VTN - DIRECT AWARD - NOT OPEN - Contract for Potentially Fraudulent COVID Loan Application Investigation (open cases)

Following a Request for Proposal, Submission, Review and Negotiation DBT intends to direct award a contract to NATIS (The National Investigation Service) to continue to deliver an enforcement function for DBT in relation to Bounce Back Loans.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, DBT (formerly BEIS) guaranteed ~£46bn through the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) via the British Business Bank.

Ministers are keen to see action taken to recover the fraudulently taken loans.

Natis currently provide the service and DBT is looking to award a new contract from expiry of the current one 31st March 2025 to NATIS to ensure continuation of the services in respect of cases which are already open.

This contract will not include submitting new cases to NATIS.

Options in respect of new cases or cases where investigations have not yet begun are being considered by DBT.

The requirement covered by the new contract will be for 3 further years activity (plus 3 options of 6 month consecutive extensions).

There are 169 open cases, some of which include Serious Organised Crime (SOC).

DBT requires NATIS to continue with the existing caseload and recover funds that have been fraudulently obtained in the BBLS.

This procurement is for a contract to cover a three-year service provision (plus 3 options of 6 month consecutive extensions) for continuation of investigations into cases already opened (169) of potentially fraudulent COVID loan applications.

The service provided by NATIS under this requirement constitutes the following activity sets: • Assessment of high graded potentially fraudulent loans to identify potential for investigation • Investigation of those loans, including forensic accounting, private investigation and compilation of cases with evidence to support a prosecution (or identify no fraud) • Submission of cases identified as fraudulent through the investigations to the Crown Prosecution Service • Support cases through court • Report on outcome of court cases • Receive money due as a result of court instructions • Issue Account Freezing Orders as required. • Undertake POCA confiscation activity for cases which end in a guilty verdict, where appropriate • Share intelligence with other government departments and law enforcement agencies as necessary to support wider disruption.