Windrush Compensation Scheme – Claims Assistance

Tender description

The Home Office plans to procure independent advisory services for those applying to the Windrush Compensation Scheme and are seeking additional support. The content of this PIN may be subject to change. Lot 1: The Home Secretary announced in April 2019 the launch of the Windrush Compensation Scheme. In 2021, the end date for the Windrush Compensation Scheme was removed and the Scheme is expected to continue in the foreseeable future. As part of this Scheme, The Home Office is seeking suppliers to provide independent advisory services for those wishing to make a claim under the Scheme and support those who require additional support to complete the claim form. Selection of this service is at the discretion of the claimant and is not a requirement for submission of the form. It is expected that the chosen supplier will be delivering this service by July 2024. The Service is required in the UK and must also provide an ability to support individuals from overseas. Service users can contact the supplier directly or will be referred to the supplier via the Windrush Helpline, operated by the Home Office. The content of this PIN, including the nature of services and estimated value, may be subject to change. Background Information The Secretary of State for the Home Department as part of the Crown, acting through UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) (the “Home Office”), is procuring an independent advisory service to support claimants of the Windrush Compensation Scheme. The Windrush Compensation Scheme – Claims Assistance procurement is intended to procure independent advisory services for claimants who may need support in making their claims. This is an optional service that can be availed by claimants but is not a requirement to submit their claims. The claimants can either directly or through Home Office referral seek support on telephone, video conferencing or in-person (at home or supplier locations) in the UK. Overseas claimants are also able to seek support through telephone or alternative medium. The value of the contract will be in the range £1m – £1.3m. This is a volume lead contract and so whilst contract value is expected to be in the stated range, it could be lower. Background information about the Windrush Scheme can be found here – Windrush Scheme: full eligibility details - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) More information about the Windrush Compensation Scheme can be found here – Apply to the Windrush Compensation Scheme: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Market Engagement Prior to the procurement the Home Office will run a market testing exercise to seek valuable input from the market to understand supplier / market appetite, capacity and capability, along with an understanding of potential risks and opportunities. UKVI are also seeking input from the market to establish the most effective way of packaging and scoping the procurement for advisory services for Windrush Compensation Scheme. The aim is to deliver the highest degree of customer satisfaction while delivering value to the Home Office. The Home Office’s intention is to conduct an Open Procedure competition to identify a partner to fulfil this service. The intention is to run this process in early 2024, which may be subject to change. If deemed appropriate/necessary, we may also choose to hold a virtual supplier briefing session to engage with prospective bidders and provide further information.