Tender

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) Assessments

ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Tender

12 Mar 2026 at 13:11

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

28 Nov 2025 at 13:55

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Essex County Council is currently in the tender stage of the procurement process for the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) Assessments. The council, a public authority under sub-central government classification, is seeking professional services in the health and social work sector within the UKH3 region, United Kingdom. As part of this open procedure, businesses should note the significant contract value, estimated at £8,544,000, with the tender period ending on 14 April 2026. The contract is set to commence on 1 July 2026 and will run until 30 June 2028, with potential extensions. The procurement process prioritises a robust technical and commercial response, with quality and price weighted respectively at 30% and 70%. Businesses wishing to participate must ensure electronic submissions in English and adhere to the guidelines provided.

This tender represents an excellent opportunity for organisations specialising in health and social care services to expand their business by providing essential assessments under the DoLS framework. Companies with expertise in conducting face-to-face assessments in hospital wards, care homes, and nursing homes will find this procurement process an ideal match for their services. The comprehensive nature of the assessments required, coupled with the large scale of the contract, implies substantial business growth and the potential to establish long-term client relationships with Essex County Council. Providers with robust service mobilisation and resource capacity should consider engaging in this tender for strategic advancement and operational expansion within the public sector.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) Assessments

Notice Description

The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) provide a legal framework for the deprivation of liberty for people who lack the mental capacity to make decisions about their accommodation and care arrangements themselves. They apply to people who are in hospital or residential/nursing care (the managing authority) and who are subject to restrictions and restraints in their lives, for example, not being free to leave or requiring continual supervision. Local Authorities are required to arrange an assessment of an individual's circumstances to determine whether the accommodation the care provided is in their best interests to protect them from harm, whether it is necessary and proportionate and to determine if there is a less restrictive alternative. The requirement of this service is for the provision of assessments to establish whether a person in hospital, care home or nursing home requires Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) authorisation. Assessors will be required to visit the relevant person requiring assessment in their care setting, which may be a hospital ward, care home or nursing home, in order to conduct a face-to-face assessment.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: The Council may serve such extension notice(s) on as many occasions as it shall think fit provided that the duration of such extensions shall not in total exceed twenty-four (24) calendar months from the third anniversary of the Service Commencement Date.

Planning Information

Essex County Council would like to invite interested suppliers to partake in an early market engagement survey regarding the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) Assessment Service. We aim to understand: -Supplier preferences for different payment models -Practical considerations, risks, and benefits with each model -Indicative pricing approaches under each model -Mobilisation considerations -Service resource and capacity considerations Please copy the link into your browser to take the survey. https://consultations.essex.gov.uk/procurement/deprivation-of-liberty-safeguards-dols-assessment This is not a procurement process and does not constitute a commitment to award any contract. The information collected will help inform our future procurement strategy.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05eb19
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/022309-2026
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
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

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£8,544,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£8,544,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
12 Mar 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
14 Apr 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
30 Dec 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
30 Jun 2026 - 30 Jun 2028 2-3 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
ESSEX COUNTY 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
CHELMSFORD
Postcode
CM1 1QH
Post Town
Chelmsford
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH3 Essex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH36 Heart of Essex
Delivery Location
TLH3 Essex
Local Authority
Chelmsford
Electoral Ward
Moulsham and Central
Westminster Constituency
Chelmsford

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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