Notice Information
Notice Title
ASC25078 Direct Payment Support
Notice Description
The Council is seeking a supplier to deliver Direct Payment Support across two distinct Lots. A supplier can be awarded either a single Lot or both Lots o Lot 1 - Direct Payments Strategic Support Partner o Lot 2 - Direct Payment Finance Partner The Direct Payments Strategic Support Partner would be required to deliver strategic support to promote the growth of direct payments across Worcestershire and find suitable services to meet the needs of direct payment recipients. As part of Lot 1 the Strategic Support Partner would act as a micro brokerage service for Direct Payment recipients, advising what may be available to them in their area, both paid for and free services that might be available in the Voluntary Community Sector (VCS). The Supplier would also be required to advise social work staff where required. This wider remit could lead to closer working with the Communities Directorate, social prescribers and public health initiatives, supporting the Council to deliver the right service at the right time and the right price. There is evidence that this has worked well in other local authorities, especially with voluntary or service-user-led organisations. It is likely that the VCS will benefit from this approach as they have all the skills available to support people to maximise the potential of direct payments. As part of Lot 2, the Direct Payment Finance Partner would deliver a financial management service with elements within the contract covering support for the payments, including managed accounts and payroll for Personal Assistants (PAs). The Finance Partner would also be operating managed accounts on WCC's behalf in line with new approval process and are required to employ PA's to deliver cost-effective services.
Lot Information
Lot 1 Direct Payments Strategic Support Partner
The Direct Payments Strategic Support Partner would be required to deliver strategic support to promote the growth of direct payments across Worcestershire and find suitable services to meet the needs of direct payment recipients. As part of Lot 1 the Strategic Support Partner would act as a micro brokerage service for Direct Payment recipients, advising what may be available to them in their area, both paid for and free services that might be available in the Voluntary Community Sector (VCS). The Supplier would also be required to advise social work staff where required. This wider remit could lead to closer working with the Communities Directorate, social prescribers and public health initiatives, supporting the Council to deliver the right service at the right time and the right price. There is evidence that this has worked well in other local authorities, especially with voluntary or service-user-led organisations. It is likely that the VCS will benefit from this approach as they have all the skills available to support people to maximise the potential of direct payments.
Renewal: option to extend for up to 2 years subject to funding and performance
Lot 2 - Direct Payment Finance PartnerLot 2, the Direct Payment Finance Partner would deliver a financial management service with elements within the contract covering support for the payments, including managed accounts and payroll for Personal Assistants (PAs). The Finance Partner would also be operating managed accounts on WCC's behalf in line with new approval process and are required to employ PA's to deliver cost-effective services.
Renewal: option to extend for up to 2 years subject to funding and performance
Planning Information
The Council held a virtual open information and feedback session on Thursday 7th August 2025. Slides and supplementary documentation are available via In-Tend. Worcestershire County Council would now like to invite interested organisations to further feedback on the proposed Service Specification via an MS Forms survey https://forms.office.com/e/CeMbarQBAA The specification documents are available via In-Tend. Your views and feedback will not be used for any part of the tender process and will only be used for the development of the specification.
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-05662d
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078158-2025
- Current Stage
- Tender
- All Stages
- Planning, Tender
Procurement Classification
- Notice Type
- UK4 - Tender Notice
- Procurement Type
- Standard
- Procurement Category
- Services
- Procurement Method
- Open
- Procurement Method Details
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Tender Suitability
- SME, VCSE
- Awardee Scale
- Not specified
Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)
- CPV Divisions
85 - Health and social work services
-
- CPV Codes
85000000 - Health and social work services
85310000 - Social work services
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- £2,053,254 £1M-£10M
- Lots Value
- £2,053,254 £1M-£10M
- Awards Value
- Not specified
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 28 Nov 20256 days ago
- Submission Deadline
- 12 Jan 20262 months to go
- Future Notice Date
- 24 Oct 2025Expired
- Award Date
- Not specified
- Contract Period
- 30 Jun 2026 - 30 Jun 2031 Over 5 years
- Recurrence
- Not specified
Notice Status
- Tender Status
- Active
- Lots Status
- Active
- Awards Status
- Not Specified
- Contracts Status
- Not Specified
Buyer & Supplier
Contracting Authority (Buyer)
- Main Buyer
- WORCESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
- Contact Name
- Deb Roe
- Contact Email
- procurement@worcestershire.gov.uk
- Contact Phone
- Not specified
Buyer Location
- Locality
- WORCESTER
- Postcode
- WR5 2NP
- Post Town
- Worcester
- Country
- England
-
- Major Region (ITL 1)
- TLG West Midlands (England)
- Basic Region (ITL 2)
- TLG1 Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire
- Small Region (ITL 3)
- TLG12 Worcestershire CC
- Delivery Location
- Not specified
-
- Local Authority
- Worcester
- Electoral Ward
- Nunnery
- Westminster Constituency
- Worcester
Further Information
Notice Documents
-
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078158-2025
28th November 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender -
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/065519-2025
15th October 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender -
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/065094-2025
14th October 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender -
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/043082-2025
25th July 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender -
https://www.in-tendhost.co.uk/worcestershire/aspx/Home
Please visit https://www.in-tendhost.co.uk/worcestershire/aspx/Home to access this opportunity. You will need to register for In Tend in order to apply for this opportunity.
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
View full OCDS Record for this contracting process
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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