Planning

003271 - Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) for an Online Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) application provider

DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

18 May 2026 at 17:46

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Durham County Council is currently in the planning stage for the procurement of an Online Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) application provider, with a focus on software package and information systems within the UKC14 region. This process is part of a preliminary market engagement designed to inform future tender submissions. Key dates include a deadline for responses to the preliminary engagement on 1st June 2026. The Council anticipates processing approximately 2,500 DBS applications annually, with the formal procurement to commence before the contract period starting on 1st December 2026. The project valuation is set at £1,200,000, with the possibility for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) to participate.

This tender presents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in electronic administration platforms and software systems to align with a large public sector organisation. The Council’s requirement for an e-Bulk System for handling DBS checks across various sectors, including foster care and education, offers substantial growth potential for businesses providing streamlined and efficient software solutions. Firms with experience in managing high-volume applications and those that can adapt to national policy changes related to disclosure and barring are particularly well-suited to this opportunity. Providers can gain further insight and contribute feedback through the Open Portal, laying the groundwork for potentially lucrative contracting during the upcoming formal procurement process.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

003271 - Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) for an Online Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) application provider

Notice Description

Durham County Council (DCC) is a large public sector organisation, employing over 14,000 employees across services and maintained schools. In the 2025/26 financial year, we completed approximately 2,400 Enhanced and Standard DBS checks. DCC undertakes DBS checks on all employees in posts identified as requiring a DBS check in accordance with the DBS eligibility criteria; plus DBS checks for carers, fostering, adoption, taxi drivers, volunteers and maintained schools, amongst others. Checks ensure full compliance with recruitment processes, as well as statutory requirements. The Council also operates a rechecking process for employees, currently set at 5 years. We are seeking to formally procure the services of a DBS umbrella registered body, who will provide an electronic administration platform for the submission of DBS application forms and for the subsequent check results to be visible to users within DCC (E-Bulk System). We anticipate a requirement to process approximately 2,500 DBS applications per year for the Council. However, it should be noted that the number of applications processed may be subject to fluctuation due to organisational change, renewals required and policy decisions arising from national changes to disclosure and barring eligibility criteria. For avoidance of doubt, the spread of applications will not be uniform across any period. This notice forms part of our preliminary market engagement, offering you the opportunity to share feedback and comments before the opportunity is released for formal tender submissions. Interested providers can access the written response questions, free of charge, by registering on the Open Portal at www.open-uk.org The deadline for completed responses is Monday 1st June at 12 noon.

Planning Information

This notice forms part of our preliminary market engagement, offering you the opportunity to share feedback and comments before the opportunity is released for formal tender submissions. Interested providers can access the written response questions, free of charge, by registering on the Open Portal at www.open-uk.org

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-069b6c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/045555-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

CPV Codes

48000000 - Software package and information systems

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,200,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 May 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Jun 20262 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Dec 2026 - 30 Nov 2031 Over 5 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
DURHAM 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
DURHAM
Postcode
DH1 5WB
Post Town
Durham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC41 Durham
Delivery Location
TLC14 Durham
Local Authority
County Durham
Electoral Ward
Framwellgate and Newton Hall
Westminster Constituency
City of Durham

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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