Purpose

To support the recommendation to undertake a
collaborative approach to defining the provision of future Welfare
Benefits and Money advice services across East Sussex an extension
was granted for the initial Direct Award which ends 31 March 2026.
A Project Group was established to undertake the necessary
co-design work for the design and delivery of a Welfare Benefits
Advice Service, but this did not give due consideration for the
time needed for a full tender to be undertaken.
A direct award for the continuation of the service for a further 12
months is required to allow for a compliant full tender process to
be undertaken to meet the agreed objectives of the co-design and
co-commissioning groups who have been integral to the service
design

Decision

Approval of a direct award for a further
12-months to the current provider of the Welfare Benefits and Money
Advice Service to allow sufficient time for a compliant tender
process to be undertaken.

Alternative options considered

It is unlikely the service could be resourced
in the current timeframe. A change in supplier would incur
potential set up costs that would be high in relation to the
contract term and not considered advantageous to bidder or the
Council.
A direct award to extend the current provision offers value for
money and supports an open and compliant tendering process which
will enable maximum value to be achieved in terms of our offer to
the VCSE sector and continue to support the objective of supporting
local economic growth.