Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Samaritans Communication Guidance 2026

National Highways

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

30 Jul 2026 at 08:54

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

National Highways Limited engaged Samaritans to provide communications guidance for its communications teams. The service covers online and in-person sessions designed to improve understanding and practice in safe and responsible communications relating to suicide. This is a specialist advisory and training requirement, falling within health and safety consultancy services. The work supports communications activity across National Highways, whose buyer organisation is based in Birmingham. The selected provider is Samaritans, a large voluntary, community and social enterprise. Businesses considering comparable work should have a clear capability in suicide-related communications, the ability to advise communications professionals, and the capacity to deliver both remote and face-to-face learning or guidance. The requirement is focused on responsible public communications rather than general communications consultancy.

The procurement has been completed and the contract was awarded to Samaritans. It used a direct award below the applicable threshold, without competition. The contract was signed on 22 June 2026 and runs from 24 June 2026 to 31 March 2027. Its value is £15,000 excluding VAT, or £18,000 including VAT. The tender was treated as a single completed lot. The award is active and the contract is active. The process therefore records a concluded purchase rather than an invitation for suppliers to submit bids. The commercial route is particularly relevant to suppliers monitoring National Highways’ smaller, below-threshold requirements and direct procurement activity. The stated evaluation basis was the specialist service requirement described for communications guidance and sessions.

This procurement demonstrates demand from National Highways for specialist support on safe and responsible suicide-related communications. A credible future competitor would need demonstrable expertise in this subject, the ability to translate that expertise into practical guidance for communications teams, and experience delivering structured sessions online and in person. It would also need to understand health and safety considerations in public communications and handle a sensitive subject responsibly. Samaritans’ status as a large voluntary, community and social enterprise indicates that mission-led organisations with relevant specialist capability can be well placed for this type of work. Suppliers should be able to provide advisory input as well as training or facilitated sessions, rather than offering only generic communications, media or workplace wellbeing services.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Samaritans Communication Guidance 2026

Notice Description

Samaritans to provide guidance, online and in-person sessions for communications teams to increase understanding and practice in to safe and responsible suicide-related communications across National Highways.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d720
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/071969-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

71317210 - Health and safety consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£15,000 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
24 Jun 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
National Highways
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BIRMINGHAM
Postcode
B4 6GA
Postcode Area
Birmingham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG3 West Midlands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG31 Birmingham
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Birmingham
Electoral Ward
Ladywood
Westminster Constituency
Birmingham Ladywood

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Samaritans

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.

Loading OCDS record...