Notice Information
Notice Title
Children's Direct Payment Support Service
Notice Description
Cumberland Council is procuring a Children's Direct Payment Support Service under the Procurement Act 2023 Light Touch Regime The Authority is commissioning a Service Provider to offer a Direct Payment Support Service on its behalf. The Service Provider is required to deliver support to all eligible families in receipt of Direct Payments. Families will have the choice over the support they wish to access, so not all families will necessarily access all categories of support at any given point, though their needs may change over time. The Service Provider shall help families get the most out of their Direct Payment by providing information and guidance on how Direct Payments can be used and also explain the family's responsibilities in relation to receiving Direct Payments including putting in place, planning for and renewing indemnity insurance where a Personal Assistant is employed, undertaking and renewing a DBS for their Personal Assistant, clear accounting for income and expenditure of Direct Payments and their statutory payment duties where applicable. The proposed start date of the contract is 01st April 2027. The initial term of the contract is twelve months and there is one potential extension period available of up to twelve months. Use of extension periods is at the absolute discretion of the council. The maximum total contract value is PS263,867 excluding VAT. This includes the initial term, extension periods if implemented and potential uplifts. If the council implements an extension or uplift, this will be confirmed in writing to the successful supplier in advance. If the services to be provided are exempt from VAT, then VAT cannot be charged by the successful supplier. For further details and to access the tender documents use the council's online procurement portal, The Chest https://www.the-chest.org.uk You must be registered on The Chest to be able to view the opportunity and submit a tender. Registration is simple and free on the above link. Evidence of your Find a Tender registration must be provided with your tender submission. Ensure you read and understand the Invitation to Tender (ITT) before completing the tender documents. The ITT includes details about what is being procured, instructions on how to bid (including deadlines) and a copy of the terms and conditions you'd be signing up to if you were successful. Any clarification questions you want to ask the council must be sent via messaging on The Chest by the deadline stated in the ITT. All bids must be submitted to the council electronically via The Chest by the deadline stated in the ITT.
Lot Information
Lot 1
Renewal: There is one potential extension period available of up to twelve months. Use of extension periods is at the absolute discretion of the council.
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/102327-2026
- Current Stage
- Tender
- All Stages
- Planning, Tender
Procurement Classification
- Notice Type
- UK4 - Tender Notice
- Procurement Type
- Standard
- Procurement Category
- Services
- Procurement Method
- Open
- Procurement Method Details
- Below threshold - open competition
- Tender Suitability
- SME, VCSE
- Awardee Scale
- Not specified
Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)
- CPV Divisions
-
- CPV Codes
85300000 - Social work and related services
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- £263,867 £100K-£500K
- Lots Value
- £263,867 £100K-£500K
- Awards Value
- Not specified
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 28 Oct 20265 days ago
- Submission Deadline
- 25 Nov 20264 weeks to go
- Future Notice Date
- Not specified
- Award Date
- Not specified
- Contract Period
- 1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2028 1-2 years
- Recurrence
- Not specified
Notice Status
- Tender Status
- Active
- Lots Status
- Active
- 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
-
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/102327-2026
28th October 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender -
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081569-2026
27th August 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
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.