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2026 Social Care - Aberdeenshire Self Directed Support Services

Aberdeenshire Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

31 Aug 2026 at 15:34

Planning Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Aberdeenshire Council, through the Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership, intends to commission a locally based Self-Directed Support service across Aberdeenshire. The service will provide public advice and information on Self-Directed Support legislation and its four options, support eligible referrals and support planning, and help people who employ staff to do so lawfully, including access to legal and payroll support. It will also manage Individual Service Funds and prepaid card accounts for eligible people choosing Option 2, and develop and facilitate a service-user forum. The service must support children, young people, unpaid carers and adults including older people, people with learning disabilities, mental health problems, physical disabilities, autism, sensory impairments or substance misuse problems. Delivery should be face to face or digital, according to individual needs.

This procurement is at the planning stage: the council has announced an intention to procure, but has not invited tenders. It expects to use a procedure under the 2014 EU public procurement legal basis, with one planned lot for social work and related services. The anticipated contract is for four years, commencing in July 2027. Its estimated value is £2,000,000 in total, based on approximately £500,000 per year. The buyer expects to publish the next notice on 14 October 2026. The service specification may be amended during the contract to reflect changing requirements, legislation, statutory guidance, demonstrated outcomes or additional service-development funding.

The future requirement will suit established social care, advocacy, advice or support organisations with strong knowledge of Scotland’s Self-Directed Support legislation and practical experience helping people understand and use its four options. Relevant providers should be able to deliver person-centred support across a large rural authority area, work effectively with people with varied and complex needs, and communicate both in person and through technology. Useful capabilities include support planning, individual service-fund administration, prepaid-card management, employment advice and links to legal and payroll services. Providers should also be able to engage children, young people, unpaid carers and a broad adult user group, and facilitate meaningful service-user participation through a forum.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

2026 Social Care - Aberdeenshire Self Directed Support Services

Notice Description

The Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership have a service requirement for a locally based service to provide advice and information to members of the public regarding all aspects of Self-Directed Support, including information about the legislation and the four options available under The Social Care (Self Directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013. The service will include: - Support and advice to enable the supported person to access resources that will assist in the meeting of outcomes - the provision of information, support and advice in response to eligible referrals that will assist the individual to consider and understand the four options available to them - participation where requested in the support planning process - assistance to those supported persons that choose to employ staff to do so effectively and lawfully; and including support to the individual to access legal and payroll support - an Individual Service Fund management service that will be accessible to eligible individuals that choose an Individual Service Fund under Option 2 to fund all or some of their care and support package. This will include the management of prepaid card accounts - Develop and facilitate a service user forum

Lot Information

Lot 1

The Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership have a service requirement for a locally based service to provide advice and information to members of the public regarding all aspects of Self-Directed Support, including information about the legislation and the four options available under The Social Care (Self Directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013. The service will include: - Support and advice to enable the supported person to access resources that will assist in the meeting of outcomes - the provision of information, support and advice in response to eligible referrals that will assist the individual to consider and understand the four options available to them - participation where requested in the support planning process - assistance to those supported persons that choose to employ staff to do so effectively and lawfully; and including support to the individual to access legal and payroll support - an Individual Service Fund management service that will be accessible to eligible individuals that choose an Individual Service Fund under Option 2 to fund all or some of their care and support package. This will include the management of prepaid card accounts - Develop and facilitate service user forum. The Self Directed Support (SDS) service will be accessible to all individuals across Aberdeenshire requiring information, advice and support in relation to SDS, including children, young people and unpaid carers. The level of support and communication needs of those requiring support will vary significantly and the Provider should be able to engage effectively face to face or with technology to respond to the needs of the individual. The services will be provided for people with a range of needs including, older people, people with a learning disability, people with mental health problems, people with physical disabilities, autistic people, people with sensory impairment and people with substance misuse problems. The Individual Service Fund Management service will be accessible to all individuals across Aberdeenshire who are eligible for Self-Directed Support and have chosen an Individual Service Fund under Option 2 to fund all or part of their care and support package. Additional information: Aberdeenshire Council may require the service specification to be amended to meet its requirements over the duration of the contract; and in response to changes in legislation and statutory guidance or where outcomes demonstrate the benefits of an amendment or in the event of additional funding being made available for service development from other sources (including the Scottish Government).

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06ef13
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082414-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planning 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
£2,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
31 Aug 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
14 Oct 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Aberdeenshire 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
ABERDEEN
Postcode
AB16 5GB
Postcode Area
Aberdeen
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM5 North Eastern Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM50 Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire
Delivery Location
TLM50 Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire
Local Authority
Aberdeen City
Electoral Ward
Midstocket/Rosemount
Westminster Constituency
Aberdeen North

Further Information

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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