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Enforcement Services for the Child Maintenance Service

Department for Work and Pensions

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

19 Oct 2026 at 12:05

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

06 May 2026 at 16:13

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

06 Jan 2026 at 18:21

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Work and Pensions, acting for the Child Maintenance Service, procured enforcement and debt-recovery services to recover child maintenance arrears owed by parents responsible for paying maintenance. The service covers England and Wales and may include administrative work alongside enforcement. It is a concession service, with supplier income largely based on fees earned by the supplier or its subcontractors; additional administrative elements are paid directly by the Department. The requirement is for enforcement services (bailiff services, CPV 75242110), delivered across the specified England and Wales footprint. The procurement was divided into one lot, covering the whole service requirement.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded to Advantis Credit Limited. The award was made on 25 September 2026, at £3,573,926 excluding VAT (£4,288,711 including VAT). The initial contract period runs from 29 October 2026 to 28 October 2028, with options to extend in increments of up to 36 months, to a maximum end date of 28 October 2031. The Department used an open competitive flexible procedure with pre-qualification and three stages: financial and supplier assessments, system demonstrations, and final written submissions. The final evaluation was based entirely on technical quality questions. Four bids reached the final stage. The tender submission deadline was 11 August 2026.

The award demonstrates demand from the Child Maintenance Service for specialist arrears enforcement delivered across England and Wales, with a concession model that combines enforcement-fee income and Department-funded administrative work. A credible supplier needs to be a legal entity able to contract, hold Enforcement Conduct Board accreditation for regulated enforcement services, and ensure any subcontractors carrying out regulated work are accredited too. Suppliers must also own, or hold a direct licence to use, an existing case-management system or platform capable of supporting the management service; third-party software can be used. The selection route tested financial capacity and system availability and capability through demonstrations, while final selection depended wholly on technical quality. Providers with nationwide operational reach, compliant enforcement delivery, capable case-management technology and the capacity to manage direct or subcontracted services are best aligned with this specific requirement. SMEs were considered suitable for the lot, though none reached the final stage in this competition.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Enforcement Services for the Child Maintenance Service

Notice Description

Debt Recovery service across England and Wales linked to the recovery of child maintenance arrears owed by parents who have a responsibility to pay maintenance for their children.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: A further period(s) of up to three years . The value of the contract listed includes the total value (payments made directly by the DWP plus estimated fees earning potential based on current performance) for the full maximum five year term of the contract. Any one off start up costs payable will be in addition to the above value.

Planning Information

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), acting on behalf of the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) , intends to procure a concession service across England and Wales in early 2026 for the recovery of child maintenance arrears owed by parents who have a responsibility to pay maintenance for their children. It is envisaged that the contract will be for an initial two year fixed period and could be extended for a further three years. The value of the contract stated reflects the total estimated value of the contract over the full term excluding any start up costs. DWP wishes to consult a range of suppliers in the market , including both enforcement agencies who provide enforcement services directly and also managing platform suppliers of enforcement services, to establish the level of interest in participating in a tender exercise and supplying the bespoke service requirements of the Child Maintenance Service. The Buyer wishes to consult with the market on the optimal approach to delivering an outcomes orientated service which supports the growth and financial viability of the Supply Chain whilst ensuring that service delivery supports any next stage debt enforcement activity within the Child Maintenance Service. The required service will also potentially include additional administrative activities which would need to be provided by the supplier(s). These administrative elements of the service are not covered by the Taking Control of Goods Fees Regulations and will be paid directly by the Buyer. The service will continue to be a concessions service irrespective of any additional paid administrative elements as the value of the contract will be largely based on the fees earned by the Supplier or by any sub-contractors. Specific areas on which the buyer wishes to consult the market therefore include the following:- 1.Market feedback on Supplier's experience of managing supplier platforms model v direct enforcement model and various linked operational delivery issues associated with delivering bespoke CMS requirements. 2.Pricing mechanisms for payment of any additional administrative elements involved in delivering the service required by DWP and market feedback on DWP draft pricing proposals 3.The procurement methods available for concession type procurements (including market feedback on potential use of the new Open Competitive Flexible Procedure with a Participation Stage). This might include a supplier demonstration stage based on the bespoke service requirements. 4. Lotting across the England and Wales footprint. The Buyer has not made a final decision on the model or route to market at the point of issuing this notice and will use the feedback from market engagement to assist with final decision making and pricing approaches. Suppliers interested in attending a market engagement event which it is proposed to hold online on Wednesday 28th January 2026 should register their interest by emailing cd.debtservices@dwp.gov.uk by 22nd January 2026. Following the market engagement session outlined above the Buyer reserves the right to seek additional market feedback, including via one to one meetings with interested suppliers, in order to resolve any remaining operational issues prior to issuing a tender opportunity.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-060078
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/098427-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

75 - Administration, defence and social security services

CPV Codes

75242110 - Bailiff services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£3,543,900 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£3,543,900 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£3,573,926 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
11 Aug 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
26 Feb 2026Expired
Award Date
25 Sep 20261 months ago
Contract Period
29 Oct 2026 - 28 Oct 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Department for Work and Pensions
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1H 9NA
Postcode Area
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England), TLL Wales
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Advantis Credit 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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