Decision details

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

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.

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.