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Provision of an Independent Advocacy Service for Adults

South Ayrshire Council

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

10 Aug 2026 at 15:37

Award Notice
Tender

14 Jan 2026 at 11:36

Tender Notice
Planning

07 Jul 2025 at 13:45

Planning Notice
Summary of the contracting process

South Ayrshire Council sought an independent advocacy service for adults aged 16 and over across South Ayrshire. The service covers both individual, one-to-one advocacy and collective, group-based advocacy, with instructed and non-instructed support focused on specific issues. It is intended for people requiring advocacy under the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000, the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 and the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003. User groups include people with mental health conditions, learning disabilities, neurodivergent conditions including autism, dementia, and people connected with the Alcohol and Drug Partnership. The requirement also includes generic adult advocacy and must meet statutory requirements and Scottish Government priorities.

This procurement used an open procedure. The tender submission deadline was 19 February 2026 at 12:00, with bid opening and the award period starting at the same time. The contract was planned for 1,800 days, with renewal information referring to November 2030, and the requirement was identified as recurring. Evaluation gave 85% weighting to quality and 15% to price. Tenderers had to provide evidence of financial standing and relevant capacity, including specified insurance requirements, and potentially two similar service examples from the previous three years. The tender was cancelled: the award was marked unsuccessful with the status detail “discontinued”. No supplier was awarded the contract.

This requirement indicates demand for specialist advocacy provision from a provider able to deliver independent, professional and issue-focused support across individual and collective settings. A credible competitor would need skilled, appropriately trained advocates, including workers with relevant lived experience for people connected with the Alcohol and Drug Partnership, and the capacity to support people with mental health conditions, learning disabilities, autism and other neurodivergent conditions, dementia and related statutory advocacy needs. Organisations should be able to demonstrate comparable recent service delivery, relevant professional and technical skills, suitable resources and validated customer references or completion evidence. Financial resilience is important, alongside employers’ liability insurance of £10 million and public liability insurance of £5 million. Staff names and qualifications would also need to be provided.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of an Independent Advocacy Service for Adults

Notice Description

South Ayrshire Heath and Social Care Partnership requires a high-quality Independent Individual and Collective Advocacy Service in South Ayrshire for adults ages 16 years and over

Lot Information

Lot 1

South Ayrshire Heath and Social Care Partnership requires a high-quality Independent Individual and Collective Advocacy Service in South Ayrshire for adults ages 16 years and over that is: - Independent and professional - Provides individual (one-to-one) advocacy that is issue focused - Provides collective (group) advocacy that is issue focused - Provides instructed and non-instructed advocacy - Meets statutory requirements and Scottish Government priorities - Provided by skilled and appropriately trained advocates The service will follow the Independent Advocacy Guide for Commissioners and will serve persons who require advocacy under the Adults With Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 and the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007. The service will also include adults seeking advocacy under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 who are: - People with mental health conditions - People with learning disabilities - People with Neurodivergent Conditions, including Autism - People with dementia The service will also cover generic advocacy for adults. Individual Advocacy - is also known as one to one, professional or issue-based advocacy. It is provided by paid and unpaid advocates. An advocate supports a person to represent their own interests and represents the views of the person if the person is unable to do this themselves. The advocates provide support on specific issues, and provide information, but not advice. Collective (Group) Advocacy - A collective voice can be stronger than that of an individual. Being part of a collective advocacy group can help reduce a person's sense of isolation when raising a difficult issue. The group may campaign on an issue. This service will also include advocacy for persons connected with the Alcohol and Drug Partnership, with workers providing advocacy to this group based on their own lived experience. Additional information: This PIN is a request for information, the responses from this PIN will help the Council to understand the number of Providers who may be interested in bidding for a potential Contract. If you are interested in the above requirement, please complete the attached expression of interest form and return, by email to procurement@south-ayrshire.gov.uk by Friday 5th August 2025.

Renewal: November 2030

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0559f3
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/075844-2026
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
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85000000 - Health and social work services

85300000 - Social work and related services

85310000 - Social work services

85311000 - Social work services with accommodation

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Aug 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
19 Feb 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
15 Sep 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
November 2030

Notice Status

Tender Status
Cancelled
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Unsuccessful
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
South Ayrshire 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
AYR
Postcode
KA7 1DR
Postcode Area
Kilmarnock
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM9 Southern Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM94 South Ayrshire
Delivery Location
TLM94 South Ayrshire
Local Authority
South Ayrshire
Electoral Ward
Ayr West
Westminster Constituency
Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock

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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