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Direct Payment Support Service

Cumberland Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

27 Aug 2026 at 08:35

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Cumberland Council intends to recommission a Direct Payment Support Service for eligible children, young people and families who receive Direct Payments. This is a public social care service, covering social work and related support. The service is intended to help recipients manage and use their Direct Payments, although the published outline does not set out a detailed service model. The buying organisation is Cumberland Council, a local authority. The service will support people within the council’s area in the United Kingdom. The procurement is subject to the light-touch regime for social and other specific services. Suppliers whose work involves direct payment advice, family support, children’s services, personal budgets or related social care provision should consider the requirement relevant.

This process is at the planning stage: Cumberland Council is carrying out pre-market engagement to understand the supplier market before any future tender. The survey responses will be used for market understanding, will not bind providers and will not form part of future tender submissions; general conclusions may be shared in decision-making reports, while individual responses will remain confidential. The council expected responses by noon on 7 September 2026. The anticipated contract period is 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2028, with a possible extension to 31 March 2029. The current contract is expected to end in March 2027. The procurement is planned as a single lot under the light-touch regime, and its estimated value has not been stated.

This will suit organisations with established experience supporting children, young people and families who receive Direct Payments. Relevant providers are likely to include social care specialists, family support organisations, charities, voluntary-sector bodies and firms delivering advice or practical assistance with personal budgets. Useful preparation would include demonstrating how staff support eligible families, explain payment arrangements clearly, work with children and young people, and coordinate with families and the council. Providers should be ready to describe their service model, safeguarding approach, workforce capability and experience delivering person-centred support. The council is currently seeking market intelligence rather than tenders, so participation at this stage is most useful for suppliers wanting to understand and potentially help shape the future requirement.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Direct Payment Support Service

Notice Description

Cumberland Council is looking to recommission their Direct Payment Support Service for eligible children, young people and families receiving Direct Payments. The current Contract ends in March 2027. Responses to this survey are intended solely to inform the Council's understanding of the market. Any information provided is indicative only and will not be binding on providers or form part of any future tender submissions. We may share general conclusions in our decision-making reports, however individual responses will remain confidential. For further details and to access the pre-market engagement documents use the online procurement portal "The Chest" - https://www.the-chest.org.uk. Registration on The Chest is free The project number on The Chest is DN827607 Deadline for responses is 12:00 (noon) on Monday 07th September 2026

Planning Information

Cumberland Council is looking to recommission their Direct Payment Support Service for eligible children, young people and families receiving Direct Payments. The current Contract ends in March 2027. Responses to this survey are intended solely to inform the Council's understanding of the market. Any information provided is indicative only and will not be binding on providers or form part of any future tender submissions. We may share general conclusions in our decision-making reports, however individual responses will remain confidential. For further details and to access the pre-market engagement documents use the online procurement portal "The Chest" - https://www.the-chest.org.uk. Registration on The Chest is free The project number on The Chest is DN827607 Deadline for responses is 12:00 (noon) on Monday 07th September 2026

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06ed20
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081569-2026
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
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

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
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Aug 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
7 Sep 20265 days to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2028 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Cumberland 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
CARLISLE
Postcode
CA1 1RD
Postcode Area
Carlisle
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD1 Cumbria
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD13 Cumberland
Delivery Location
TLD1 Cumbria
Local Authority
Cumberland
Electoral Ward
Castle
Westminster Constituency
Carlisle

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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