Planning

Portsmouth Advice Service

PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

17 Dec 2025 at 14:35

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Portsmouth City Council is initiating the procurement process for the Portsmouth Advice Service, a social welfare advice service aimed at adults in Portsmouth and tenants living in Havant. The procurement is currently in the planning stage with preliminary market engagement underway. Business users should note that the council is seeking to engage providers who can deliver open access advice services, covering areas such as housing, welfare benefits, employment rights, and more. Interested providers are encouraged to complete a questionnaire, available via the Intend Portal, by the deadline of 11th January 2026. This initiative aims to refine service outcomes and maximise resource use for residents. The contract is set to begin on 1st November 2026, running until 31st October 2031, under the category of services in the welfare sector.

This tender presents significant opportunities for growth, particularly for SMEs and organisations within the VCSE sector. The council plans to award the contract to a single provider, with a notable emphasis on both generalist and specialist advice services that are free, confidential, and impartial. This procurement process follows a light-touch regime, indicative of flexibility and potential innovation in service delivery models. Businesses with expertise in welfare services, particularly those adept at reaching diverse community locations and providing outreach, will be well-placed to compete. Providers experienced in the social welfare domain and capable of delivering multi-channel advice including in-person, telephone, and digital platforms, should find this an exciting opportunity to expand their presence in the public sector.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Portsmouth Advice Service

Notice Description

Portsmouth City Council (the council) are looking to engage with providers who can deliver an open access social welfare advice service for adults in Portsmouth. This service will provide specialist and generalist advice to improve outcomes and maximise use of resources for all people living or working within the boundaries of the city, and for Portsmouth City Council tenants living in Havant. As part of this consultation document there is a questionnaire for providers to complete which will help us in deciding our future commissioning models. We welcome any feedback from interested parties. Providers are encouraged to complete as many of the questions within the questionnaire as possible. The existing service provides expert advice on housing, welfare benefits, debt, income maximisation, employment rights, general family issues, and consumer issues, and general advice on other queries, such as access to services and support. The overarching aim of the provision is to help prevent further crisis and improve outcomes for the individual whilst helping reduce the need for healthcare, social care and other statutory services. All advice is completely free of charge, confidential and impartial. Residents are supported either in-person, by telephone, or via email. The service also has a standalone dedicated website. The council commission the existing advice service through a single provider contract and the service is delivered from one building based centrally within the city. The service receives additional funding via the Household Support Fund to deliver outreach services in eleven community locations including across the city, however, this outreach provision does not form part of the commissioned contract. The current contract commenced on the 1st November 2022 and has run for an initial period of three years. The council have extended this contract for one further year until 31st October 2026 to allow for the service to be retendered. The current value of the contract is PS295,000 per annum. Interested providers should return the PME Questionnaire using the Intend Portal correspondence function by 11th January 2026, 23:59.

Planning Information

Portsmouth City Council (the council) are looking to engage with providers who can deliver an open access social welfare advice service for adults in Portsmouth. This service will provide specialist and generalist advice to improve outcomes and maximise use of resources for all people living or working within the boundaries of the city, and for Portsmouth City Council tenants living in Havant. As part of this consultation document there is a questionnaire for providers to complete which will help us in deciding our future commissioning models. We welcome any feedback from interested parties. Providers are encouraged to complete as many of the questions within the questionnaire as possible. The questionnaire can be found via this link https://in-tendhost.co.uk/portsmouthcc/aspx/home Interested providers should return the PME Questionnaire by 11th January 2026. Portsmouth City Council reserves the right to engage further with selected providers who indicate that they can meet the service as described within the questionnaire.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05f80a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083919-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85312400 - Welfare services not delivered through residential institutions

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Dec 20251 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
11 Jan 20262 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Nov 2026 - 31 Oct 2031 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
PORTSMOUTH
Postcode
PO1 2AL
Post Town
Portsmouth
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ31 Portsmouth
Delivery Location
TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Local Authority
Portsmouth
Electoral Ward
Charles Dickens
Westminster Constituency
Portsmouth South

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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