Specialist Debt Advice Support Service

The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) will be commencing a tender for the delivery of a high-quality service to offer Debt Advisers working within the free to client sector quick and consistent responses to unusual or complex debt queries. The service will be delivered remotely by both phone and email.

The scope of the proposed service is intended to be within England only.

The service shall enable debt advisers to provide accurate debt advice to over-indebted clients, empowering advisers to achieve good client outcomes, and increasing adviser confidence by providing access to the most relevant technical and tailored advice.

The service should look to increase awareness of more complex legal information, lack of knowledge of certain procedures or pure complexity in application of the law.

It should be accessible to independent debt advice agencies, local Citizens Advice, local authorities, housing associations, IMA members and other voluntary sector agencies.

Whilst the preferred delivery approach is via a single organisation, MaPS may also consider splitting the requirement into lots if there is evidence that this will allow greater value for money and equity of access across the debt advice sector. (To be defined in the tender)

The indicative annual budget is £700k over a 3yr + 2yr duration. This is subject to change and will be confirmed at tender stage.

MaPS intends to hold a Market Engagement event (likely to hold in London) for the Specialist Debt Advice Support Service on the 31st March 2020. This will provide an opportunity for prospective suppliers to find out more about the aims of the proposed tender and contract(s), the process involved as well as network opportunities with others. MaPS will use the opportunity to gather intelligence from suppliers which may influence the final tender.

Eligible organisations wishing to participate in the future tender process should be aware of the eligibility criteria as outlined below:

Any organisation that wishes to deliver debt advice is required to obtain FCA authorisation unless they qualify for an exemption.

Prospective suppliers are advised that the FCA authorisation process can take up to 12 months.

Please note that this authorisation process is outside the scope of MAPS. Prospective suppliers are advised to visit the FCA website to find out more about application for authorisation and exemptions. https://www.fca.org.uk/

Prospective suppliers wishing to attend the Specialist Debt Advice Support Service on 31 March 2020, should express their interest by 20th March 2020 with the name, title and contact details for attendees (a maximum of two attendees per organisation) to:

Contact: MAPS Commercial

• E.commercial@maps.org.uk

The commissioner reserves the right not to proceed with the Procurement or any part thereof, or change the requirements as necessary at any time.

Information about this opportunity is also published on the OJEU TED database with OJEU No. 2020/S 050-119903.