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Enforcement and Collection Agency Services

Cumberland Council

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

23 Jul 2026 at 14:43

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

03 Jun 2026 at 10:46

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

12 Dec 2025 at 11:59

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Cumberland Council appointed enforcement and collection agencies to recover Council Tax and Business Rates, and to collect Housing Benefit overpayments and sundry accounts-receivable debts. The services support the Council’s Public Health, Customer and Community Wellbeing Directorate. The work covers enforcement and recovery activity carried out on the Council’s behalf, with the available caseload intended to be divided equally between two appointed suppliers. The stated purpose is fair, transparent and proportionate enforcement, while promoting community wellbeing and protecting vulnerable residents. The procurement is for collection agency services, classified under CPV 79940000. Delivery is for Cumberland Council in the UK, with the buying authority based in Carlisle. The requirement was suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises, and the Council welcomed interest from diverse businesses and the voluntary sector.

This awarded procurement followed a below-threshold open competition for a concession service. The tender closed on 26 January 2026, after enquiries closed on 14 January 2026. Evaluation was based on quality (90%) and social value (10%). The estimated tender value was £1,600,000 excluding VAT and £1,920,000 including VAT. Two active awards were made on 3 June 2026: Newlyn PLC received £800,000 excluding VAT (£960,000 including VAT), and Dukes Bailiffs Limited received the same value. Each contract was signed on 21 July 2026 and is active from 22 July 2026 to 30 June 2028, with options for two further 12-month extensions, ending no later than 30 June 2030. Five bids reached the final stage, including three from SMEs.

This requirement is relevant to established enforcement, debt recovery and public-sector collection providers able to manage Council Tax, Business Rates, Housing Benefit overpayments and sundry debt caseloads. Credible competitors would need operational capacity to share a large and varied caseload across a council’s services, apply proportionate recovery methods and handle cases involving vulnerable residents fairly and transparently. Experience of compliant enforcement, accurate account administration, customer communication and outcomes-focused case management would be important. Suppliers should also be prepared to demonstrate meaningful social value and meet statutory obligations, including participation in the Council’s supplier audits covering diversity. The award of work to two SMEs shows that the requirement can be delivered by specialist smaller businesses, provided they can sustain public-sector controls, collaborate with the authority and manage their allocated share of activity.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Enforcement and Collection Agency Services

Notice Description

Cumberland Council is seeking to appoint two Enforcement Agencies to provide recovery services for Council Tax and Business Rates and collection services for Housing Benefit Overpayments and accounts receivable (sundry) debts on behalf of the Public Health, Customer and Community Wellbeing Directorate. Work under the contracts is to be distributed based on fifty percent allocation of the available caseload. The successful suppliers will support the Council's strategic priorities by ensuring fair, transparent, and proportionate enforcement that promotes community wellbeing and safeguards vulnerable residents. The below threshold concession contracts (contract) are anticipated to commence on 1 July 2026 and will continue for an initial period of two years, unless terminated in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract. There is an option for the Council to extend the duration of the contract for up to two additional periods of 12 months each, subject to successfully achieving the required outcomes.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: There is an option for the Council to extend the duration of the contract for up to two additional periods of 12 months each, subject to successfully achieving the required outcomes.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05f4b0
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/069797-2026
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
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

79940000 - Collection agency services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,600,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,600,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£800,000 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
£800,000 £500K-£1M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Jul 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
26 Jan 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
3 Jun 20263 months ago
Contract Period
22 Jul 2026 - 30 Jun 2028 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Cumberland 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
CARLISLE
Postcode
CA1 1RD
Postcode Area
Carlisle
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD1 Cumbria
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD13 Cumberland
Delivery Location
TLD1 Cumbria
Local Authority
Cumberland
Electoral Ward
Castle
Westminster Constituency
Carlisle

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
2
Supplier Names

Newlyn Plc

Dukes Bailiffs Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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