---
title: "DSD Medical Support Services"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-02c288"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-02c288"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02c288.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02c288.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DEPARTMENT FOR COMMUNITIES FORMERLY THE DEPARTMENT FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT DSD"
published: "2021-07-01"
---

# DSD Medical Support Services

Buyer: DEPARTMENT FOR COMMUNITIES FORMERLY THE DEPARTMENT FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT DSD  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-02c288

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[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02c288.json)

## Summary

The Department for Communities (DfC), formerly known as the Department for Social Development (DSD), is engaging in a continued procurement process for the provision of medical support services, specifically Work Capability Assessments, due to the ongoing impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. The contract variation allows for a two-year extension from 1st August 2021 to 31st July 2023, following the completion of various health assessments essential for the delivery of statutory welfare benefits to vulnerable claimants in Northern Ireland. This process falls under the health and social work services category, and the procurement method utilised is limited, indicating that the award was made without prior publication of a call for competition, citing unforeseen circumstances due to the pandemic as the rationale.

This tender presents an opportunity for businesses engaged in medical support services, particularly those capable of delivering high-quality health assessments and IT solutions. Companies that specialise in disability assessment services, social security administration, and consulting for healthcare initiatives would be well-positioned to compete, particularly as DfC seeks to implement further efficiencies and service improvements during the extension period. With periodic reviews scheduled, there may also be future opportunities for new entrants as the DfC plans to engage with the market regarding the transition of health assessment services post-contract period.

## Notice

Further to the VEAT notice issued on 10 July 2020, REF. NO 2020/S 135-333759, DfC shall enter into a Contract Variation of the Medical Support Service Contract with the incumbent supplier following a period of 10 days from the date of publication of this notice in accordance with Regulation 72(1)(c). The Contract Variation provides for an extension of two (2) years from 01.08.2021 - 31.07.2023.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Continuation of the provision of work capability assessment services in Northern Ireland. For full details of the nature of the services please see OJEU 2007/S 063-077231.

### Procurement Information

Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the Official Journal of the European Union in the cases listed below * The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the directive Explanation: On 5 March 2020, DWP published a PIN signalling its intent to re-procure its Health and Disability Assessment Services contract for the provision of Work Capability Assessment services in England, Scotland and Wales. The Department for Communities agreed to join the procurement with Northern Ireland constituting a separate Lot. The re-procurement of the HDAS Contract was in accordance with Section 7 of the PCR 2015. However, the Covid-19 pandemic began impacting on the UK, in particular for the Department, impacting both the delivery of health assessment services, and the planned launch of the procurement. The continuation of the provision of services under the current contract over a period of 2 years has become necessary. Regulation 72(1)(c) PCR allows: (i) The need for modification has been brought about by circumstances which a "diligent contracting authority" could not have foreseen. Covid-19 is a unique event whose impact could not have been foreseen; and (ii) The modification does not alter the overall nature of the contract; The services to be provided by the incumbent will remain consistent and there will be no alteration to the overall nature of the Contract, and. (iii) The modification does not exceed 50 % of the original contract value. The price to be paid for the extended period of the Contract does not exceed 50 % of the original value of the Contract, and (iv) DfC will publish a Modification Notice pursuant to Regulation 72(3) of PCR. Please see Section VI.3 for additional information.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015124-2021 |
| 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 |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 1 Jul 2021 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 31 Dec 2010 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £19,997,162 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DEPARTMENT FOR COMMUNITIES FORMERLY THE DEPARTMENT FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT DSD |
| Locality | BELFAST |
| Post town | Not specified |
| Postcode | BT32 7EG |
| Country | Not specified |
| ITL 1 | Not specified |
| ITL 2 | Not specified |
| ITL 3 | Not specified |
| Local authority | Not specified |
| Electoral ward | Not specified |
| Westminster constituency | Not specified |
| Delivery location | TLN Northern Ireland |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | ATOS ORIGIN IT SERVICES |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
- 75 - Administration, defence and social security services
- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
- 75000000 - Administration, defence and social security services
- 75311000 - Sickness benefits
- 75313000 - Disability benefits
- 75313100 - Temporary disablement benefits
- 85000000 - Health and social work services

## Release History

- 1 Jul 2021 at 15:55 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015124-2021

## Notice URLs

- http://www.communities-ni.gov.uk
- https://atos.net/en/
- https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps
- https://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:077231-2007:TEXT:EN:HTML

## 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-h6vhtk-02c288. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02c288.json.