Issue 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