---
title: "Discretionary Assistance Fund Framework Agreement"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-03a207"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-03a207"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03a207.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03a207.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "WELSH GOVERNMENT"
published: "2023-02-01"
---

# Discretionary Assistance Fund Framework Agreement

Buyer: WELSH GOVERNMENT  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-03a207

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## Summary

The Welsh Government has awarded a contract for the "Discretionary Assistance Fund Framework Agreement" to NEC Software Solutions UK Limited. The procurement process was completed with the contract signed on 12th January 2023. The framework agreement, lasting 3 years with a possible extension, has a maximum value of GBP 15m for the initial term, potentially increasing to GBP 30m over the contract's lifetime. The procurement category is services related to general public services.

This tender provides an opportunity for businesses, particularly those in administrative services, call centers, software development, software implementation, and government services, to engage in delivering the Discretionary Assistance Fund in Wales. Businesses with capabilities in managing, implementing, and administering grant schemes to support independent living would be well-suited to compete. The procurement stage is now in the award phase, with the Welsh Government as the buying organisation.

## Notice

The UK Government's Welfare Reform Act 2012 abolished the discretionary Social Fund, which was administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and replaced parts of it (crisis loans and community care grants) with new locally based provision. From April 2013 funding for the Social Fund was devolved to the Welsh Government, the Scottish Government and to local authorities in England. The Discretionary Assistance Fund was established and has operated as the replacement scheme in Wales since 2013. The fund comprises two distinct elements: - Emergency Assistance Payments (EAP) - which provide assistance with an emergency or disaster situation when there is an immediate threat to health and well being; and - Individual Assistance Payments (IAP) - which are in place to meet an urgent identified need necessary to enable or support independent living thereby preventing the need for institutional care. Eligibility for an IAP is based upon an applicant being entitled to and in receipt of income related benefits. All IAP applications are required to be supported by a Partner from an established Partner Network comprising support and advice organisations across Wales.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

The key aim of the Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF) is to offer payments or in kind support to enable or maintain independent living and to provide urgent assistance to people where there is an identified need to safeguard health and well being. These payments are made available to people who have no other means of meeting the immediate cost of living and are not intended to meet the cost of ongoing expenses. As such, payments from this fund are not repayable. The aim of this contract is to ensure the fund is delivered to the most financially vulnerable people in Wales. The successful Bidder will be responsible for all aspects of the management, implementation, administration and monitoring of the DAF grant scheme. Additional information: The value is GBP6m to GBP15m for the initial 3 years. 6m reflects historical spend prior to the covid-19 pandemic and the cost of living crisis. Spend during 2018-2021 is GBP3.5m per annum the value may be less at circa GBP2m per annum. The 15m value reflects changes to Ministerial priorities in response to unknown priorities. The max value over the lifetime of the framework/ contract is GBP30m.

Options: Additional call off contracts may be required during the Framework Agreement duration for contracts that may be required as a result of any change in Ministerial priorities in response to emerging policy changes, for example having to respond to possible unprecedented emergency situations, i.e Welsh Government response to flooding or other such emergencies.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003132-2023 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 1 Feb 2023 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 12 Jan 2023 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £3,936,183 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | WELSH GOVERNMENT |
| Locality | CARDIFF |
| Post town | Cardiff |
| Postcode | CF10 3NQ |
| Country | Wales |
| ITL 1 | TLL Wales |
| ITL 2 | TLL5 South East Wales |
| ITL 3 | TLL52 Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan |
| Local authority | Cardiff |
| Electoral ward | Cathays |
| Westminster constituency | Cardiff South and Penarth |
| Delivery location | TLL Wales |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | NEC SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
- 75 - Administration, defence and social security services
- 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

### Codes

- 72262000 - Software development services
- 72263000 - Software implementation services
- 75110000 - General public services
- 75112000 - Administrative services for business operations
- 75131000 - Government services
- 79512000 - Call centre

## Release History

- 1 Feb 2023 at 14:53 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003132-2023

## Notice URLs

- http://gov.wales
- https://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:123067-2022:TEXT:EN:HTML
- https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0007

## 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-03a207. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03a207.json.