---
title: "Discretionary Assistance Fund Framework Agreement"
ocid: "ocds-kuma6s-123067"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-kuma6s-123067"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-kuma6s-123067.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-kuma6s-123067.json"
source: "Sell2Wales"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "WELSH GOVERNMENT"
published: "2023-02-01"
---

# Discretionary Assistance Fund Framework Agreement

Buyer: WELSH GOVERNMENT  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-kuma6s-123067

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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 contract, valued at £3,936,183.95, was signed on 12th January 2023. The procurement process was initiated by the Welsh Government, acting as the buying organisation, based in Cardiff, UK. The contract falls under the services category and was conducted through an open procedure. The fund comprises emergency and individual assistance payments, and this contract aims to ensure the support reaches financially vulnerable people in Wales.

This tender opportunity for the "Discretionary Assistance Fund Framework Agreement" can benefit businesses specializing in service delivery, particularly those experienced in managing social welfare programs. The procurement stage is currently at the award status, with a tender value of £30 million in GBP. The opportunity is open for electronic submissions until 12th September 2022. Businesses interested in supporting independent living and providing urgent assistance to vulnerable individuals in Wales are well-suited to compete in this tender. The Welsh Government is the contracting authority overseeing this procurement process.

## 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.. 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.

Renewal: The framework includes the option to extend for 1 year. The Client will have the option to award an up to 3-year term call off contract during the final year of the Framework Agreement.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Sell2Wales |
| Latest notice | https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/search_switch.aspx?ID=123067 |
| Notice type | OJEU - F3 - Contract 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 | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 1 Feb 2023 |
| Submission deadline | 12 Sep 2022 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 12 Jan 2023 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | 3 or 6 years |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £30,000,000 |
| Lots value | £30,000,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £3,936,183 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| 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 00:00 - Award - OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/search_switch.aspx?ID=123067
- 21 Jul 2022 at 00:00 - Tender - OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice - https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/search_switch.aspx?ID=123067

## Documents

- https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL405446
  Discretionary Assistance Fund Framework Agreement - 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.
- https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=FEB426271
  Discretionary Assistance Fund Framework Agreement - 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.

## Notice URLs

- http://gov.wales
- http://wales.gov.uk/?skip=1&lang=en
- https://api.sell2wales.gov.wales/v1?lang=cy/Notice?id=ocds-kuma6s-123067
- https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk/
- https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk/web/

## 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-kuma6s-123067. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-kuma6s-123067.json.