Tenders are invited from 6 February 2023 to bid for the Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service (HLPAS) in a small number of areas without compliant bids.
What is HLPAS?
HLPAS is designed to:
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replace in-court work currently provided under the Housing Possession and Court Duty Scheme (HPCDS) starting 1 August 2023
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allow delivery of early legal advice in social welfare law
We are also inviting applications for the delivery of housing and debt contract work to support delivery of the new HLPAS service.
Why do you need another HLPAS tender?
A small number of procurement areas did not receive compliant bids in the procurement process we ran before Christmas 2022. This new tender opportunity aims to deliver coverage in those areas.
Applicants who have already tendered to deliver HLPAS contract work do not need to bid again. They should only bid if interested in delivering HLPAS, and, where relevant, housing and debt contract work, in the 12 areas listed below.
Where are we tendering?
Bids are invited to deliver HLPAS services from 1 August 2023 to 31 August 2024 in these 12 areas:
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Bedford
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Birkenhead
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Crewe
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Darlington
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Dartford
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Durham
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High Wycombe
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Hull
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Liverpool
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Teesside
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Telford
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Wigan
One contract will be awarded for each HLPAS area. Unlimited numbers of contracts will also be offered for housing and debt in each of the relevant procurement areas.
Who is eligible?
Applicants do not need to be current legal aid providers. But they must meet one of the following requirements:
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currently hold a 2018 housing and debt contract
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be awarded a 2018 housing and debt contract through the procurement process at the office from which they are bidding
Housing and debt contract tender
In consideration of these requirements, bids are also invited to deliver housing and debt contract work. Providers bidding for housing and debt contracts as part of this procurement process, must also submit a compliant HLPAS tender.
Tender deadline
The tender opens on 6 February and closes at 12pm on 1 March 2023. Bids must be submitted using the Legal Aid Agency's eTendering system.
