Award

Statutory Independent Advocacy - 2025

WEST NORTHAMPTONSHIRE COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

03 Feb 2026 at 08:45

Award

05 Dec 2025 at 14:55

Tender

01 Oct 2025 at 09:04

Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process for the "Statutory Independent Advocacy - 2025" contract, organised by West Northamptonshire Council, concluded successfully with the award of the contract to POhWER on 3rd February 2026. This contract, valued at £3,746,588, aims to provide statutory independent advocacy services within the West Northamptonshire region. Commencing on 1st April 2026, the contract spans an initial period of 36 months, with potential extensions totalling 60 months. Governed by several essential legislative acts, it stands as an open procedure under the services category, with the procurement process having been outlined in the Invitation to Tender, which concluded on 5th November 2025.

This tender provides an excellent growth opportunity for businesses specialising in advocacy services, particularly those with the capacity to align with legislative requirements such as the Care Act 2014, Mental Health Act 1983, and others. The selected supplier, POhWER, will need to effectively deliver various advocacy services, including Independent Care Act Advocacy and Independent Mental Health Advocacy, among others. This contract is particularly beneficial for large organisations with the expertise and resources to provide comprehensive advocacy services. Businesses that can deliver high-quality service while ensuring cost-effectiveness are well-suited to compete in such tenders, which offer significant long-term engagement and stability.

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Notice Title

Statutory Independent Advocacy - 2025

Notice Description

West Northamptonshire Council is seeking one organisation to provide Statutory Independent Advocacy services on its behalf across West Northamptonshire. Local Authorities have a duty to involve people in decisions made about them and their care and support. No matter how complex a person's needs, Local Authorities are required to help people express their wishes and feelings, support them in weighing up their options, and assist them in making their own decisions during the assessment, care planning, review processes, and also including safeguarding enquiries. This service will assist in the delivery of, and compliance with, the following relevant legislation and guidance: Care Act 2014; Mental Health Act 1983 and its Code of Practice; Mental Capacity Act 2005 and its Code of Practice; The Care and Support (Independent Advocacy) Regulations 2014 Care and Support Statutory Guidance (Issued under the Care Act 2014); Equality Act 2010; Advocacy Code of Practice (Revised Edition 2014). The Mental Capacity (Deprivation of Liberty: Appointment of Relevant Person's Representative) Regulations 2008 Health and Social Care Act (2012) The service will enable people who have substantial difficulty being involved in the key processes and interactions with the local authority to be supported in that involvement as fully as possible, and where necessary be represented by an advocate who speaks on their behalf. It will ensure that people's wishes, feelings and needs are at the heart of the assessment, care planning and review processes and will focus on the presenting issue, be person-centered, delivered in line with relevant legislation and guidance and be resource and cost effective. The Provider will be required to deliver the following types of Advocacy Services during the lifetime of the contract: Independent Care Act Advocacy (ICCA) Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA) Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) Independent Health Complaints Advocacy Relevant Paid Persons Representative (RPPR) Advocacy The Authority's detailed requirements are defined in the Specification. The Authority's procurement process is set out in the Invitation to Tender documents The Authority proposes to enter into one (1) contract for an initial period of 36 months with the preferred Potential Provider, with an option to extend for a further two individual periods of 12 months each making 60 months in total. The estimated value of the contract is PS3,122,240 * * The value is estimated for an increase requirement for IMHAs as the Mental Health Act 1983 is amended by the Mental Health Bill 2025 and is currently based on an anticipated implementation date of 2027. If the IMHA changes are delayed, the overall contract value will reduce by PS337,060 for every year it is delayed as the additional hours will not be required. There is no price evaluation in this tender and bidders are to submit a tender with the understanding that the value listed above is final and fixed. If your organisation wishes to participate in this process, you need to register with In-Tend Portal. You will be unable to take part if you do not register. Please use the link below and follow the instructions on the website: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/wnc/aspx/Home Tenders must be returned via the Portal. The tender return date is midday on Wednesday 5th November 2025. Tenders received after this time and date will not be accepted.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: An initial period of 36 months with the preferred Potential Provider, with an option to extend for a further two individual periods of 12 months each making 60 months in total.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05a584
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/009237-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services


CPV Codes

85312310 - Guidance services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£3,122,240 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£3,122,240 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£3,746,588 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£3,746,588 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
3 Feb 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
5 Nov 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
5 Dec 20252 months ago
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
2028-10-01

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
WEST NORTHAMPTONSHIRE COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement@westnorthants.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
NORTHAMPTON
Postcode
NN1 1ED
Post Town
Northampton
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF2 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF24 West Northamptonshire
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
West Northamptonshire
Electoral Ward
Castle
Westminster Constituency
Northampton North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

POHWER

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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