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Crisis Resilience Fund Eligibility & Resilience Services

Hampshire County Council

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

TenderCancellation

22 Sep 2026 at 11:10

UK12 - Procurement Termination Notice
Award

10 Sep 2026 at 09:56

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

04 Aug 2026 at 12:36

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

04 Aug 2026 at 11:41

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Hampshire County Council commissioned services for its Crisis and Resilience Fund, which supports households facing financial hardship or sudden financial shocks. The requirement covered eligibility assessment and decision-making, crisis payments for essential living costs, and wider resilience support including debt advice, income maximisation, savings advice and affordable credit. It also included partnership working, referral pathways, community coordination, safeguarding of public funds and fraud prevention. A digital payment solution was required to support multiple payment channels and delivery routes, including trusted professional partners, Council teams and other commissioned providers, with management information for local oversight and government reporting. The services were intended for delivery across Hampshire and are classified as guidance, benefits and community support services.

The procurement reached award stage, but the contract was cancelled on 21 September 2026. Citizens Advice Hampshire had been awarded the single lot on 4 September 2026 at £6,027,772 gross, with a contract period from 1 November 2026 to 30 March 2029 and one possible six-month extension valued at up to £1,033,333 excluding VAT. The Council said ambiguity in some published criteria allowed differing bidder interpretations and that it was terminating the procurement to ensure fairness. It used an accelerated open procedure under the light-touch services regime, with quality-led evaluation: eligibility and decision-making carried 25%, financial resilience and holistic support 20%, accessibility and equalities 15%, partnership working 15%, timeliness 10%, mobilisation 10%, and safeguarding and fraud prevention 5%. Five valid bids were received.

This requirement demonstrates demand for suppliers able to combine crisis-payment administration with practical financial resilience and community support. A credible competitor would need robust eligibility assessment and decision-making, person-centred and accessible service design, and the capacity to manage fluctuating demand while maintaining service performance. Relevant capability includes secure multi-channel payments, support for self-referral and professional referrals, accurate management information, strong financial controls and fraud prevention. Experience of debt advice, income maximisation, savings guidance or affordable credit would be relevant, alongside established partnerships with local advice agencies, community organisations and referral networks. Suppliers should also be able to safeguard public funds, meet equalities and inclusion requirements, mobilise reliably and maintain continuity across multiple delivery routes. The competition attracted both specialist smaller firms and larger technology and advice organisations, indicating scope for different delivery models and potential collaboration.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Crisis Resilience Fund Eligibility & Resilience Services

Notice Description

The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) replaces the Household Support Fund and is intended to provide timely crisis support to households experiencing financial hardship or sudden shocks. The fund helps residents meet essential living costs while also supporting longer-term financial resilience. Launched by the government on 1 April 2026, the CRF requires local authorities to deliver support rapidly and transparently, with clear accountability for the use of public funds. In line with the grant criteria, the funding should be allocated across three strands: * Crisis Payments: Cash-first approach to meet urgent needs (food, utilities, essential goods). This should be a multi-channel application-based process, allowing for individuals to self-refer. The fund should be available year-round, with flexible eligibility for low-income households and those facing a financial shock. Crisis payments should be person centred, trauma informed and needs based. * Resilience Services: Initiatives to build financial resilience for individuals and the community and includes services such as debt advice, income maximisation, savings advice and affordable credit. * Community Coordination: Investment in activities that connect and enhance the local support landscape - strengthening partnerships, referral pathways, and local welfare ecosystems. To deliver Crisis Payments and comply with the DWP guidance, there is a need for a robust digital payment solution that can deliver payments through multiple channels and support multiple delivery routes, including payments being made by trusted professional partners, internal teams and other commissioned providers. The payment system must reduce administrative burden, enable consistent controls across schemes, be accessible and provide accurate management information for local oversight and DWP reporting. The commissioning of a dedicated payment system will ensure the Council and trusted partners can deliver crisis payments at pace, scale provision to meet fluctuating demand, deliver payments in the most appropriate way for individuals and maintain strong governance and assurance throughout the life of the programme. * The CRF Programme will run initially until 31 March 2029. HCC's allocation for 26/27 is PS11.3 million. Local authorities have the discretion to use the funding in various ways to support vulnerable households, including the distribution of crisis payments. Initial estimates indicate that up to 30% of HCC's allocation will be used for this purpose.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: There is 1 contract extension with a maximum duration of 0 year and 6 months, and a value ex VAT of PS 1,033,333

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06dafd
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/089508-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK12 - Procurement Termination Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

75 - Administration, defence and social security services

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

75200000 - Provision of services to the community

75310000 - Benefit services

85312310 - Guidance services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£6,027,772 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£6,027,772 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£6,027,772 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
26 Aug 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
5 Aug 2026Expired
Award Date
4 Sep 20261 months ago
Contract Period
1 Nov 2026 - 30 Mar 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Hampshire 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
WINCHESTER
Postcode
SO23 8UJ
Postcode Area
Southampton
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ36 Central Hampshire
Delivery Location
TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Local Authority
Winchester
Electoral Ward
St Michael
Westminster Constituency
Winchester

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Citizens Advice Hampshire

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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