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Direct Payments Support Service

LANCASHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

27 Jul 2026 at 09:58

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

26 May 2026 at 07:57

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process involves the Lancashire County Council undertaking a planning stage for the "Direct Payments Support Service". This initiative falls under the health and social work services industry category and aims to fulfil the Council's duty to provide information, advice, and payroll services for direct payment recipients. The procurement location is in Lancashire, United Kingdom, with activities focusing on engaging stakeholders. A market engagement exercise is scheduled, culminating on 10 August 2026. The procurement is planned to eventually progress into awarding contracts by mid-2027, running through to 2030.

This tender presents substantial opportunities for businesses within the health and social services sector, particularly those specialising in offering innovative solutions and expert advice for managing direct payments. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs) will find this procurement attractive due to its suitability criteria that encourages participation from these entities. Businesses that are well-placed to compete will have the capability to deliver services that align with the priorities of Lancashire residents, leveraging innovation and best practices to enhance direct payment support services.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Direct Payments Support Service

Notice Description

Lancashire County Council (the Council) is in the process of undertaking a review of Direct Payments Support Services. The Council is yet to determine how these services will be commissioned.

Planning Information

We wish to engage with key stakeholders for the delivery of these services in relation to some of the priorities outlined by residents of Lancashire who have used these Direct Payment services. (Lancashire Residents). This is a pre tender market engagement exercise to inform future service design. The Council is not seeking bids, pricing, or formal proposals at this stage. Responses will be used to understand market capability, innovation and best practice. Providers should not submit bids, pricing, or commercially sensitive proposals as part of this engagement. Any future procurement will be conducted separately and transparently. For the avoidance of doubt the proposals set out within the market engagement document are subject to change at the Council's discretion. Following the market engagement, if any procurement activity is required this will be to publish via the Oracle Fusion Portal. See questionnaire on LCC's tendering opportunities page under the Direct Payment title: https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/business/tenders-and-procurement/tenders/ The deadline is 12pm on Monday 10th August 2026.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06a292
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070663-2026
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
SME, 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
£5,760,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Jul 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Nov 20263 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
30 Jun 2027 - 30 Jun 2030 3-4 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
LANCASHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
Additional Buyers

SOCIAL VALUE PORTAL LTD

Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
PRESTON
Postcode
PR1 0LD
Post Town
Preston
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI45 Lambeth
Delivery Location
TLD4 Lancashire
Local Authority
Lambeth
Electoral Ward
Vauxhall
Westminster Constituency
Vauxhall and Camberwell Green

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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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