HMRC is investigating the available options for the establishment of an auctioneers' services framework to facilitate the recovery and sale of goods by auction.

In England and Wales these services will also include the ability to meet all requirements that enables them to comply with the Taking Control of Goods legislation and have appropriately certificated Enforcement agents.

The primary purpose of this Prior Information Notice (PIN) is to carry out market engagement and alert interested parties that HMRC is intending using a competitive tender process to identify suitable providers for the provision of the service on a UK-wide basis (with the exception of Scotland).

A typical assignment called off under this framework may ask service providers to carry out the following activities and actions: -receiving and signing for papers etc. as necessary ; -carrying out a brief risk assessment (i.e. to ensure that the item for auction is not something which cannot be removed); -setting up an appropriate record; -making contact by telephone and then following this up immediately by issuing a letter (text provided by HMRC) warning of a visit and removal after 7 days; -assessing the appropriate course of action for the particular case; -returning papers to the HMRC by a tracked delivery service on conclusion of the case, -appraisal; -removal & storage of goods seized by the Authority as part of the action; -immediate removal - in cases where immediate removal is necessary the supplier must have the ability to carry duties out without notice, providing sufficient suitable transport and personnel; -advertising/sale at Public Auction of goods seized as part of the action; -professional/technical advice; -auction planning; -saleroom service; -progress reports; and -administration.

For the purposes of this framework it is expected that this requirement will be broken down into 11 regional lots.

These lots, which will mirror the boundaries of the existing European Parliament regional constituencies will be as follows: -North East; -North West; -Yorkshire and the Humber; -East of England; -East Midlands; -West Midlands; -South East; -South West; -London; -Wales; and -Northern Ireland It is anticipated that bidders will be enabled to bid for individual lots, specific combinations of regional lots (North of England (North East, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber), Midlands (East of England, East Midlands, West Midlands) South of England (South East, South West)), or individual lots in any other combination.