or disabilities. It is available to people whether they are in work, training, education or not, it is tax-free and is not means tested. PIP also acts as a gateway to other benefits and support in both DWP administered benefits. Most notably, additional premia in ESA or Carer's Allowance and also wider services, including the Motability scheme and Local Authority services, such as the Blue Badge Scheme. Approximately 900,000 assessments are carried out annually under the current PIP contract (data from 2017/18). Work Capability Assessments (WCA) currently assess eligibility for ESA and UC. A smaller number of other assessments assess eligibility to a range of benefits delivered by DWP and other Government Departments. Approximately 1 million WCA and a minimum of 100,000 other assessments are carried out annually under the current Health Disability Assessment Services (HDAS) contract (data from 2017/18). HDAS and PIP assessment services are currently delivered through separate contracts by separate suppliers. FAS will deliver both assessment services through one contract with a single supplier, in each geographical Lot. DWP will procure a Functional Assessment Service across England and Wales. We are currently working with colleagues in the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland to understand their future commercial requirements. We will be procuring Work Capability Assessments and some other assessments in Scotland, the Scottish government will take responsibility for administering a replacement for PIP assessments from 2022. We anticipate the use of geographical Lotting and will share further details on the structure of these Lots at a later date. Contract length and value will be confirmed in due course. Our current working assumption is that DWP will provide IT Digital Services (through a managed service), this approach is to be confirmed in due course. DWP's approach to the provision of Estate will be confirmed in due course. Supplier Event Details Please see attached word document for details of our upcoming Virtual Supplier Even. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/20419fa6-23df-4e5a-810b-c379ddf3bfae | | Notice type | Planned Procurement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Not specified | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 12 Apr 2021 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 4 Jun 2021 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 31 Jul 2023 - 2 Aug 2023 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planned | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | DEPARTMENT FOR WORK AND PENSIONS | | Locality | SHEFFIELD | | Post town | Sheffield | | Postcode | S1 2FD | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLE Yorkshire and The Humber | | ITL 2 | TLE3 South Yorkshire | | ITL 3 | TLE32 Sheffield | | Local authority | Sheffield | | Electoral ward | City | | Westminster constituency | Sheffield Central | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 85 - Health and social work services ### Codes - 85000000 - Health and social work services ## Release History - 12 Apr 2021 at 09:04 - Planning - Planned Procurement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/20419fa6-23df-4e5a-810b-c379ddf3bfae ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/20419fa6-23df-4e5a-810b-c379ddf3bfae 12th April 2021 - Future opportunity notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/83ab3102-be16-415b-a99f-b717102f5331 n/a - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/8e3a059f-26bc-4f7e-9ed2-3ffa11c87668 n/a ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-6e7a3dd1-0df6-4893-9cb7-8112a64db400. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-6e7a3dd1-0df6-4893-9cb7-8112a64db400.json.