--- title: "VCMA project - Fuel Bank Foundation - Further expand Fuel Bank across Northern England" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-04dc9e" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04dc9e" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04dc9e.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04dc9e.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "NORTHERN GAS NETWORKS LIMITED" published: "2025-03-21" --- # VCMA project - Fuel Bank Foundation - Further expand Fuel Bank across Northern England Buyer: NORTHERN GAS NETWORKS LIMITED Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-04dc9e [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04dc9e) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04dc9e.json) ## Summary Northern Gas Networks Limited has awarded a contract to the Fuel Bank Foundation (FBF) under the VCMA project to further expand the Fuel Bank across Northern England. The procurement process, finalised on 21 March 2025, falls under the "Research and development services and related consultancy services" industry category. This contract aims to address the increased demand for crisis fuel support following the COVID-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis by expanding the network to support households at risk of self-disconnection. The project, with a value of £698,150, will span regions UKC, UKD, and UKE, focusing on aiding families throughout the colder winter months and into 2024. This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses within the service and consultancy sectors, particularly those related to research and development. Companies specialising in energy support services, crisis management, and related consultancy can benefit from collaborating with the Fuel Bank Foundation. The procurement was conducted through a limited procedure due to the absence of viable competition for these specific services, highlighting a unique opportunity for specialised providers capable of delivering tailored support to households affected by energy crises. ## Notice A contract has been awarded as the FBF has delivered support since 2015, however our network of partners significantly increased from 2022, with support from Northern Gas Networks via the VCMA Programme enabling the charity to expand to meet some of the increased demand we saw following the COVID pandemic, and then the cost-of-living crisis. This funding removed some of the barriers to expansion where previously our network shape and the support we could provide was constrained by the funding we had available.Given that our Fuel Bank infrastructure is already in place, that we have already tested and proven the provision of support to households across the country, and the short time required to launch new Fuel Bank centres we have the potential to expand with a further 75 partners over the colder winter months and providing longer-term surety as we move into 2024. In peak winter 2023-24 we forecast average monthly prepayment meter top up will approach PS300, a 74% increase on the winter 2021- 22 peak, further demonstrating the need for crisis fuel support being made available. ### Lot Information Lot 1 A contract has been awarded to the FBF who has delivered support since 2015, however our network of partners significantly increased from 2022, with support from Northern Gas Networks via the VCMA Programme enabling the charity to expand to meet some of the increased demand we saw following the COVID pandemic, and then the cost-of-living crisis. This funding removed some of the barriers to expansion where previously our network shape and the support we could provide was constrained by the funding we had available.Given that our Fuel Bank infrastructure is already in place, that we have already tested and proven the provision of support to households across the country, and the short time required to launch new Fuel Bank centres we have the potential to expand with a further 75 partners over the colder winter months and providing longer-term surety as we move into 2024. In peak winter 2023-24 we forecast average monthly prepayment meter top up will approach PS300, a 74% increase on the winter 2021- 22 peak, further demonstrating the need for crisis fuel support being made available. An extension for the project has been approved as people in fuel crisis are continuing to require Fuel Bank emergency financial support and advice. We anticipate over a quarter of a million people in the UK will ask us for emergency help this winter to keep their lights, power and heating on because they must prepay for energy but cannot afford to. Overall this project helps many customers who are struggling to put credit on their gas or electric meters. ### Procurement Information These services are only able to be delivered by this independent charity. The Fuel Bank Foundation (FBF) is an independent charity that aims to support families who pay in advance for energy, typically via a prepayment energy meter and are at risk of selfdisconnection or severe rationing or indeed have self-disconnected. Self-disconnection is an unfortunate term: people don't choose to selfdisconnect, when the money runs out the electricity and gas switch off too. And in the current climate we are seeing more people than ever turn to the Foundation for much-needed support. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/010698-2025 | | 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 | 21 Mar 2025 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | 5 Feb 2025 | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | £698,150 | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Complete | | Lots status | Cancelled | | Awards status | Active | | Contracts status | Active | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | NORTHERN GAS NETWORKS LIMITED | | Locality | COLTON LEEDS | | Post town | Leeds | | Postcode | LS15 8TU | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLE Yorkshire and The Humber | | ITL 2 | TLE4 West Yorkshire | | ITL 3 | TLE42 Leeds | | Local authority | Leeds | | Electoral ward | Garforth & Swillington | | Westminster constituency | Leeds East | | Delivery location | TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber | ## Supplier | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Number of suppliers | 1 | | Supplier names | FUEL BANK FOUNDATION | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services ### Codes - 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services ## Release History - 21 Mar 2025 at 13:44 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/010698-2025 - 7 Feb 2025 at 10:25 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004114-2025 ## Notice URLs - http://www.northerngasnetworks.co.uk ## 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-04dc9e. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04dc9e.json.