Planning

Joined Up advocacy

HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

30 Jun 2025 at 09:16

Planning

23 May 2025 at 12:18

Summary of the contracting process

Hertfordshire County Council is currently in the planning stage of a procurement process for the "Joined Up Advocacy" project, aiming to consolidate services supporting survivors of violence against women and girls (VAWG) across various risk levels. The initiative seeks to create a single VAWG advocacy service that covers all risk levels and involves an Independent Gender Violence Advisor (IGVA) to provide comprehensive support. This procurement, classified under "Social work and related services," is planned as a county-wide service in Hertford, Hertfordshire, UK, with a total contract value of approximately £2,000,000. The expected start date for the service is 1st April 2026, running until 31st March 2028, with potential renewal options extending to 31st March 2030. Key upcoming dates include a future notice date scheduled for 1st July 2025.

This tender presents significant opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) due to its suitability criteria, allowing diverse organisations to engage in this collaborative venture. Businesses with experience in social work, advocacy, or community outreach services would be particularly well-suited to bid for this tender. The comprehensive scope of the project ensures diverse service delivery requirements that can provide long-term growth and an expanded portfolio for businesses engaged in the social support sector. By offering a streamlined approach to advocacy services within Hertfordshire, this project opens up growth avenues for businesses adept in handling dynamic and intersecting social care needs.

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Notice Title

Joined Up advocacy

Notice Description

In Hertfordshire, under the current commissioning arrangements, we have multiple services supporting survivors of different forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG) at different risk levels. At present, if someone is subjected to domestic abuse, sexual abuse, and stalking, they could be supported by an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor ("IDVA") for the domestic abuse, an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor ("ISVA") for the sexual abuse, and an Independent Stalking Advice Caseworker ("ISAC") for the stalking, as well as possibly other community outreach support services. Their support service could also change as their risk levels change. This can be understandably overwhelming and confusing for survivors and result in them having to tell their experience over and over again. There is also likely to be some duplication of work that is happening across those services. As risk is dynamic and due to the intersecting nature of VAWG, consideration is being given to the possibility of creating one VAWG advocacy service known as Joined Up Advocacy. This would connect all risk levels and forms of VAWG under one contract. Consequently, within the Joined-Up Advocacy service, one of the current areas that is being scoped is in regard to the role of an Independent Gender Violence Advisor ("IGVA") who could provide support to all risk levels, all genders, and multiple forms of VAWG. The expectation is that the Joined-Up Advocacy service would be a county wide service that would act as a One Front Door for those accessing support from the One Stop Shop

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05227b
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035991-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services


CPV Codes

85300000 - Social work and related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Jun 20257 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Jul 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
holly.burton@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
HERTFORD
Postcode
SG13 8DQ
Post Town
Stevenage
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH26 North and East Hertfordshire
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
East Hertfordshire
Electoral Ward
Hertford Castle
Westminster Constituency
Hertford and Stortford

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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