The Provision of 3rd Party Debt Collection Agency Services (Pre-Legal)

Bord Gais Eireann

Bord Gáis Éireann (BGE) acting through its Energy division requires the provision 3rd party debt collection services in respect of debt 120+ days overdue across electricity, gas and home services products for our residential and commercial markets. Accordingly BGE now wishes to enter into a framework agreement with a number of debt collection service providers for the provision of the required services.
The Bord Gáis Energy debt collections process is clearly defined and aligned with Bord Gáis’s social corporate responsibility. Appropriate customer treatment is applied, taking into consideration customer history, age and value of debt up to approximately 120 days past due. Delivery of these processes is currently carried out by a 3rd party service provider for debt up to approximately 120 days past due date for residential customers and in-house for commercial customers. Following an operational review of the debt collection process a decision has been made now to appoint a panel of service providers to provide debt collection services for certain segments of aged debt over 120 days overdue; it is such services which are the subject of this competition.
It is currently anticipated that the contract(s) to be awarded will be for a 3 year period with an option for BGE at its discretion to extend any contract for a further period of up to one (1) additional year. It is envisaged that payment to each service provider appointed to the panel in respect of services provided will be by way of commission calculated by reference to collected monies.
It is envisaged that a framework agreement will be entered into with a maximum of 5 service providers.
The volume of debt collection services actually drawn down from any service provider on the panel will vary from time to time and will depend inter alia on its performance in providing the debt collection services as assessed periodically by BGE. Further details on the number of framework agreements to be awarded and on how services will be allocated among the panel initially and from time to time thereafter will be provided in the tender documents which will issue in the course of this competition.
Bord Gáis Energy’s commitment to delivering quality service to customers requires a flexible, dynamic, and customer focused partner(s), ensuring that as customer and market needs change, this commitment to quality service delivery continues. Accordingly, a key requirement for the debt collections process is the efficient delivery of a consistently high level of customer service.
The services and contractual arrangements which are the subject of this notice are Part B services (as set out in Annex XVII of Directive 2004/17/EC) and accordingly are not subject to the full rigours of Directive 2004/17/EC (and the corresponding Irish Regulations), and that legislation (including, without limitation, the timelines provided for in the legislation) will not be applied by Bord Gáis Energy in this competition, save to the extent expressly required by that legislation in respect of Part B services. This notice is accordingly published on a voluntary basis.
Expressions of interest should be addressed in writing for the attention of the energy procurement manager by e-mail to cwhite@bge.ie.
Note: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the eTenders Web Site at http://www.etenders.gov.ie/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=189632.

Deadline
The time limit for receipt of tenders was 2011-02-14. The procurement was published on 2011-01-14.

Suppliers
The following suppliers are mentioned in award decisions or other procurement documents:

• • Arvato Finance
• • Bcw Ireland Plc
• • Businesspro/Stubbsgazette
• • Emerald Isle Collections Limited

Who?

• • Bord Gais Eireann

What?

• • Miscellaneous business and business-related services › Collection agency services

Where?

• • Éire/Ireland