Planning

Oldham Advice Services

OLDHAM METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

13 Mar 2026 at 15:02

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

06 Mar 2026 at 19:05

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council is engaging in preliminary market exercises for the procurement titled "Oldham Advice Services," focusing on financial inclusion and advisory services. This initiative is supported by the Crisis and Resilience Fund from the Department of Work and Pensions beginning on 1 April 2026. The project is planned under the procurement stage, with key events scheduled throughout March, including the issuance of market engagement documents on 13 March and the deadline for written responses by 27 March. The location for this endeavour is the UKD region, specifically around Oldham, making it crucial for businesses operating within these boundaries to consider their participation.

These preliminary exercises aim to transition from annual grant funding to a commissioned partner model, fostering stability and aligning service delivery with other authorities. Businesses specialising in accounting, auditing, fiscal services, and broader business-related activities stand to benefit from this opportunity. Furthermore, firms with expertise in financial advice encompassing budgeting, debt management, and consumer guidance are particularly well-suited to compete. Suppliers will also play a crucial role in quality assurance and training, positioning themselves as key collaborators with the Council in enhancing the borough's accessibility and consistency of services across sectors. This initiative could open doors for long-term contracts, providing a stable revenue stream and allowing providers to influence the financial inclusion strategy locally.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Oldham Advice Services

Notice Description

Oldham Council currently provides and grant funds several financial inclusion services supporting multiple levels of need from low level issues to complex advice and guidance. Moving forwards and supported by the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) provided by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) from 1 April 2026, we will improve and consolidate the offer to residents, making it easier to access timely and resident-focused support and advice with a one front door approach wherever possible. The current grant agreement is due to end on 31 March 2026 however there is a 6 month extension to the current contract to enable a formal tender process. Moving forwards, it is preferable to move from annual grant funding agreements to a commissioned partner model via a procurement exercise. This provides a longer-term funding commitment providing stability for both the Council, residents and the provider. It also brings the Council in line with other authorities and means that service quality and performance can be robustly defined and managed through an established contract, service specification and performance framework. The commissioned service offer will include all levels of financial advice including personal budgeting and income maximisation, debt advice and energy and consumer advice. They will also continue to provide legal and advice services across a range of other issues such as housing, employment, family etc. The provider will also fulfil a role to quality assure and provide training and guidance across the borough to ensure a consistency of advice across the public and Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise sectors. Lastly, they will also work with the Council to establish, maintain and nurture a financial inclusion offer that is well communicated and significantly easier for residents, elected members, services and partners to navigate. The Council will retain the design and delivery of crisis schemes and grant funding.

Planning Information

The main purpose of the preliminary market engagement exercise is to assist the Council and potential suppliers to prepare for a procurement process in respect of the Project; the Council will gather information, which it will use to clarify its requirements, assess the market's capacity and develop a final procurement strategy. More specifically for this particular market engagement exercise, the Council's objectives are: To share information in relation to the Project and the potential tender opportunity with the market. To obtain feedback from potential suppliers/the market generally and in particular in relation to the questions set out in Appendix 1 Combined Questions & Specification document available following registration on the Chest (the Council's e-tendering portal https://procontract.due-north.com). Access to this document pack is not restricted, with the exception that those wishing to access it must be registered on The Chest. Suppliers are asked to submit written responses through The Chest (the Council's e-tendering portal https://procontract.due-north.com). in respect of this market engagement exercise. Written responses are not mandatory nor are they a prerequisite for accessing future procurement documents. Stage 1 - Written Responses Issue Market Engagement Documents on Chest - 13th March 2026 Deadline for written responses - 27th March 2026

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0664bc
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023093-2026
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
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

98 - Other community, social and personal services

CPV Codes

79200000 - Accounting, auditing and fiscal services

79900000 - Miscellaneous business and business-related services

98390000 - Other services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
13 Mar 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
27 Mar 20262 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
30 Jun 2026 - 30 Jun 2029 3-4 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
OLDHAM METROPOLITAN BOROUGH 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
OLDHAM
Postcode
OL1 1HD
Post Town
Oldham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD3 Greater Manchester
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD37 Greater Manchester North East
Delivery Location
TLD North West (England)
Local Authority
Oldham
Electoral Ward
Coldhurst
Westminster Constituency
Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton

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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