Crisis Resilience Fund Eligibility & Resilience Services

Hampshire County Council is commissioning a specialist third-party provider to manage the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight region. The primary scope of work involves an independent eligibility checking function to assess Crisis Payment applications against national DWP guidance and local criteria, processing approximately 1,000 applications per month with seasonal fluctuations of up to 30%. Additionally, the provider must deliver financial resilience and capability services to roughly 900 applicants per month, focusing on money advice, debt reduction, income maximisation, and early intervention to reduce the need for future crisis support. The contract is estimated to run from March 1, 2027, to March 31, 2029, with payments made quarterly in advance. To qualify, providers must evidence at least 12 months of trading, hold Public and Employer's Liability insurance, and be registered with the Information Commissioners Office to meet data protection standards. Financial stability is verified via a minimum Creditsafe Business Risk score of 30/100, with potential requirements for a Parent Company Guarantee or Performance Bond for scores between 30 and 50. Award decisions will be based on four quality criteria totaling 100 points, focusing on accessibility for vulnerable groups, resource models for eligibility and resilience support, and the ability to provide tailored, non-standardized crisis interventions. The contract is subject to potential modifications or termination due to Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) processes.