Award

22119 Direct Payment Support Services

CAMBRIDGESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

17 Jul 2025 at 19:29

TenderUpdate

16 Oct 2024 at 11:09

Planning

23 Aug 2024 at 08:56

Summary of the contracting process

Cambridgeshire County Council has completed the procurement process for the "22119 Direct Payment Support Services" contract, classified under health and social work services. This contract aims to deliver support services to individuals receiving direct payments within their personal budget arrangements, and it encompasses activities such as HR advice, recruitment, and management of personal assistants. The buying organisation, a regional authority located in Huntingdon, has utilised an open procurement method, with the award phase finalised. The contract was signed on 11 February 2025, with a value of £397,977.48, awarded to Purple Zest Limited, suggesting the significance of their service provision within the region UKH12.

This tender presents substantial growth opportunities for businesses in the health and social work sector, specifically those providing high-quality information and support services related to direct payments. Companies that offer personalised HR and financial advisory services, as well as those capable of developing and managing technology platforms for personal assistant matchmaking, could benefit significantly from contracts like this. Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), like Purple Zest Limited, have proven capable of securing such contracts, highlighting the potential for other SMEs to compete effectively by providing specialised and value-driven services in similar government procurement opportunities. Additionally, businesses adept in integrating social value into their service offerings stand a better chance of meeting critical award criteria, given the emphasis on quality and price in this procurement process.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

22119 Direct Payment Support Services

Notice Description

A new contract to be procured for a Direct Payment Support Service (DPSS) to deliver support services to users who receive direct payments as part of their personal budget arrangement. Clients will receive their own fund to hire a personal assistant, legal/HR advise, sourcing and recruitment support, marketing and find more Personal Assistants in the market. This service will be used to aid people of all ages (adults, young people, and children).

Lot Information

Lot 1

The Council's detailed requirements are defined in the Specification. We are looking to commission a high-quality Direct Payment Support Service (DPSS) that enables the outcome of improved independence, health, and wellbeing of people with eligible needs funding their own support. Priority activities for the service are to: 1. Provide high quality information and advice on Direct Payments, purchasing care and support directly, and on the support services opportunities available locally. This includes CMEs and other voluntary, community or social enterprise organisations. 2. To provide support to the service users directly employing PAs on the matter of HR and Tax in compliance with the HR and Tax legislation current at the time. 3. Offer personalised support to people to manage their Direct Payments in ways that they can understand. 4. Provide independent support to people who are purchasing support through Direct Payments and people who fund their own support (self-funders) 5. Assist Direct Payments recipients to directly employ support staff and to understand employment legislation and manage their duties as employers. 6. Provide a high quality and efficient payroll service to Cambridgeshire service users who wish to use this service. 7. Provide a managed bank account service for Direct Payment recipients who choose not to receive and manage their Direct Payment themselves. 8. Support the development, implementation, and ongoing management of a Personal Assistant Platform for the job matching of PAs and service-users. We expect this platform will hold the CMEs/ISFs provider information to support with sign posting and matching individuals to these services and help the recruitment of PAs. 9. Support service uses to process DBS checks on behalf of the personal assistant, the cost of such DBS check is to be paid by the employee. 10. Collaborate with council staff to develop personal assistant hourly guideline rates. 11. Collaborate with commissioners (both public sector, self-funders, and Direct Payments recipients) and other partners to develop and effectively facilitate the Personal Assistant and wider self-directed support market.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04934e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041134-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services


CPV Codes

85000000 - Health and social work services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
£770,360 £500K-£1M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£397,977 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Jul 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
25 Oct 2024Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
11 Feb 202510 months ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
CAMBRIDGESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Miss Meera Maisuria
Contact Email
procurementandcommercial@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Contact Phone
+44 7700000000

Buyer Location

Locality
HUNTINGDON
Postcode
PE28 4YE
Post Town
Peterborough
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH4 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH42 Cambridgeshire CC
Delivery Location
TLH12 Cambridgeshire CC

Local Authority
Huntingdonshire
Electoral Ward
The Stukeleys
Westminster Constituency
Huntingdon

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

PURPLE ZEST

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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