BACKGROUND TO THE AUTHORITY Sample Clauses

BACKGROUND TO THE AUTHORITY. 3.1 The Operational Infrastructure Programme (OIP) WTE team work within DES. This is part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) (Referred to as the Authority from this point).

BACKGROUND TO THE AUTHORITY. 3.1 The Authority is responsible for providing policing to all areas of Northern Ireland.

BACKGROUND TO THE AUTHORITY. 3.1 HM Passport Office is an Executive Agency of the Home Office. It is a customer focused organisation providing passports for British Citizens and passport verification services right across the UK and across the world. HM Passport Office also provides the system of civil registration, including births, stillbirths, adoptions, civil partnerships, marriages and deaths in England and Wales. It does this in partnership with a range of government departments and authorities who provide the service directly to their local community. 3.2 HM Passport Office Operations Directorate is responsible for the day to day delivery of services to customers and issues approximately six million passports per year to customers both in the UK and to British nationals living abroad. 3.3 The Agency changed its name earlier during 2013. It was previously called Identity and Passport Service. 3.4 In terms of its UK operation, HM Passport Office operates three Area Processing Centres (APCs), four Customer Service Centres (CSCs) together with a network of thirty-three Customer Services Offices (CSOs). The APCs mainly deal with the processing and issue of postal applications for passports. The CSCs and CSOs deal with customers on a face-to-face basis. 3.5 HMPO no longer have the commercial authority and all procurement and contract extension must be undertaken by CCS or Home Office Commercial. HMPO Senior Management Team (SMT) has agreed that this service continues to be required for a minimum of 3yrs (1+1+1) with a break clause subject to the outcome of research in relation to a digital solution to capture customer images. 3.6 HMPO require one supplier and a contract tenure of 3 (three) years (1+1+1).

BACKGROUND TO THE AUTHORITY. 4.1 DfT works with its agencies and partners to support the transport network that helps the UK’s businesses and gets people and goods travelling around the country. It plans and invest in transport infrastructure to keep the UK on the move. DfT is also responsible for setting national aviation policy, working with airlines, airports, the Civil Aviation Authority and NATS (the UK’s air traffic service). 4.2 More information about DfT can be found on its website at: ▇▇▇▇▇://▇▇▇.▇▇▇.▇▇/government/organisations/department-for-transport/about 4.3 The Aviation Policy Framework1 sets out the government’s policy to allow the aviation sector to continue to make a significant contribution to the economic growth of the country. 4.4 The Government recognises the very important role airports across the UK play in:  attracting new or more frequent international connections to attract new business activity to support the growth of a more balanced economy 1▇▇▇▇▇://▇▇▇.▇▇▇.▇▇/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/153776/aviation-policy-framework.pdf  reducing the need for long-distance travel to and from airports; and  giving air passengers greater choice. 4.5 The UK Government believes that airlines operate best in a competitive, commercial environment and it is for individual airlines to determine the routes that they operate. However, the UK recognises that aviation plays an important role in connecting regions and accepts that aid may be necessary to develop air services to airports where local economic conditions prove unattractive to airlines. However, any Government intervention in this market must ensure that it does not distort competition. 4.6 In response to this agenda, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury announced in the 2013 Spending Round that £20 million would be made available over two years to 2016 to maintain regional air access to London through a Public Service Obligation (PSO) where there was the probability that an existing air service would be lost. 4.7 PSOs are governed by European legislation on ‘Common rules for the operation of air services in the Community’ (1008/2008). The Department for Transport (DfT) has published ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ that clarifies how Government will ordinarily expect to interpret these criteria when assessing PSO applications to protect existing regional air services to London and how a devolved administration or local authority can access funding for supporting an airline to operate a service on the PSO route. ...

