This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

18 Sep 2026 at 14:45

Planning

10 Sep 2026 at 16:32

Summary of the contracting process

City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council is planning an integrated welfare advice service for residents across the Bradford District who face financial hardship or welfare-related challenges. The intended service would provide accessible, inclusive, high-quality support covering welfare benefits, debt, housing and wider advice and guidance needs. The potential commissioning model has three service areas: welfare advice services; community connect and guidance services; and welfare advice network support and training services. The work is community and social support provision, including advice, referral, network development and training. Delivery is across the Bradford District. The council is considering how these services should be designed and joined up, including whether providers should work through lead-provider or partnership arrangements.

This procurement is at the planning stage and is currently market engagement, not an invitation to tender. The council expects to use feedback to shape the procurement strategy, specification, lotting and future route to market. It has planned a supplier engagement event for 29 September 2026, with expressions of interest requested by 27 September 2026 at noon. The council’s indicative date for the next notice is 26 October 2026. The anticipated contract period is 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2030. The estimated value is £9.6 million excluding VAT, or £11.52 million including VAT. The potential three-lot model covers welfare advice, community connect and guidance, and network support and training. Engagement participation is voluntary and will not form part of any later evaluation.

This will suit organisations experienced in welfare rights, benefits and debt advice, housing advice, community guidance, referral and wider support for people experiencing financial difficulty. It is also relevant to community, voluntary and social enterprises: the council has identified the planned service as suitable for SMEs and VCSEs. Providers with established local reach, inclusive service models and the capacity to support Bradford residents across the district are likely to be well placed. The council is seeking market views on service design, lotting, lead-provider and partnership models, mobilisation, delivery capacity and innovation, so potential suppliers should be ready to explain their operating model, partnership approach, workforce and ability to coordinate or deliver network support and training. This is an opportunity to prepare and influence the future specification, not to bid now.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

CRF Community Advice & Support programme (General Advice)

Notice Description

City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council is undertaking Preliminary Market Engagement to inform the future procurement of integrated Welfare Advice Services across Bradford District, with an anticipated contract commencement date of 1 April 2027. The Council is exploring a potential three-lot commissioning model comprising: (1) Welfare Advice Services, (2) Community Connect and Guidance Services, and (3) Welfare Advice Network Support and Training Services. The future service aims to provide accessible, inclusive and high-quality support for residents experiencing financial hardship and welfare-related challenges, including welfare benefits, debt, housing and wider advice and support needs. The Council is seeking feedback from the market on service design, lotting arrangements, lead provider and partnership models, mobilisation considerations, delivery capacity, and opportunities for innovation. Feedback received will help inform the procurement strategy, service specification and future route to market. Interested providers will be invited to attend a supplier engagement event on 29 September 2026. Event location and joining details will be provided to registered attendees in due course. Participation in this engagement exercise is voluntary and will not form part of any future procurement evaluation. Registration Organisations should, in the first instance, access YORtender - Reference 100114028, review the associated documentation, and formally express their interest in attending the Market Engagement Event via the YORtender messaging portal by providing the following information: Organisation name Contact name Job title Email address Telephone number Response deadline (UK time): 27/09/2026 12:00:00

Planning Information

https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=108973&TID=100114028&B=

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f75c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/088753-2026
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
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

75 - Administration, defence and social security services

85 - Health and social work services

98 - Other community, social and personal services


CPV Codes

75200000 - Provision of services to the community

85322000 - Community action programme

98000000 - Other community, social and personal services

98133100 - Civic betterment and community facility support services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£9,600,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Sep 20263 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
26 Oct 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
City of Bradford Metropolitan District 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
BRADFORD
Postcode
BD1 1HX
Postcode Area
Bradford
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLE4 West Yorkshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLE41 Bradford
Delivery Location
TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLE41 Bradford

Local Authority
Bradford
Electoral Ward
City
Westminster Constituency
Bradford West

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

Loading OCDS record...