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Children's Service Energy Cards and Vouchers

Sheffield City Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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17 Jul 2026 at 10:02

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Sheffield City Council procured energy cards and vouchers for children’s services. The service provides an alternative to pre-payment cards, which are restricted to particular retailers and may therefore be used for unintended purposes. The energy cards are restricted to payment of gas and electricity bills, helping children to maintain heating and power. This is a financial service delivered across Yorkshire and the Humber, with Sheffield City Council as the buying organisation. The requirement is for a controlled payment solution rather than general-purpose vouchers: suppliers need to support energy-related spending while preventing the funds from being used for unrelated purchases. The service sits within the financial and insurance services category and is relevant to providers of restricted-use payment cards, vouchers or comparable managed payment products.

The procurement is complete and was awarded through a direct award. The tender submission deadline was 24 June 2026 at 4pm, and the contract was awarded on 6 July 2026. Blackhawk Network EMEA Ltd was selected for a value of £120,000. The contract runs from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2028. The award was active when recorded. Sheffield City Council evaluated the requirement as a services procurement and identified the opportunity as unsuitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises. There were no lots. The stated basis was a direct award rather than an open competition, so the outcome reflects the council’s selection of one supplier for the complete energy card and voucher requirement.

For a supplier assessing future demand from Sheffield City Council, this award demonstrates a requirement for controlled financial support that can be issued to children’s services users and restricted specifically to gas and electricity payments. Credible providers would need an established card or voucher platform, controls that prevent spending outside permitted energy bills, and the operational capacity to administer the service reliably across Yorkshire and the Humber. Experience in payment services, voucher fulfilment, transaction monitoring and safeguarding public funds would be relevant. The council’s recorded assessment indicates that the requirement was not suited to SMEs or voluntary, community or social enterprises, while the selected supplier was a large organisation. Competitors would therefore need comparable scale, infrastructure and assurance arrangements.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Children's Service Energy Cards and Vouchers

Notice Description

Energy cards and vouchers to be used as an alternative to Pre-Payment Cards which are restricted to spend in specific retailers so they cannot be used for unintended purposes, and the Energy Cards can only be spent for Gas and Electric bills ensuring the child maintains heat and power.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-80d210b4-4092-4659-aa11-fc0ebd3f846e
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8fea8e9a-83ee-4266-9ed9-9d1a352eddbb
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

66 - Financial and insurance services

CPV Codes

66000000 - Financial and insurance services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£120,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
6 Jul 20263 months ago
Contract Period
1 Jul 2026 - 30 Jun 2028 2-3 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
Sheffield City Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SHEFFIELD
Postcode
S1 2HH
Postcode Area
Sheffield
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLE3 South Yorkshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLE32 Sheffield
Delivery Location
TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
Local Authority
Sheffield
Electoral Ward
City
Westminster Constituency
Sheffield Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Blackhawk Network EMEA Limited

Further Information

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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