The Provision of Debt Management and Sheriff Officer Services

Tender description

Glasgow City Council invites suitably qualified and experienced suppliers to submit bids for the provision of Debt Management and Sheriff Officer Services. The contract has been allocated into 7 separate lots : Lot 1 – Council Tax (First Placement) Lot 2 – Council Tax (Second Placement) Lot 3 - Non Domestic Rates (NDR) Lot 4 – Sundry Debt Lot 5 - Fixed Penalties Lot 6 – Housing Benefit Overpayments Lot 7 – Sheriff Officers (not connected to Lots 1 - 6) Lot 1: Council Tax (First Placement) The council seeks the services of a Debt Management Partner and Sheriff Officer for collection of unpaid council tax. The supplier of Lot 1 will receive the majority of council tax cases; however it is anticipated that the prospects of successful collection will be high. The caseload will mainly consist of the following: - customers who have a history of payment activity or customers who have fallen into arrears for the first time - customers who have vacated the property and may require to be traced The caseload may also contain customers that are liable to pay council tax on unoccupied properties. This caseload may include customers that are subject to an additional 100% charge for long term empty properties and second homes. The successful supplier will assist the council with collection of debt in these cases and where appropriate trace absent owners. Lot 2: Council Tax (Second Placement) The council seeks the services of a Debt Management Partner and Sheriff Officer that has the ability to investigate and initiate council tax collection from customers with a history of non-payment. The supplier will assist the council in the collection of council tax by taking a holistic and innovative approach to investigation, confirming liability and recovery and collection. Lot 3: Non-Domestic Rates The council seeks the services of a Debt Management Partner and Sheriff Officer to assist the council in the collection of Non-Domestic Rates, Business Improvement Districts (BIDS), Civil penalties and the Visitor Levy. They will take a holistic and innovative approach to investigation, confirmation of liability, recovery and collection. The Lot 3 supplier will provide collection and recovery services for customers liable to pay Business Improvement Districts (BIDS) within the Glasgow City boundary. Lot 4: Sundry Debt The council seeks the services of a Debt Management Partner for collection of unpaid Accounts Receivable or Sundry Debts. The council and its Affiliated Bodies provide a wide range of services that are subject to invoice and collection processes. The successful supplier will assist the council in the collection of unpaid invoices issued by council departments or affiliated bodies. The council may also be required to administer and collect a range of sundry charges introduced during the period of this framework agreement. Additional levy’s or any other additional fees administered by the council family will also be included in the scope of this lot. Lot 5: Fixed Penalties The council seeks the services of a Debt Management Partner and Sheriff Officer that has the ability to investigate and initiate collection from debtors who have failed to make full payment of a Penalty Charge Notice and/or Bus Lane Charge Notice. The successful supplier will also provide collection and enforcement services to any similar new scheme where a fixed penalty is applied. Lot 6: Housing Benefit Overpayments The council seeks the services of a Debt Management Partner and Sheriff Officer for collection of unpaid Housing Benefit Overpayments (HBOP). The council administers and pays Housing Benefit (HB) to public and private sector tenants and landlords on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions. Lot 7: Sheriff Officers (not connected to Lots 1 - 6) The council seeks to appoint a supplier to provide Sheriff Officer services to a framework for the execution of general citation and diligence services for the council not connected to Lots 1-6. The successful supplier will commit sufficient resources to the work allocated in order to meet the service level requirements of this contract.