Provision of Nest Scheme administration services

Description

The Authority has awarded a contract to Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for the build, delivery and operation of administration services for the defined contribution pension scheme known as the National Employment Savings Trust. The administration services will support auto-enrolment and be delivered primarily via digital channels. The contract will be for a minimum term of 10 years, with an optional extension period of up to 5 years, and the option of an additional period of up to 3 years for exit. The total contract value is indicative and covers this potential 18 year period. The Authority considers that competition is absent for technical reasons and so has awarded the contract to TCS without publishing a prior call for competition. The Authority's reasons for forming this view are set out below. The Authority and TCS entered into the contract on 21/06/23. Lot 1: The Authority has procured a fully outsourced service for the build, delivery and operation of administration services for the defined contribution pension scheme known as the National Employment Savings Trust. The administration services will support auto-enrolment and be delivered primarily via digital channels. The contract will be for a minimum term of 10 years, with an optional extension period of up to 5 years, and the option of an additional period of up to 3 years for exit. The total contract value is indicative and covers this potential 18 year period. As a financial services organisation with public body status, the Authority adheres to public procurement regulations. Therefore, the Authority conducted this procurement in accordance with the rules laid out in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The Authority has used the negotiated procedure without prior publication for the reasons explained below.