Award

Lay Advocacy Services

GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL (GMC)

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

20 Jan 2026 at 17:45

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process for Lay Advocacy Services was undertaken by the General Medical Council (GMC), a prominent UK authority responsible for ensuring the fitness to practise of medical professionals. Classified under miscellaneous health services and social work-related services, this procurement sought to provide advocacy support to individuals with varying communication needs in the GMC’s investigative processes. The tender was conducted as an open procedure, ensuring transparent competition, with the process reaching its award stage on 2 April 2025. The contract, valued at £130,000, primarily covers services in regions including the British Oversea Territories, Channel Islands, Europe, Isle of Man, and the UK, running from 4 April 2025 to 3 April 2027. The provider selected for the contract is Pohwer, which commenced services following the procurement conclusion.

This lay advocacy services tender represents a significant opportunity for organisations experienced in providing support to vulnerable individuals, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) specialising in health and social advocacy. The contract facilitates business growth by offering a scale of operation that spans several regions, making it an ideal opportunity for businesses with capabilities to deploy resources across multiple locations. Companies well-positioned to compete in such tenders often have a proven track record in advocacy, communication support, and familiarity with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010, ensuring they can effectively assist individuals through complex and sensitive processes.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Lay Advocacy Services

Notice Description

The Fitness to Practise Directorate is responsible for considering complaints about doctors Physician Associates (PAs) and Anaesthesia Associations (AAs). Anyone can bring a complaint directly to the GMC, including organisations, registrants, patients and their families.(For the purposes of this document a user of the lay advocacy service will be referred to as an individual.) Although we encourage these complaints to be put in writing, there are times when that is not possible or they experience difficulties putting their complaint in writing. Where this is the case, we require an independent lay advocacy service to assist in taking the complaints verbally. The lay advocacy service will also assist and engage with individuals throughout the investigation process where required. The aims of the service are to: - support individuals with a range of communication needs who may experience difficulties accessing and participating in our fitness to practise processes; - improve the experience of individuals who would benefit from support advocacy to engage with the GMC; - support more effective and meaningful interactions with individuals who may be vulnerable or have additional communication needs; - Support the needs of individuals who may require additional communication support as an adjustment in line with the Equality Act 2010.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-59035559-9d4d-4966-a7ad-917d81c2e1a7
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/2a23edef-37e4-4e6c-b99c-0f5261435d96
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85140000 - Miscellaneous health services

85300000 - Social work and related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£130,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£130,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Jan 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
10 Mar 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
1 Apr 202510 months ago
Contract Period
3 Apr 2025 - 3 Apr 2027 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL (GMC)
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
MANCHESTER
Postcode
M3 3AW
Post Town
Manchester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD3 Greater Manchester
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD33 Manchester
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Manchester
Electoral Ward
Deansgate
Westminster Constituency
Manchester Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

POHWER

Further Information

Notice Documents

Notice URLs

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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