Award

Provision of All-age Carers Support Service

SOUTHEND-ON-SEA CITY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

12 Dec 2025 at 16:07

Tender

25 Sep 2025 at 13:59

Planning

06 Aug 2025 at 15:40

Summary of the contracting process

The Southend-on-Sea City Council has concluded the award phase for the provision of an All-age Carers Support Service, aimed at comprehensive support for unpaid carers of all ages. Located in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, this initiative falls under the health and social work services industry category. The procurement process involved an open procedure, demonstrating transparency and inclusivity for interested parties, with a substantial total contract value of £1,083,507.60. A standstill period concluding on 23 December 2025 precedes a contract period starting from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029, with potential extensions. In summary, the procurement journey consisted of planning initiated in August 2025, followed by tender activities through September to October 2025, culminating in award evaluations in December 2025. This project aligns with the Council's future aims post-Local Government Reform and involves multiple stakeholders, including carers, local VCSEs, and health partners, ensuring diverse input and collaborative service delivery across age groups.

Businesses engaged in health and social services, especially those focusing on community and personal support, are well-positioned to benefit from this contract's opportunities. The procurement's open procedure allows small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and local community organisations to compete, fostering growth and enabling them to provide pivotal support to carers across Southend-on-Sea. The project's multi-faceted approach, including digital and face-to-face service modalities, provides a scalable model for enterprises aiming to expand their service offerings to integrate technology and personal interaction, addressing unique community needs. This contract establishes a significant platform for businesses dedicated to improving wellbeing through impactful and responsive service solutions catered to carers' unique challenges and requirements.

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Notice Title

Provision of All-age Carers Support Service

Notice Description

Southend-on-Sea City Council (SCC) intends to award an All-age Carers Support Service. The detail of which can be found below. Overview: The contract aims to commission a comprehensive support service for unpaid carers of all ages, providing them with timely information, advice, practical and emotional support, respite options, and advocacy. The service must be accessible, inclusive, co-produced with carers, and responsive to their diverse and changing needs. Outcomes include improved carer wellbeing, resilience, and access to support at different points in their caring journey. Stakeholders include carers, local VCSEs, local businesses, health partners, and Adult Social Care. Complexity includes aligning delivery across age groups and ensuring digital and face-to-face access. Scope of Service: The service will require the provision of information and advice and support across various areas and the provision of a range of services for carers. The All-age Carers Support service covers the following services: * Early identification * Information and advice * Statutory carers assessments * Personal Budget * Peer support * Carers breaks * Young carers * Transition support * Ad hoc appointment breaks * Advocacy for carers Access and Delivery of Service: The Carers Support Service will provide face-to-face support and be available a minimum of five days a week on a flexible basis. The service must be accessible to all carers, including those who work or have limited availability due to their caring responsibilities. The provider should record how carers access the service, including face-to-face, telephone, email, online platforms, or virtual meetings. The service will not operate from a fixed physical base but will instead deliver support from community hubs and other accessible venues across Southend-on-Sea. This outreach approach will help maximise visibility and accessibility within the community. Where appropriate, the provider is expected to offer home visits, including to carers living in their own homes or in settings such as care homes or supported accommodation, to ensure equitable access for those unable to travel. Conditions of Award: The decision to award this contract to the Preferred Bidder will be subject to the following: * Satisfactory conclusion of the voluntary Standstill Period. * Successful completion of the awarded bidders' compliance and certification checks at the PSQ Stage and following the provisional award of contracts to the successful bidders. * Successful completion of Southend-on-Sea City Council's governance to award process which is set to take place in January 2026. Local Government Reform: The contracting authority is Southend-on-Sea City Council and any Successor Body meaning one or more entities which assumes any of the Council's functions (as applicable) as a result of Local Government Reform (LGR). Such successor body or bodies may be, without limitation, a local authority, a combined county authority, a strategic authority or any other status determined pursuant to the Devolution and LGR Legislation.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: There is an option to extend the contract by 24 months with 2 extensions available (of 12 month durations each).

Planning Information

Southend-on-Sea City Council wish to engage with prospective bidders to give an overview of the Scope of Services and provide further procurement-related information on the upcoming tender exercise. There will also be an opportunity for a Q&A session at the end of the presentation. The Council will use all reasonable endeavours to respond to questions raised within the session. Please email lucygayler@southend.gov.uk by no later than 22nd August 2025 to confirm your attendance and register your interest in this opportunity. The Market Engagement Event will be held virtually via Teams (Date: 26th August 2026 Time: 10:30am - 11:30am) Please provide all attendees names and email addresses to the email address above. Southend City Council will also require all prospective bidders to complete a pre-market engagement questionnaire in order for the Council to receive further market insight prior to the engagement session. Please complete the questionnaire by no later than 22nd August 2025. The questionnaire will be issued to all prospective bidders who register an intent to respond via email to the above email address.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0582da
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082637-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

98 - Other community, social and personal services


CPV Codes

85000000 - Health and social work services

98000000 - Other community, social and personal services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,007,065 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,007,065 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£1,083,507 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
12 Dec 20255 months ago
Submission Deadline
30 Oct 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
26 Aug 2025Expired
Award Date
12 Dec 20255 months ago
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SOUTHEND-ON-SEA CITY 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
SOUTHEND ON SEA
Postcode
SS2 6FA
Post Town
Southend-on-Sea
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH3 Essex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH31 Southend-on-Sea
Delivery Location
TLH3 Essex

Local Authority
Southend-on-Sea
Electoral Ward
Victoria
Westminster Constituency
Southend East and Rochford

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

CARERS FIRST

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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