News story

Civil news: face to face contracts to share 2018 start date

Move to align face to face standard civil contracts by April 2018 means extensions to many existing contracts.

We plan to extend a number of existing contracts through to 31 March 2018 in order to bring all face to face civil contracts (except mediation) to the same start date.

All 2013 and 2014 Standard Civil Contracts will be extended. Any new contracts procured ahead of April 2018 will only be awarded to the end of 31 March 2018.

What does this mean for welfare benefits contracts?

The 2014 Standard Civil Contract (Welfare Benefits) will now be extended by 9 months to 31 October 2016.

During this time we will develop a procurement process for new contracts in the North and South West and Wales Procurement Areas to take us through to 31 March 2018.

The 2013 Standard Civil Contracts (Welfare Benefits) will run through to 31 March 2018.

The Welfare Benefits category will be aligned with other civil face to face contracts from 1 April 2018.

What is the impact on other contracts?

We will need to end early any contract that runs past 31 March 2018 to ensure all contracts are aligned from 1 April 2018. These include:

  • actions against the police
  • clinical negligence
  • public law

Providers will be given the necessary contractual notice period.

Where can I find out more?

A headline intentions document with more information is available on GOV.UK – see below.

Further information

Civil tenders – to download headline intentions document about alignment of contracts

Published 6 November 2015