COMMISSIONING DEBT ADVICE IN ENGLAND

The Money and Pensions Service, MaPS (the "Authority") is an arm's-length body, sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which is committed to providing access to the information and guidance people across the UK need to make effective financial decisions. This we aim to deliver in the most customer centric and cost-effective way possible.

MaPS is the largest funder of free debt advice in England and works alongside partners to make debt advice easier and quicker to access by the general public and to improve standards and quality across the sector.

MaPS is aware of the impact of debt advice on the lives of individuals, not just getting them back into a position of having control over their finances but also the positive impact on their health and wellbeing. We therefore want to ensure that more individuals that are in need of advice receive it each year.

This commissioning exercise represents the largest ever investment in debt advice services in England and will enable hundreds of thousands of additional people to access advice per year over and above our historic levels. Our contracts will run for three years, with a possible extension to five, giving greater certainty to the debt advice sector.

MaPS and its predecessor body, The Money Advice Service, has commissioned debt advice for many years now, therefore this commissioning approach is informed by our world leading consumer research programme into debt problems and debt advice. This insight will help us to offer the highest quality and best value for money services to customers and ensure our funding approach is aligned to current good practice.

The Authority intends to recommission agreements for national and regional debt advice provision, small business debt advice and the administration of Debt Relief Orders (DROs). The commissioned services will cover England only and will be delivered under contracts to commence on the 1 April 2022.

DROs will be delivered by Competent Authorities and will provide both national remote services and regional provision.

Organisations that will deliver debt advice (whether as lead supplier or as part of the Tenderer's supply chain) must hold the relevant FCA authorisation (to provide debt advice) unless they have a valid exemption provided by law. Organisations must ensure that delivery partners are FCA authorised (or legally exempt) to commence service delivery from 1 April 2022.