This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

14 Aug 2026 at 16:41

Tender

27 May 2026 at 12:02

Planning

19 Feb 2026 at 14:11

Summary of the contracting process

Blackburn with Darwen procured an Information and Advice Service for residents as part of its prevention, wellbeing and independence offer. The service provides accessible advice through a hub, telephone and digital channels, helping people find services, groups and community support while diverting suitable enquiries from Adult Social Care. It also covers maintaining the Directory of Services relationship, developing a trusted Safe Trader scheme, improving information quality through partnership boards, and supporting shared systems, data sharing and seamless handovers. This is a social work and related service (CPV 85300000), delivered for residents across Blackburn with Darwen. The buyer is Blackburn with Darwen Council. The requirement was one standalone lot and was considered suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises.

The procurement has been awarded following a completed open procedure. Care Network (Blackburn with Darwen) Ltd was awarded the contract on 14 August 2026. The recorded value is £1,242,800 excluding gross value of £1,491,360. The contract runs from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2029, with options for two further one-year extensions, giving a possible end date of 31 December 2031. Tender submissions closed at 12:00 on 26 June 2026; enquiries closed at 12:00 on 10 June 2026. Evaluation weighted method statements at 75%, social value at 15% and price at 10%. Six bids were received, with two reaching the final stage. The award was active, with signature scheduled for 14 September 2026.

This procurement indicates demand for an integrated, resident-facing information and advice provider able to operate consistently across physical, telephone and digital channels. A credible competitor would need strong knowledge of adult health, social care, community and preventative services, with the ability to resolve enquiries early and make safe referrals rather than rely on statutory provision. Relevant capability includes maintaining accurate directory information, managing trusted trader standards and feedback, working with partnership boards, and supporting shared systems, data-sharing arrangements and seamless handovers. The evaluation places most emphasis on method statements, so delivery design, service quality and operational evidence matter more than price alone; social value is also material. The scale and design of the requirement are accessible to SMEs and VCSEs, while the stated insurance requirements indicate substantial organisational capacity.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

BwD Information and Advice Service

Notice Description

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council is looking to procure an Information and Advice Service, as part of its Staying Happy Healthy and Well (prevention) offer. The Information and Advice (I&A) Service will support residents to identify services, groups, and support offers that enable them to maintain their independence. It will support the Council's strengths-based approach and form a core element of the local prevention offer, supporting individuals to build on their own capabilities and reducing on reliance on statutory services. The aims of the Service are to: * Provide a universal, accessible I&A offer that supports prevention, wellbeing and independence * Maximise safe diversion of I&A-only demand away from Adult Social Care (ASC) by resolving enquiries at the earliest point and strengthening pathways into community and preventative support. * Deliver a clear, trusted, multi-channel front end for Adults and Health information and advice (hub, telephone and digital). * Sustain a reliable partnership with the provider of the Directory of Services (DoS) platform, which will be used by residents and professionals. * Maintain and develop a trusted Safe Trader scheme with transparent standards and feedback loops. * Enable LD&A Partnership Boards to drive learning and improve pathways and information quality. * Progress "tell your story once" and seamless handovers through shared systems ambition and agreed data-sharing approaches.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: Contract Period = 1st January 2027 - 31st December 2029 With an option to extend for a period of +1 year (to 31 December 2030), and a further +1 year (to 31 December 2031), subject to service requirements and availability of funding.

Planning Information

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council is looking to procure for an All-Age Carers Service and an Information and Advice Service, as part of its Happy Healthy and Well (prevention) offer, and is holding an in-person pre-market engagement event on Thursday 19 March 2026. The event aims to develop a clearer understanding of the market and gather insight into supplier capabilities, innovations, and delivery models for the provision of support services in Blackburn with Darwen. The sessions will also support providers in understanding procurement requirements, social value commitments, and will help inform the development of value-driven service specifications. The engagement event will cover the following separate service areas: All Age Carers Service - Commission 1 Information and Advice Service - Commission 2 Both commissions are distinct and will operate independently. MEETING INFORMATION The pre-market engagement event (covering both commissions) will be held in person on: Thursday 19 March 2026, at: Livesey Family Hub Andrew Close Blackburn BB2 4NU The event will run from 10:00 - 12:00. REGISTRATION If you would like to attend the pre-market engagement meetings, please complete the below Microsoft Form to register yourself for the event. https://forms.office.com/e/nimp6mNVhW Each attendee who wishes to attend should register individually. Due to capacity, a maximum of 2 people per organisation may attend. Registration closes at 12:00 noon on Wednesday 18th March 2026

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-065843
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077840-2026
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
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services


CPV Codes

85300000 - Social work and related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,242,800 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,242,800 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£1,242,800 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
26 Jun 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
1 Jun 2026Expired
Award Date
14 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
1 Jan 2027 - 31 Dec 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Blackburn with Darwen
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BLACKBURN
Postcode
BB2 1DH
Postcode Area
Blackburn
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD4 Lancashire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD41 Blackburn with Darwen
Delivery Location
TLD41 Blackburn with Darwen

Local Authority
Blackburn with Darwen
Electoral Ward
Blackburn Central
Westminster Constituency
Blackburn

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Care Network (Blackburn with Darwen) Ltd

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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