Accessible Vehicles and Equipment Scheme: request for information

Accessible Vehicles and Equipment Scheme

The Scotland Act 2016 devolves power over a number of non-work related disability benefits to the Scottish Government, as well as other benefits to support people on low incomes.

The Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 creates the legal framework under which social security assistance will be administered by Social Security Scotland, an executive agency of the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government recognises that social security is an investment in the people of Scotland, and places respect for the dignity of individuals at the heart of the Scottish social security system.

Background

Disability Assistance is a new form of social security assistance (both tax free and non-means-tested), providing financial support to individuals with a long-term health condition or disability.

We are launching the Accessible Vehicles and Equipment Scheme to ensure that individuals in Scotland who receive a qualifying rate of Disability Assistance will be able to lease a range of cars, scooters and powered wheelchairs directly from a choice of accredited providers.

Social Security Scotland will arrange to pay the qualifying part of an individual’s Disability Assistance to the accredited provider for the duration of a lease. Individuals who select the scheme to meet their mobility needs will not be subject to a credit check and will enjoy a range of affordable choices directly from providers.

Suppliers who wish to achieve accreditation must be ready to offer service in time for the first form of Disability Assistance which will launch in summer 2020.

Requirements

Providers who can provide individuals with accessible vehicles and equipment on a three year lease, and are able to satisfy the following minimum requirements, are invited to apply for accreditation:

• breakdown cover and roadside assistance 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,
• annual mileage allowance of 20,000 miles for vehicles,
• road tax (where applicable),
• free servicing, battery and tyre replacement,
• windscreen repairs,
• fully comprehensive insurance for two named drivers,
• a range of adaptations at no, or minimal cost, and
• the option to replace vehicles and equipment if they are no longer suitable for individual’s needs.

Accredited Providers will be responsible for meeting costs associated with Social Security Scotland’s administration of the scheme.

Information Requested

Please describe how your solution would ensure a scalable and resilient service that provides individuals receiving a qualifying form of social security assistance with a comprehensive accessible vehicles and equipment leasing scheme, as set out in the requirements above?

• What is the maximum number of clients that you would be able to manage and support at any given time?

• Would you have existing capacity to meet a ‘go-live’ date of 1^st April 2020 or have the resource to increase capacity, as the devolved disability benefits come on stream. However if there are constraints that restrict you increasing capacity to meet demand for the service, please provide details of any constraints that may limit you providing additional capacity.

• What do you see as the likely challenges for the market in delivering the scheme?

• Are you aware of any other contracts or clients who are meeting a similar demand in an innovative way, which may impact on resources available to support the service?

• Would you be likely to apply for accreditation? If not, please give your reasons why.

No information provided in response to this RFI will be used to form judgements regarding applicant performance, capacity or capability under any current or future process. No organisation will be advantaged or disadvantaged by submitting or not submitting a response to this RFI.

Information submitted may be shared with the Scottish Government staff responsible for policy development and implementation of the new service. Information will be treated as sensitive and confidential where appropriate.

By issuing this RFI, the Scottish Government does not make any commitment to take forward the Accreditation Process or any of the stated services. Furthermore, receipt of this RFI should not be construed as authorisation to incur any costs for which reimbursement would be sought. Nothing in this document shall be taken as constituting or indicating a contract or representation with or by the Scottish Government.

All information submitted in response to this RFI may need to be disclosed and/or published by the Scottish Ministers. The Scottish Ministers may disclose information in compliance with the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (the Act).

Accordingly, if you consider that any of the information provided in your response is commercially confidential please identify it and explain what harm might result from disclosure and/or publication. It should be noted that, even where you have indicated that information is commercially sensitive, Scottish Ministers may disclose this information in accordance with the provision of the Act or any other relevant legal duty.

We will be holding a provider information day on 16 September 2019 between 9.30am and 12.00pm at:

Surgeons Quarter
Nicolson Street
Edinburgh EH8 9DW

Tax Treatment of Accredited Providers

Accredited providers under the scheme may be able to take advantage of specialist tax treatment and exemptions for the purposes of Value Added Tax and Insurance Premium Tax.

Providers should take their own tax and legal advice on the likely tax treatment of the provision of accessible vehicles and equipment.

For further information or any queries, please contact david.george@gov.scot or call 0131 244 6212.