Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Citizens Advice RCT Integrated Specialist Advice Service

Rhondda Cynon Taf CBC

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

11 Sep 2026 at 15:37

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council commissioned an integrated specialist advice service for residents across Rhondda Cynon Taf. The service provides immediate, open-door crisis advice from centres in Mountain Ash and Pontypridd, alongside coordinated specialist support through a single access route. Referral-led provision supports people facing multiple or complex barriers to accessing advice. The scope includes specialist debt advice, financial stabilisation, income maximisation, budgeting and representation at welfare benefit appeals. The provider works jointly with council services, including social workers, support workers, Resilient Families Teams and homelessness prevention services, to deliver joined-up support. This is a community, social and personal services contract, delivered across Rhondda Cynon Taf in Wales, with advice provided by skilled specialist advisers.

The procurement is complete and was awarded directly without competition as a below-threshold, light-touch service procurement. One lot was awarded to Citizen Advice Rhondda Cynon Taf, which holds an active contract. The award was made on 8 March 2026 and the contract was signed on the same date. The contract runs from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027. Its value is £377,837.50 excluding VAT, or £453,405 including VAT. The requirement was evaluated through the direct-award route rather than a competitive tender. The contract covers the full integrated specialist advice service for the council area, including open-door, specialist and referral-led provision, debt and welfare benefits advice, financial support, representation and collaboration with local authority services.

This award indicates demand for an established advice organisation able to deliver a broad, integrated service rather than a single advice specialism. A credible future provider would need skilled advisers experienced in complex and urgent cases, including debt, welfare benefits, budgeting, income maximisation and appeals representation. Debt provision requires FCA-registered staff, supported by robust quality assurance. Relevant quality credentials include the Advice Quality Standard across Consumer, Debt, Welfare Benefits, Health and Community Care, Disability, Older People, and Students and Young People, together with the IAQF quality standard. The service also requires accessible open-door delivery in Mountain Ash and Pontypridd, referral-led support for harder-to-reach clients, and effective joint working with council, family-support, homelessness-prevention and social-care teams.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Citizens Advice RCT Integrated Specialist Advice Service

Notice Description

The service delivers a range of specialist advice services across Rhondda Cynon Taf, supporting residents with complex and often urgent issues. Open-door services in Mountain Ash and Pontypridd provide immediate access to specialist crisis advice, ensuring clients can receive specialist advice and support at the point they need it most. Alongside this, the service offers in-depth specialist advice through a single open door access system, enabling coordinated and consistent support. Referral-led services are designed for clients who may struggle to access advice through standard routes and require more targeted, intensive support due to multiple and layered issues. This includes stabilising financial situations through specialist debt advice, income maximisation and budgeting support, as well as providing representation at welfare benefit appeals where required. The service works collaboratively with local authority services including social workers, support workers, Resilient Families Teams and homelessness prevention services, to plan and deliver support together, ensuring shared outcomes for clients and a seamless and joined up client journey. All advice is delivered by highly skilled advisers, with debt advice provided by FCA-registered staff and subject to robust quality assurance processes. The service holds the Advice Quality Standard (AQS) across Consumer, Debt, Welfare Benefits, Health and Community Care, Disability, Older People, and Students and Young People, as well as the IAQF quality standard, ensuring high-quality specialist advice for those requiring additional and targeted support.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f86c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086566-2026
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

98 - Other community, social and personal services

CPV Codes

98000000 - Other community, social and personal services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£377,837 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
11 Sep 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 6-12 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
Rhondda Cynon Taf CBC
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
PONTYPRIDD
Postcode
CF37 4TH
Postcode Area
Cardiff
Country
Wales
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLL Wales
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLL5 South East Wales
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLL51 Central Valleys and Bridgend
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Rhondda Cynon Taf
Electoral Ward
Pontypridd Town
Westminster Constituency
Pontypridd

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Citizen Advice Rhondda Cynon Taf

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...