Commissioning Debt Advice in England

The contract [Notice identifier: 2023/S 000-000206] has been modified by way of the inclusion of an option (if needed) to extend the contract term by 14-months from 1st February 2028 to 31st March 2029.

https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/000206-2023?origin=SearchResults&p=1

The reason for the option to extend the contract (if exercised) is to allow the new National Debt Advice Services procurement (see UK2: Preliminary market engagement notice; Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-037729 - Preliminary Market Engagement for the Provision of National Debt Advice Services) programme to continue developing strategic and operational approaches to meet the evolving needs of the supplier market.

If the option is not exercised, then there are no financial implications, and the current contract award value remains unchanged. Should the option be exercised, the additional total value of the contract will be between £60m and £66m.

The Authority is satisfied that this modification is not "substantial" for the purposes of regulation 72(1)(e) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR). Taking each element of the test set out at Regulation 72(8) in turn, the optional extension (if exercised):

• is on the same terms as the original contract - there is no "material difference" compared to the original contract and no renegotiation of any key term of the contract;
• is on the same terms as the original contract and does not introduce any conditions which would have the consequences described at Regulation 72(8)(b);
• will not change the economic balance of the contract in favour of the supplier; and
• does not include the provision of any new services and so does not extend the scope of the contract considerably.