--- title: "Functional Assessment Services (FAS) 2023" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-02e34a" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-02e34a" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02e34a.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02e34a.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "DEPARTMENT FOR WORK AND PENSIONS" published: "2021-09-21" --- # Functional Assessment Services (FAS) 2023 Buyer: DEPARTMENT FOR WORK AND PENSIONS Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-02e34a [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-02e34a) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02e34a.json) ## Summary The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is in the planning stage of a procurement process for Functional Assessment Services (FAS) 2023, aimed at delivering functional health assessments to support eligibility determinations for welfare benefits such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and Universal Credit (UC). The anticipated contract, valued at approximately £2,277,500,000, is set to commence on 1st August 2023, with a planned duration of five years and a potential two-year extension. Proposed supplier events are scheduled for 29th September 2021, 19th October 2021, and 19th November 2021, which will provide further insights into the procurement process and requirements. This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in health and social work services, particularly those experienced in functional assessments. Companies that can demonstrate expertise in managing assessments for vulnerable populations, and are capable of operating across geographical lots within the UK, will be well-suited to compete. Furthermore, as the DWP is looking to transform how health assessment services are delivered, initiatives that incorporate innovative approaches or digital solutions may also find this a beneficial opportunity for growth and partnership with the government. ## Notice PLEASE NOTE THIS NOTICE SUPERSEDES THE NOTICE ISSUED ON 20/09/2021 DWP requires a range of functional health assessments. Functional health assessments help by providing advice to DWP Decision Makers to determine eligibility for a range of benefits paid to claimants. Currently, this primarily focuses on Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and Universal Credit (UC). In July 2020, the Department published a VEAT notice advising the market of its intention to extend the current PIP and Health and Disability Assessment Services (HDAS) contracts for up to 24 months. This was a result of the impact of Covid-19 on the procurement planned for 2020. 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. This is part of the Department's long term plans to transform health assessment services by creating an integrated health assessment service. Current functional health assessments primarily help to determine eligibility for PIP, ESA, and UC. These benefits may be subject to future changes in Government policy. As a result of the Government's commitment to improving support for disabled people and people with health conditions, there is the possibility of changes in Government policy relating to delivery and scale of health assessment services during the life of the FAS contracts. Suppliers will hold a partnership role in any reforms and the FAS contracts will be structured to facilitate change, including impacts on volumes and service design. In March 2020, as part of the Government's long term plans to transform health assessment services, we announced that the Department will initially develop the new single integrated Health Assessment Service (HAS), supported by a single digital platform developed by DWP, on a small scale in a controlled environment known as the Health Transformation Area (HTA). The first site in the HTA launched in London in April 2021. This approach recognises that our claimants include some of the most vulnerable in society and it is critical that we carefully develop the new integrated HAS. The HTA will provide a safe environment to test and adapt HAS, whilst learning from new ideas and processes. Our intention is to roll out the HAS and associated learning on a greater scale into pre-defined areas of the country during the life of the FAS contracts, ahead of full roll out into Next Generation contracts. Further details on the HTA and its impact on FAS will be provided in due course. ### Lot Information Functional Assessment Services (FAS) 2023 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. The Department for Communities for Northern Ireland have confirmed Northern Ireland is in scope for these contracts. 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 5 geographical Lots, Lots 1-4 in Great Britain and Lot 5 in Northern Ireland. Further details on the structure of the Lots will be made available during future market engagement. Contract length is anticipated to be 5 years with the possibility of a 2-year extension 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 On 29/09/2021 we will hold a session specifically on the proposed payment model for FAS. On 19/10/2021 we will hold a pre-ITT launch event. The session will provide information regarding our service requirements, proposed commercial approach and our transformation aspirations. On 19/11/2021 we will hold a post-ITT briefing event. Please register your interest via our Jaggaer e-Procurement System where further details of the events will be shared. Jaggaer Registration To register, use the link below with supporting instructions. If you experience difficulties registering, please contact the Jaggaer helpline on 0800 069 8630 or help@bravosolution.co.uk. Register for Event Log in and search for Project number -23953 or PQQ: pqq_28855 - Functional Assessment Services (FAS)- Virtual Supplier Event and express your interest in the event to receive updates. https://dwp.bravosolution.co.uk Please note all future correspondence for the event will be via Jaggaer ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023511-2021 | | Notice type | Planning Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 21 Sep 2021 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 12 Nov 2021 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £2,277,500,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planned | | Lots status | Planned | | 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 - 21 Sep 2021 at 21:44 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023511-2021 ## Notice URLs - https://dwp.bravosolution.co.uk - https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions ## 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-02e34a. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02e34a.json.