Planning

Crisis and Resilience Fund - Financial Resilience and Community Cohesion Service

LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

24 Apr 2026 at 08:44

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

23 Apr 2026 at 14:14

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Leicestershire County Council is currently in the planning stage of a tender process initiated on 24 April 2026, aimed at procuring services under the Crisis and Resilience Fund - Financial Resilience and Community Cohesion Service. The procurement falls under the category of administration and benefit services, with a focus on services that will support community cohesion and financial resilience. Key milestones include a webinar scheduled for 29 April 2026, and the completion of a questionnaire by 20 May 2026. Located in Leicester, UK, the council plans for the contract period to begin on 1 September 2026 and end on 31 March 2029. The procurement method is open, and the process is above the financial threshold, inviting prospective bidders who are registered by 29 April.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses in the services sector, particularly those with expertise in community support and financial advisory services. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) are encouraged to apply, given the emphasis on local knowledge, existing relationships, and a strong community presence. With a substantial budget of £2,500,000, successful bidders can leverage this contract to expand their service offerings and gain a foothold in local government contracting. Organisations focusing on social impact and community improvement will find this project well-aligned with their objectives, making it an ideal opportunity for growth.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Crisis and Resilience Fund - Financial Resilience and Community Cohesion Service

Notice Description

From 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is to provide grant funding to Leicestershire County Council (LCC) through the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) to: - 1) support low-income households facing a financial shock; and - 2) invest in preventative and resilience building activity that reduces future crisis demand and builds community cohesion. The support for financial shock is being provided by a crisis service 'front door' within LCC. This service takes applications and gives payments to those who are eligible due to their financial situation. This element of the Fund launched on 13 April 2026 and is not in scope for this procurement. This contract is to provide the second part of the above, which is the Resilience Services strand focuses on building individuals' financial resilience. This is defined as the ability to withstand and recover from financial shocks. The aim of this service is to reduce repeat crisis presentations over time to the crisis service. The DWP require local authorities to undertake activity that supports the following resilience outcomes: - 1) Reduction in the experiences of material deprivation; - 2) Reduction in the need for emergency food parcels; - 3) increased access to appropriate and quality advice services; - 4) increased savings; - 5) reduction in debt, particularly priority debt; - 6) maximisation of individuals' income; and - 7) decreased repeat demand for Crisis Payments and Housing Payments. The Community Cohesion and Coordination strand focuses on: - 1) strengthening local coordination of support services, - 2) improving partnership working across statutory services, VCSE organisations, and community groups; - 3) addressing service gaps, duplication, and fragmentation; and - 4) improving residents' ability to access appropriate support through clear pathways and trusted local connections. This strand is intended to complement Financial Resilience provision by ensuring that the local support system operates in a joined up, place-based, and community-informed way, in line with CRF principles and DWP guidance. LCC are planning to undertake a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) to gain better understanding of the place-based nature of the Crisis and Resilience Fund and the importance of strong local knowledge, existing relationships, and trusted delivery within communities. LCC will also be holding webinar on Wednesday 29 April 4 - 4.45pm to explore the potential specification for the strands of Financial Resilience and Community Cohesion. Potential bidders will be required to register via the following link: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/4086f5fa-7596-4282-9c54-491e4e81ebc1@1fcf6b4b-21c9-40c2-b753-a29d57017359

Planning Information

Provider has been requested to complete the attached PME questionnaire and return in via the portal by 20 May 2026. The Council will also be holding webinar on Wednesday 29 April 4 - 4.45pm to explore the potential specification for the strands of Financial Resilience and Community Cohesion. Potential bidders will be required to register via the following link: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/4086f5fa-7596-4282-9c54-491e4e81ebc1@1fcf6b4b-21c9-40c2-b753-a29d57017359

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0689df
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037394-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

75 - Administration, defence and social security services

CPV Codes

75100000 - Administration services

75310000 - Benefit services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,500,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
24 Apr 2026Today
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
15 Jun 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Aug 2026 - 31 Mar 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY 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
LEICESTER
Postcode
LE3 8RA
Post Town
Leicester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF2 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF22 Leicestershire CC and Rutland
Delivery Location
TLF22 Leicestershire CC and Rutland
Local Authority
Blaby
Electoral Ward
Glenfield Faire
Westminster Constituency
Mid Leicestershire

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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. 

