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Carers Support Service

Cumberland Council

This public procurement record has 5 releases in its history.

ContractAmendment

03 Sep 2026 at 13:13

UK10 - Contract Change Notice
Award

04 Sep 2025 at 15:08

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

10 Jun 2025 at 18:34

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

25 Mar 2025 at 17:01

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

20 Mar 2025 at 11:24

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Cumberland Council procured a Carers Support Service covering unpaid carers of all ages in its area. The requirement was divided into three service areas: support and needs assessments for young carers, parent carers of children with disabilities and families with multigenerational caring responsibilities; assessment and support planning for adult carers; and digitally delivered carer identification, self-help and online assessment support. The digital service is intended to interface with the adult carers service. This is a health and social care services requirement (CPV 85000000), delivered in the Cumberland Council area. It is relevant to voluntary-sector organisations, social care providers, advocacy services and digital care specialists able to support carers and work alongside local authority services.

The procurement has been awarded through an above-threshold open procedure. Awards were made on 27 May 2025: Family Action won young carers and parent carer support; People First Independent Advocacy won adult carers; and Mobilise Care Ltd won digital carers support. The contracts were signed on 15 July 2025, 29 July 2025 and 2 September 2025 respectively. Awarded values are £867,400 excluding VAT (£1,040,880 including VAT), £3,252,750 excluding VAT (£3,903,300 including VAT), and £216,850 excluding VAT (£260,220 including VAT). Lots 1 and 2 run from 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2027, with two possible 12-month extensions. Lot 3 runs from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2027, with three possible 12-month extensions. Evaluation weighted quality at 70%, social value at 20% and price at 10%.

This award shows sustained demand from Cumberland Council for specialist carer support delivered through separate but connected service models. A credible future competitor would need practical expertise in assessing carers’ needs, producing or contributing to support plans, and safeguarding the wellbeing of children who provide care. Experience supporting parent carers, adult carers and families with complex or multigenerational needs would be relevant to the first two service areas. Providers should also be able to work collaboratively with council and care services, demonstrate meaningful social value, and evidence high service quality rather than relying primarily on price. The digital requirement points to capability in accessible online identification, self-help and assessment tools, with effective integration into adult carer support. The participation of SMEs and voluntary or community organisations indicates that focused specialist providers can be credible competitors.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Carers Support Service

Notice Description

Cumberland Council's new Carers Support Service aims to ensure that unpaid Carers of all ages can benefit from support that meets their needs. The maximum total value of the contract for the initial terms and the extensions of all three lots is PS4.337m but no guarantee is given as to the actual value of the contract. There are 3 Lots. Lot 1 Young Carers and Parent Carer Support (this will be for the provision of the functions set out in paragraph for Carers aged 18 and below, Parent Carers for children with disabilities, Transition Carer Assessments, family working with multi-generational carer family units); Lot 2 Adult Carers (this will be for the provision of the functions set out above for all Carers aged 18 plus or to work with the provider of Lot 1 in supporting the needs of any Adult Carers they are working with); and Lot 3 Digital Carer support (this is for the delivery of identification and self-help support including access to an online Carers Assessment being developed separate to this contract by the Council. The contracts for Lots 1 and 2 are anticipated to commence on 1 October 2025 and will continue for a period of 2 years until 31st September 2027, unless terminated in accordance with the Conditions of Contract. The contract for Lot 3 is anticipated to commence on 1 October 2025 and will continue for 1 year until 31st September 2026, unless terminated in accordance with the Conditions of Contract. There will be three contracts issued for Lots 1, 2 and 3. (The contract terms and conditions for Lots 1 and 2 are the same). There is the potential for two 12-month contract extensions for Lots 1 and 2, depending on both the success in achieving the required outcomes and availability of further funding which if used would terminate 31st September 2029. In the case of Lot 3, there is a potential for 3 contract extensions of 12 months, depending on both the success in achieving the required outcomes and availability of further funding. Use of these optional extensions are at the absolute discretion of the Council.

Lot Information

Young Carers and Parent Carer Support

Assessments to decide whether the Young Carer has needs for support and whether these could be satisfied by services provided under Section 17 of the Children's Act. The assessment must also consider whether it is appropriate for the child to be providing the care.

Renewal: There is the potential for two 12-month contract extensions for Lot 1, depending on both the success in achieving the required outcomes and availability of further funding which if used would terminate 30th September 2029. Use of these optional extensions are at the absolute discretion of the Council.

Adult Carers

Carers have the same rights to assessment and support that are available to the cared for person. Local Authorities have a wellbeing duty which means that a Carer is entitled to an assessment and a potential support plan.

Renewal: There is the potential for two 12-month contract extensions for Lot 2, depending on both the success in achieving the required outcomes and availability of further funding which if used would terminate 30th September 2029. Use of these optional extensions are at the absolute discretion of the Council.

Digital Carers Support

The Provider will be required to establish a set of digitally based support functions and activities that will interface with the services being commissioned under Lot 2.

Renewal: There is the potential for three 12-month contract extensions for Lot 3, depending on both the success in achieving the required outcomes and availability of further funding which if used would terminate 30th September 2029. Use of these optional extensions are at the absolute discretion of the Council.

Planning Information

A Carers pre market engagement questionnaire to engage with providers re the Carers Support Service was sent out via the Council's e-procurement portal (The Chest). The questionnaire responses were to be used to inform the development of the future contract and service specification. This was sent out on 2nd January 2025 and responses were to be submitted by 2nd February 2025. A Cumberland Council Carers Contract Supplier Engagement Session will be held on 24th March 2025 from 10am until 12 noon on Microsoft Teams. The purpose of the session is to provide an overview of the Cumberland Carers Contract Agenda: 1. Overview of the tender and service specification - Joel Rasbash Commissioning Manager 2. Lot 1 Young Carers and Parent Carers - Guy Thompson - Project Officer, Children and Family Wellbeing 3. Lot 2 Adult Carers - Gemma Creighton - Best Interest Assessor - Adult Social Care and Housing 4. Lot 3 Digital Support - Joel Rasbash 5. Procurement process - Jacqui Sullivan / Allison Paterson (Procurement) 6. Supplier Questionnaire - Joel Rasbash 7. Q and A To receive an invitation to the session, please email peopleprocurement@cumberland.gov.uk by 21st March 2025 at 12 noon.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04ef94
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083462-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK10 - Contract Change Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large, 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
£4,337,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£4,337,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£4,337,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£4,337,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
3 Sep 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
2 May 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
25 Mar 2025Expired
Award Date
27 May 20251 years ago
Contract Period
1 Oct 2026 - 30 Sep 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Cumberland 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
CARLISLE
Postcode
CA1 1RD
Postcode Area
Carlisle
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD1 Cumbria
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD13 Cumberland
Delivery Location
TLD1 Cumbria
Local Authority
Cumberland
Electoral Ward
Castle
Westminster Constituency
Carlisle

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
3
Supplier Names

Family Action

People First Independent Advocacy

Mobilise Care Ltd

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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