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Befriending Network

Hartlepool Borough Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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05 Aug 2026 at 09:40

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Hartlepool Borough Council procured a Befriending Network service for older people in Hartlepool. The service is intended to increase social contact and reduce loneliness and isolation, providing targeted social support rather than goods or construction works. The requirement falls within social work and related services. Delivery is in Hartlepool, with the council acting as buyer and Cleveland Fire Authority as the selected provider. The service forms part of a revised delivery model for support to older residents, with stakeholder and lived-experience engagement included in developing the arrangements. Organisations considering similar work should be able to provide dependable befriending or related social support services for older people and operate effectively with a local public-sector partner.

The procurement is complete and was awarded through a below-threshold direct award without competition. One lot was awarded to Cleveland Fire Authority. The award was made on 4 August 2026, and the contract was signed the same day. The contract runs from 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026. Its value is £5,100 excluding VAT, or £6,120 including VAT. Hartlepool Borough Council extended the existing arrangement to maintain continuity while procurement activities for the revised service model were completed. Cleveland Fire Authority is the active awarded supplier. The evaluation outcome therefore reflects a direct-award decision rather than a competitive assessment of multiple bids.

Although this contract has been awarded, it provides a useful benchmark for organisations competing for comparable work with Hartlepool Borough Council. A credible future provider would need practical experience of befriending, social contact and loneliness-reduction services for older people, together with the ability to support people experiencing isolation. The requirement also points to the importance of engaging stakeholders and people with lived experience when shaping a revised service model. Suppliers should be able to work reliably with a council, provide continuity for service users and manage an orderly transition into new arrangements. Relevant social-care, community-support or related social-work capability would be directly applicable, particularly where it can be delivered locally in Hartlepool.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Befriending Network

Notice Description

Provision of Services to Increase Social Contact and Reduce Loneliness and Isolation of Older People Within Hartlepool. The current contract expires on 30 September 2026. A three-month extension to 31 December 2026 has been granted to allow completion of procurement activities for a revised service model, including stakeholder and lived experience engagement, while ensuring continuity of service and an orderly transition to the new contract arrangements. The incumbent provider has agreed to the extension.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06dbe8
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/073977-2026
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

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85300000 - Social work and related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£5,100 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
5 Aug 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Oct 2026 - 31 Dec 2026 1-6 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
Hartlepool Borough 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
HARTLEPOOL
Postcode
TS24 8AY
Postcode Area
Cleveland
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC3 Tees Valley
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC31 Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Hartlepool
Electoral Ward
Victoria
Westminster Constituency
Hartlepool

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Cleveland Fire Authority

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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