Planning

Portsmouth Advice Service

PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

05 Jan 2026 at 14:46

Planning

17 Dec 2025 at 14:35

Summary of the contracting process

Portsmouth City Council is planning to procure an open access social welfare advice service for adults residing in Portsmouth, under the project titled "Portsmouth Advice Service." This procurement is currently in the planning stage, with a focus on engaging providers through a preliminary market engagement exercise. The industry category is welfare services, not delivered through residential institutions, with the contract valued at £295,000 annually. Key milestones include the submission deadline for the Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) Questionnaire, due by 18th January 2026. The service aims to enhance outcomes and resource utilisation for residents within the city and Portsmouth City Council tenants living in Havant. The upcoming procurement process aligns with the legal framework set by the 2023/54 UKPGA legislation.

The procurement offers substantial opportunities for businesses, especially SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs), to contribute to a vital community service designed to prevent crises and optimize resource allocation. The service provides expertise across housing, welfare benefits, debt, income maximisation, and employment rights, among other areas. Businesses with a track record in delivering welfare services, particularly those adept at community engagement and providing advice services either in-person, via telephone, or online, will find this tender particularly suited to their capabilities. The Council's engagement further outlines potential for ongoing collaboration post-tender, enhancing service delivery and community impact over the contract period from 1st November 2026 to 31st October 2031.

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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 18th 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 18th 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.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05f80a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/000369-2026
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
5 Jan 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
18 Jan 2026Expired
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

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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