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Advocacy Services

East Ayrshire Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

23 Oct 2026 at 14:43

Planning Notice
Summary of the contracting process

East Ayrshire Council is planning to commission independent advocacy services across East Ayrshire for service users, families and carers. The service will help people express their views and wishes, protect their rights and take part in decisions affecting their lives. It is expected to cover statutory mental health advocacy; independent advocacy for adults and young people; collective advocacy; non-instructed advocacy where appropriate; and support for protected groups and people experiencing inequalities. Advocates will travel throughout the area and may meet people in their homes or in settings including hospitals, day and resource centres, nursing homes and HMP Prison Kilmarnock. The service is intended for people normally resident in East Ayrshire.

This is at the planning stage: the council has described its intended requirement, but has not invited tenders. The buyer expects to publish a subsequent procurement notice on 8 January 2027. Suitable organisations were asked to email details of their local presence and relevant experience by 20 November 2026; this is an expression of interest, not a tender deadline. The expected procedure is not stated. The service is described as a single lot, with an anticipated annual budget of approximately £378,000, which may change. The council reports 174 active advocacy cases in the previous year. The service is expected to follow the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance principles and standards, and relevant Scottish Government policy.

The service is likely to suit an established independent advocacy provider with premises in East Ayrshire and the capacity to serve people across the whole area, including through advocates travelling to different locations. The council is looking for providers with demonstrated experience delivering advocacy locally, established relationships with a diverse range of service users and people with varying needs, and an understanding of local needs and communities. Existing links with local services and stakeholders will be important, as will the ability to work in partnership with health and social care services, third-sector organisations and communities. Providers should be equipped to deliver statutory mental health, adult and young people’s, collective and, where appropriate, non-instructed advocacy, including support for protected groups and people experiencing inequalities. TUPE may apply.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Advocacy Services

Notice Description

Advocacy Services to be delivered across East Ayrshire to support Service Users, Families and Carers

Lot Information

Lot 1

The council requires a Service Provider to provide a range of advocacy services throughout East Ayrshire. The service will support Service Users/Individuals to have their views and wishes heard, safeguard their rights and assist them to participate in decisions affecting their lives. The service is expected to include, but not be limited to: -Statutory mental health advocacy. -Independent advocacy for adults and young people. -Collective advocacy opportunities. -Non-instructed advocacy where appropriate -Support for protected groups and those experiencing inequalities. -Partnership working with health and social care services, third sector organisations and communities. The service will be delivered in accordance with the principles set out in the Mental Health (Care and Treatment)(Scotland) Act 2003, the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance (SIAA) Principles and Standards, and relevant Scottish Government policy. The Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 imposes a duty on local authorities and health boards to collaborate to ensure the availability of independent advocacy services in their area. The Act gave everyone with mental illness, learning disability, dementia and related conditions the right to access independent advocacy support. The service must be delivered across the whole of East Ayrshire to those normally resident therein with Advocates travelling throughout the area to meet Service User/Individual's needs and may require to be delivered in people's own homes and within a range of settings, such as hospital and office settings (including day/resource centres/nursing homes, HMP Prison Kilmarnock etc). The anticipated annual budget for the service is approximately 378k GBP which may change. It should be noted that for the last year there were 174 active cases for advocacy services. It will be essential that the Service Provider has premises within the East Ayrshire area to ensure Service Users/Individuals can access services directly. It should also be noted that TUPE may also be applicable.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078f3d
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/100585-2026
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

85312300 - Guidance and counselling services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Oct 20263 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
8 Jan 20273 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
East Ayrshire 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
KILMARNOCK
Postcode
KA3 7BU
Postcode Area
Kilmarnock
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM9 Southern Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM93 North Ayrshire and East Ayrshire
Delivery Location
TLM93 North Ayrshire and East Ayrshire
Local Authority
East Ayrshire
Electoral Ward
Kilmarnock East and Hurlford
Westminster Constituency
Kilmarnock and Loudoun

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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