Purpose

The purpose of this report is to seek approval that, in accordance with Contract Procedure Rule 5.3.2, a Call off Contract be awarded to E-Vouchers Ltd for the Crisis Payment Scheme from 29 September 2026 to 31 March 2029, including options to extend for further periods of time up to a maximum of 12 months in aggregate, to 31 March 2030.

Decision

The Director of Corporate Support hereby approves:-

(i)         That, in accordance with Contract Procedure Rule 5.3.2, a Call off Contract be awarded to E-Vouchers Ltd for the Crisis Payment Scheme from 29 September 2026 to 31 March 2029, including options to extend for further periods of time up to a maximum of 12 months in aggregate, to 31 March 2030; and

(ii)        That the Procurement Team be authorised to make the necessary arrangements for the issue of the relevant contract documentation.

Alternative options considered

Do Nothing: This option was considered and rejected as the Council has a requirement to implement a Crisis Payment Scheme in line with the Department for Work and Pensions published guidance.

Deliver in house: This option was considered and rejected as the Council does not currently possess the required specialist expertise, dedicated resource capacity, and supporting infrastructure to deliver the requirement effectively within the timescales. Developing an in-house solution would require significant investment in training, systems, and ongoing support, creating additional cost and implementation risk. External provision offers access to established expertise, resilience, and proven delivery arrangements, representing the most cost-effective and efficient option.