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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 10:58

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

26 May 2026 at 08:57

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Lancashire County Council is reviewing how to commission a Direct Payments Support Service for residents in Lancashire who use direct payments. The service falls within health and social work services and is intended to support people using direct payment arrangements. Delivery is across Lancashire. The council is the buyer, with Social Value Portal Ltd providing evaluation and ongoing contract management support for social value deliverables under the future contract. The planned procurement is a single service lot. The council is still considering the service design and commissioning model, so suppliers interested in direct payment support, adult social care, community-based support or related health and social work services should follow the development of the requirement.

This procurement is at the planning stage: the council has stated its intention to procure but has not yet decided how the services will be commissioned, and suppliers cannot bid at this stage. The council is undertaking pre-tender market engagement to understand market capability, innovation and best practice; it is not seeking bids, prices or formal proposals. Responses to the engagement questionnaire are expected by 12 noon on 10 August 2026. A further procurement notice is expected around 1 November 2026. The planned contract period is 1 July 2027 to 30 June 2030. The estimated value is £5,760,000 excluding VAT, or £6,912,000 including VAT. The service is planned as one lot and is above the relevant threshold.

The planned service is suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises, making it relevant to providers that can deliver direct payment support at county level or through local community networks. Useful preparation will include demonstrating capability in health and social work services, understanding the needs and priorities of Lancashire residents using direct payments, and showing practical approaches to service design, innovation and good practice. The council is also considering social value deliverables, supported by Social Value Portal Ltd for evaluation and ongoing contract management, so suppliers should be ready to explain measurable social value outcomes and how they would be monitored. Organisations with adult social care, personal budget, community support or related experience should engage before the future procurement is defined.

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 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Nov 20264 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jul 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
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
Postcode Area
Preston
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD4 Lancashire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD45 Mid Lancashire
Delivery Location
TLD4 Lancashire
Local Authority
Preston
Electoral Ward
City Centre
Westminster Constituency
Preston

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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