Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Access To Elected Office for Disabled People Fund

UK-London: Financial transaction processing and clearing-house services.

Section I: Contracting Authority
   Title: UK-London: Financial transaction processing and clearing-house services.
   I.1)Name, Addresses and Contact Point(s):
      Department of Culture, Media and Sport
      100 Parliament Street, London, SW1A 2BQ, United Kingdom
      Contact: iain.newton@geo.gsi.gov.uk or joel.derbyshire@geo.gsi.gov.uk

      Further information can be obtained at: As Above
   I.2)Type of the contracting authority:
      Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local sub-divisions

   I.3) Main activity:
      Recreation, culture and religion

   I.4) Contract award on behalf of other contracting authorities:
      The contracting authority is purchasing on behalf of other contracting authorities: No


Section II.B: Object Of The Contract (Supplies Or Services)
   II.Services.1
      II.1)Title attributed to the contract by the contracting authority: Access To Elected Office for Disabled People Fund
      II.2)Type of contract and place of delivery or of performance
         Service category No: 27         Region Codes: UK - UNITED KINGDOM

      II.3)Short description of nature and quantity or value of supplies or services:
         Financial transaction processing and clearing-house services. We would be looking for interested parties to potentially bid to provide a grants administration service.

The Access to Elected Office for Disabled People fund pilot helps disabled people who want to become MPs, councilors or other elected officials with any disability-related costs of standing for election, and which a non-disabled candidate would not face, for example:
•   difficulties using public transport
•   paying for sign language interpreters
•   paying extra travel or accommodation costs for a carer

Individuals can receive grants from £250-£20,000.
Funding is not available for candidates’ normal day to day living costs, nor for the costs which all election candidates face, e.g., election deposits, design and printing of campaign literature/election leaflets.
The fund aims to increase the number of disabled people who can participate in elections to become MPs, Local Authority councillors (and elected Mayors) in England, Police and Crime Commissioners (England and Wales) and members of the Greater London Authority.
How the fund works
Disabled person wants to stand for elected office but faces additional costs because of his/her disability

Applies to independent fund, providing evidence of need, and political commitment and referee

A fund administrator, independent of government considers the application

The application is approved , rejected or the fund administrator requests further information.

Applicant informed of decision

Candidate submits receipts

Candidate reimbursed within 35 days
Contract requirements
We would be looking for interested parties to potentially bid to provide a grants administration service.
Length

The contract would run from 1 April 2014 to 30 June 2015 and we’d be looking to appoint the fund administrator by February 2014. If a new fund administrator was appointed, there would be a handover process with the current provider between February 2014 and April 2014.

The intention is to let an initial one year contract with two optional extensions of one year each.

“Permissible Donor” requirements

In accordance with legislation covering donations to candidates and political parties (s. 54(2) of the Political Parties Elections and Referendums act 2000 - http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpg a/2000/41/contents) the contractor must be a “Permissible Donor”, ie a registered party, company, trade union, building society, a limited liability partnership, a friendly industrial or provident society or an unincorporated association.
The Contractor will principally be required to:
-   maintain a website to act as the principle source of information and access to application forms,
-   liaise with applicants in processing applications for the Advisory Panel to consider, and
-   for approved applications, administer subsequent reimbursement to candidates.
Also, as well as ensuring that funding is used only for its intended purpose, the contractor also has to ensure that it complies with relevant legislation concerning candidates’ election expenses (see:
http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate/candidates-and-agents )
Consideration of the above often requires sensitive liaison with applicants. The contractor must respect applicants’ medical confidentiality, and should be able to treat applicants with patience, empathy and respect.
All fund information and forms must be readily available in accessible formats, and the contractor should be flexible and comfortable in dealing with applicants who face communication barriers.

Further information - suppliers’ day
This potential contract presents an opportunity to work in partnership with Government to deliver an innovative project to facilitate a much needed increase in the representation of disabled people in the UK’s democratic institutions.
The information above is not exhaustive: interested parties are welcome to seek further information by attending a suppliers’ information event on 12 September at 100 Parliament Street, London, SW1A 2BQ.
Please register your interest in attending by emailing Iain Newton iain.newton@geo.gsi.gov.uk and Joel.Derbyshire@geo.gsi.gov.uk or calling 020 7 211 6438 or Tel: 020 7 211 6475.         Lots (for information about lots, use Annex B as many times as there are lots):
         This contract is divided into lots: No          

      II.4)Common Procurement Vocabulary:
         66172000 - Financial transaction processing and clearing-house services.
      II.5)Scheduled date for start of award procedures:
      II.6)Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA):
         The contract is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA): Yes          

      II.7)Additional Information:
         Further information - suppliers’ day
This potential contract presents an opportunity to work in partnership with Government to deliver an innovative project to facilitate a much needed increase in the representation of disabled people in the UK’s democratic institutions.
The information above is not exhaustive: interested parties are welcome to seek further information by attending a suppliers’ information event on 12 September at 100 Parliament Street, London, SW1A 2BQ.
Please register your interest in attending by emailing Iain Newton iain.newton@geo.gsi.gov.uk and Joel.Derbyshire@geo.gsi.gov.uk or calling 020 7 211 6438 or Tel: 020 7 211 6475.

   
Section III: Legal, Economic, Financial And Technical Information
   III.1)Conditions relating to the contract
   III.1.1)Main financing conditions and payment arrangements and/or reference to the relevant provisions governing them:
      Not Provided      
   III.2)Conditions For Participation
   III.2.1)Information about reserved contracts: Not Provided      
Section VI: Complementary Information
   VI.1)Information about European Union funds: No   
   VI.2)Additional Information:
      To view this notice, please click here:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=70527641
GO-2013813-PRO-5033893 TKR-2013813-PRO-5033892
   VI.3)Information On General Regulatory Framework
      Relevant governmental Internet sites where information can be found:
      Not Provided

   VI.4)Date Of Dispatch Of This Notice: 13/08/2013