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-0689df-2026-04-24T09:44:50+01:00",
    "date": "2026-04-24T09:44:50+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-0689df",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "planning": {
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "037192-2026",
                "documentType": "plannedProcurementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK1",
                "description": "Pipeline notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037192-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-04-23T15:14:48+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            },
            {
                "id": "037394-2026",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037394-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-04-24T09:44:50+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ],
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "Provider has been requested to complete the attached PME questionnaire and return in via the portal by 20 May 2026. The Council will also be holding webinar on Wednesday 29 April 4 - 4.45pm to explore the potential specification for the strands of Financial Resilience and Community Cohesion. Potential bidders will be required to register via the following link: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/4086f5fa-7596-4282-9c54-491e4e81ebc1@1fcf6b4b-21c9-40c2-b753-a29d57017359",
                "dueDate": "2026-05-20T23:59:59+01:00",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ]
    },
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PNHT-9235-VXDV",
            "name": "Leicestershire County Council",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PNHT-9235-VXDV"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "County Hall",
                "locality": "Leicester",
                "postalCode": "LE3 8RA",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKF22"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "Commissioning.Support@leics.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "http://www.leics.gov.uk",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PNHT-9235-VXDV",
        "name": "Leicestershire County Council"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "DN814001",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Crisis and Resilience Fund - Financial Resilience and Community Cohesion Service",
        "description": "From 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is to provide grant funding to Leicestershire County Council (LCC) through the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) to: - 1) support low-income households facing a financial shock; and - 2) invest in preventative and resilience building activity that reduces future crisis demand and builds community cohesion. The support for financial shock is being provided by a crisis service 'front door' within LCC. This service takes applications and gives payments to those who are eligible due to their financial situation. This element of the Fund launched on 13 April 2026 and is not in scope for this procurement. This contract is to provide the second part of the above, which is the Resilience Services strand focuses on building individuals' financial resilience. This is defined as the ability to withstand and recover from financial shocks. The aim of this service is to reduce repeat crisis presentations over time to the crisis service. The DWP require local authorities to undertake activity that supports the following resilience outcomes: - 1) Reduction in the experiences of material deprivation; - 2) Reduction in the need for emergency food parcels; - 3) increased access to appropriate and quality advice services; - 4) increased savings; - 5) reduction in debt, particularly priority debt; - 6) maximisation of individuals' income; and - 7) decreased repeat demand for Crisis Payments and Housing Payments. The Community Cohesion and Coordination strand focuses on: - 1) strengthening local coordination of support services, - 2) improving partnership working across statutory services, VCSE organisations, and community groups; - 3) addressing service gaps, duplication, and fragmentation; and - 4) improving residents' ability to access appropriate support through clear pathways and trusted local connections. This strand is intended to complement Financial Resilience provision by ensuring that the local support system operates in a joined up, place-based, and community-informed way, in line with CRF principles and DWP guidance. LCC are planning to undertake a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) to gain better understanding of the place-based nature of the Crisis and Resilience Fund and the importance of strong local knowledge, existing relationships, and trusted delivery within communities. LCC will also be holding webinar on Wednesday 29 April 4 - 4.45pm to explore the potential specification for the strands of Financial Resilience and Community Cohesion. Potential bidders will be required to register via the following link: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/4086f5fa-7596-4282-9c54-491e4e81ebc1@1fcf6b4b-21c9-40c2-b753-a29d57017359",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "75100000",
                        "description": "Administration services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "75310000",
                        "description": "Benefit services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKF22",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKF22",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 2500000,
            "amount": 2500000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "procurementMethod": "open",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Open procedure",
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true,
                    "vcse": true
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-09-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2029-03-31T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "status": "planned"
            }
        ],
        "communication": {
            "futureNoticeDate": "2026-06-15T23:59:59+01:00"
        },
        "status": "planned"
    },
    "language": "en"
}