BACKGROUND TO THE AUTHORITY. 3.1 The Home Office is responsible for: • Working on the problems caused by illegal drug use • Shaping the alcohol strategy, policy and licensing conditions • Keeping the United Kingdom safe from the threat of terrorism • Reducing and preventing crime, and ensuring people feel safe in their homes and communities • Securing the UK border and controlling immigration • Considering applications to enter and stay in the UK • Issuing passports and visas • Supporting visible, responsible and accountable policing by empowering the public and freeing up the police to fight crime • Fire prevention and rescue 3.2 Home Office Priorities are to: • Prevent terrorism • Cut crime • Control immigration • Promote growth • Transform the Home Office 3.3 While the requirement is to cover all core parts of the Home Office, the initial focus is on UKVI and HMPO. 3.4 UKVI was set up by Ministers (upon the dissolution of the UK Border Agency in March 2013). It is a large global operation whose purpose is to make millions of decisions every year about who has the right to visit or stay in the country. This high volume service has a firm emphasis on national security and a culture of customer satisfaction for people who come here legally. UKVI’s core principles are to be consistently competent, high performing and customer focused, while keeping the UK safe and secure. UKVI is responsible for: 3.4.1 Running the UK’s visa service, managing around 3 million applications a year from overseas nationals who wish to come to the UK to visit, study or work. 3.4.2 Considering applications for British citizenship from overseas nationals who wish to settle here permanently. 3.4.3 Running the UK’s asylum service offering protection to those eligible under the 1951 Geneva Convention. 3.4.4 Deciding applications from employers and educational establishments who want to join the register of sponsors or gain highly trusted sponsor status.

BACKGROUND TO THE AUTHORITY. 5.1 The National Apprenticeship Service was launched in April 2009. We are part of the Skills Funding Agency and have responsibility for increasing the number of apprentices in England. We work with employers to help them introduce apprentices into their business, stimulate demand from high quality individuals looking to start and change their careers find an Apprenticeship and, through the Agency, contribute towards the Apprenticeship training costs. We engage with a wide range of partners to help design Apprenticeship frameworks and implement all Government policies aimed at improving the quality and quantity of Apprenticeships.

BACKGROUND TO THE AUTHORITY o Home Office Border Force operates seven (7) designated custody suites for individuals detained at ports for customs offences. These suites have to adhere to the operational standards as required by the ACPO guidance and the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 to safeguard the health and well being of the detainees. • BACKGROUND TO REQUIREMENT/OVERVIEW OF REQUIREMENT o Detainees must be able to sleep in the cells, so comfortable mattresses, pillows and blankets are required. Blankets should provide comfort and warmth, but as some of the detainees are deemed to be ‘high risk’, it is vital that blankets cannot be easily used as ligatures (for example, by tearing or rolling). All items must be flame retardant, to comply with national standards. Mattresses and pillows should be waterproof and easy to clean within the custody suites. All items should be durable, and vandal proof, and provide good value for money over the product’s lifetime. o The contract to supply will be for Two (2) years with options to extend for a further 2 x 1 year. Over the course of the contract, suites will make purchases as products require replacement. The Home Office is unable to guarantee the quantities of future orders but bidders should base their estimations of likely future orders on the average lifespan of their products. o The Preferred Provider may be included in the Adelphi catalogue system but items will be ordered and paid for out of individual suite budgets. • SCOPE OF REQUIREMENT o Mattresses, pillows and special risk blankets will be required for detainees in the seven (7) custody suites. We anticipate, but do not guarantee, the initial order to comprise of approximately: • 60 Blankets • 30 vandal proof pillows • 6 mattresses o Following the initial order, suites may make additional purchases over the remaining term of the contract, as and when the need arises (as products require replacement etc). Bidders should estimate the value of the contract’s lifespan based on their expectation of when their proposed goods will require replacement. o The requirement is divided into two (2) Lots and the Authority reserves the right to award each Lot independently of the other, to whom ever provides the greater value for Money. The Lots shall be: • Lot 1 – Special Risk Blankets • Lot 2 – Cell Mattresses & Pillows o Potential Providers may submit proposals for either Lot or for both should they wish. o Potential Providers shall be required to provide samples as ...

BACKGROUND TO THE AUTHORITY. DfT works with our agencies and partners to support the transport network that helps the UK’s businesses, and gets people and goods travelling around the country. We plan and invest in transport infrastructure to keep the UK on the move. One of DfT’s key responsibilities is to maintain high standards of safety and security in transport, and continuing to improve road safety is a Departmental priority. In 2011, DfT produced the Strategic Framework for Road Safety to look at three main areas in increasing road safety: Freeing local councils to make their own decisions on how best to make their roads safer Improving public education and training Penalising the minority of offenders who drive dangerously

BACKGROUND TO THE AUTHORITY. DfT works with its agencies and partners to support the transport network that helps the UKs businesses and gets people and goods travelling around the country. We plan and invest in transport infrastructure to keep the UK on the move and support economic growth. Within the DfT, the Statistics Roads and Freight (SRF) Division proactively develops innovative analyses and high quality statistics that provide the foundation of evidence-based policy and decision making. The SRF Division produces Official and National Statistics on traffic, congestion, road conditions, road lengths, and road freight.