Planning

Welfare Benefits Helpline and Specialist Benefits Advice Service in East Sussex

EAST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

29 Apr 2026 at 11:09

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

East Sussex County Council is planning a procurement process for the 'Welfare Benefits Helpline and Specialist Benefits Advice Service' in East Sussex under the services category. The procurement is at the planning stage, with a virtual Market Engagement Event scheduled for 13 May 2026. Interested participants must register by 5pm on 11 May 2026. The council is aiming to recommission the service to start on 1 April 2027, with an anticipated formal tendering process in July 2026. This initiative will be jointly commissioned with a Co-Commissioning Group, which includes representation from Adult Social Care and VCSE representatives nominated by the East Sussex VCSE Alliance.

This procurement presents considerable opportunities for organisations specialising in health and social work services, particularly those with expertise in welfare benefits and financial inclusion. The Council is considering two main delivery models: an Accredited Strategic Partner, who may use subcontractors, or a Consortium of Accredited Providers with a lead organisation. This approach encourages collaboration among providers to ensure accessible services to East Sussex residents. VCSE organisations with a thorough understanding of the East Sussex demographic are well-suited to compete and benefit from this tender, as it will leverage local insights and expertise to address the community’s welfare priorities effectively.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Welfare Benefits Helpline and Specialist Benefits Advice Service in East Sussex

Notice Description

Invitation to Provider Market Engagement Event This is not a call for competition; a separate Tender Notice will be published when a formal procurement procedure commences. East Sussex County Council is to recommission its Welfare Benefits Helpline and Specialist Benefits Advice Service in East Sussex contract, with the new contract to commence 1 April 2027. You are invited to join us at our Market Engagement Event on Wednesday 13 May 2026. About this Event East Sussex County Council will be tendering in July 2026 for Welfare Benefits Helpline and Specialist Benefits Advice Service in East Sussex. The Council will jointly commission these services with a Co-Commissioning Group to include representation from Adult Social Care and VCSE representatives nominated by the East Sussex VCSE Alliance. The Council will award the contract(s) following a joint evaluation and jointly agreed decision. The Commissioning Group is seeking to commission: i) an Accredited Strategic Partner who will deliver some or all of the services and may subcontract some of the services to Accredited Providers. OR ii) a Consortium of Accredited Providers who will deliver all of the services between them. A Consortium must identify a lead organisation to act on its behalf as Strategic Partner in relation to delivery of this Service Specification. The Providers will work collaboratively to ensure services are accessible to East Sussex residents and share insights into needs, priorities and other challenges relating to welfare benefits and the wider financial inclusion agenda. We invite you to attend this pre-tender virtual Market Engagement Event to learn more about this procurement opportunity, to ask / submit questions and for the Council to provide answers. The event will explain the following: * Partnership approach * Background and proposed model * Procurement approach This event is targeted at VCSE organisations with a working knowledge of the East Sussex demographic. Further information: * The event will be held online: an agenda and event link will be shared the day before to those who have registered. The duration of this event may be shorter depending on the volume and complexity of questions asked by attendees. * Registration for the event is via email. Please email allyson.king@eastsussex.gov.uk to book a place, including your organisation name and the names and email addresses of those due to attend.

Planning Information

Welfare Benefits contract: Virtual Market Engagement Event Wednesday 13 May 2026, 14:00 - 15:00 Register your place via email: allyson.king@eastsussex.gov.uk Please include organisation and names and email addresses of those due to attend. Please let us know if you wish to attend by 5pm 11 May 2026.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-068dd7
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/039114-2026
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
VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85000000 - Health and social work services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 Apr 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
13 May 20262 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2027 - 31 Mar 2030 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
EAST SUSSEX 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
LEWES
Postcode
BN7 1UE
Post Town
Brighton
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ22 East Sussex CC
Delivery Location
TLJ22 East Sussex CC
Local Authority
Lewes
Electoral Ward
Lewes Priory
Westminster Constituency
Lewes

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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