This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

30 Sep 2026 at 10:30

Summary of the contracting process

Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council intends to procure an independent advocacy service for people in the borough. The service is intended to provide person-centred, flexible support through a single referral route, so that individuals’ advocacy needs can be met by experienced advocates with appropriate training. The scope includes Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA), Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA), Care Act advocacy and support with NHS complaints. This is a health and social care service, delivered in Tameside, Greater Manchester. The planned service brings several advocacy needs together rather than treating them as separate referral routes, so providers should be able to support people across the different areas covered.

The process is at the planning stage: the council has stated its intention to procure, but has not yet invited tenders. It plans to use a single lot. The council expects the contract to run from 7 July 2027 to 6 July 2032, with a possible extension to 6 July 2034. The stated gross estimated value is £2,343,558. Soft market testing is planned, with submissions expected by 13 October 2026; the council anticipates publishing the next notice on 2 November 2026. These are planning-stage expectations, not a tender deadline. The procedure and evaluation basis have not yet been described, so suppliers should treat the intended procurement arrangements as unsettled.

The service is likely to suit independent advocacy providers able to deliver person-centred support across mental health, mental capacity, Care Act and NHS complaints matters. The council specifically envisages experienced advocates trained to provide the relevant forms of advocacy, and a flexible service that can respond through a single referral. Organisations with established advocacy expertise and the operational capacity to cover several service areas across Tameside are well placed to prepare. The planned service is marked as suitable for small and medium-sized businesses and voluntary, community and social enterprises, making it relevant to specialist local providers as well as larger organisations. At this stage, suppliers can inform the planned service through the council’s soft market testing before a tender invitation is issued.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Tameside Independent Advocacy Service

Notice Description

The purpose of this service is to ensure advocacy provision in the borough is person-centred and flexible and that an individual's need for advocacy, including IMHA, IMCA, Care Act and NHS Complaints, can be met via a single referral by experienced advocates trained accordingly

Planning Information

Soft Market Testing to be conducted. All submissions need to be via The Chest under Ref: DN831208

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077d33
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/092207-2026
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

85 - Health and social work services


CPV Codes

85000000 - Health and social work services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,343,558 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Sep 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
2 Nov 20264 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
7 Jul 2027 - 7 Jul 2032 Over 5 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
Tameside Metropolitan Borough 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
ASHTON UNDER LYNE
Postcode
OL6 0GS
Postcode Area
Oldham
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD3 Greater Manchester
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD35 Greater Manchester South East
Delivery Location
TLD North West (England)

Local Authority
Tameside
Electoral Ward
St Peter's
Westminster Constituency
Ashton-under-Lyne

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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