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Independent Advocacy and Children's Rights Services: Looked After, Child Protection Processes and Continuing Care

The City of Edinburgh Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

28 Jul 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F21 - Social And other Specific Services (Public Contracts)
Tender

13 Mar 2026 at 00:00

OJEU - F21 - Social And other Specific Services (Public Contracts)
Summary of the contracting process

The City of Edinburgh Council procured an independent advocacy and children’s rights service for children and young people in Edinburgh. The service supports children and young people involved in child protection processes, including those looked after at home or away from home, and those receiving continuing care. This is a social care and advocacy service, covering independent representation and rights support for the specified groups. Delivery is in Edinburgh. The procurement was for one provider, rather than separate providers for different service areas. The requirement sits within public and social services, including social work and related support services. The Council is the buying organisation and the service is intended for children and young people whose circumstances require independent advocacy during statutory care and protection processes.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded following an open procedure. One lot was used, with a sole provider appointed. The submission deadline was 21 April 2026 at 12 noon. The estimated value for the full potential contract period, including extensions, is £1,290,000. The contract was awarded to Who Cares? Scotland, and the contract was signed on 17 July 2026. The contract period is up to six years: a three-year core period followed by optional extensions of two years and one year, each at the Council’s discretion. Three bids were received, including two from SMEs. Suppliers were assessed through mandatory pass/fail requirements, selection criteria, award criteria and pricing, with the best overall value for money determining the outcome.

This award indicates established demand from Edinburgh for specialist independent advocacy and children’s rights support linked to child protection, looked-after children and continuing care. A credible future provider would need demonstrable technical and professional ability in these services, with the capacity to act independently for children and young people across the relevant statutory processes. Required organisational capability included annual general turnover of at least £430,000, a current ratio above 1.15, and employers’, public and professional indemnity insurance at £5 million, £5 million and £2 million respectively. Relevant compliance expectations included third-party registration, PVG or Disclosure Scotland checks, health and safety arrangements, prompt payment, payment of the Real Living Wage and a response to the climate emergency. The competition attracted three electronic bids, suggesting a specialist but contestable market.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Independent Advocacy and Children's Rights Services: Looked After, Child Protection Processes and Continuing Care

Notice Description

Provision of an Independent Advocacy and Children's Right Service for Children and Young People (C&YP) involved in child protection processes, looked after both away from home and at home and those in continuing care.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Appointment of a sole Provider to deliver the specified service. An open procurement process was followed where by the Single Procurement Document (SPD) was utilised to identify suitable Tenderers through mandatory pass/fail questions and in terms of compliance with the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 and/or the Procurement (Scotland) Regulations 2016/PR(S)A14 and the minimum standards and any other requirements set out in the Tender documents & Contract Notice. Thereafter an Award Criteria and Pricing evaluation was undertaken to select the tender which represented the best overall value for money.. The potential contract duration is up to 6 years, broken down as follows: - Core Contract Period: three years - Optional Extension(1): two years - Optional Extension(2): one year Extension options will be undertaken at the sole discretion of the Council.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000826476
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL561046
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F21 - Social And other Specific Services (Public Contracts)
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85300000 - Social work and related services

85310000 - Social work services

85311300 - Welfare services for children and young people

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,290,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,290,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£1,290,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 Jul 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
21 Apr 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
The City of Edinburgh 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
EDINBURGH
Postcode
EH8 8BG
Postcode Area
Edinburgh
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM1 East Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM13 City of Edinburgh
Delivery Location
TLM75 City of Edinburgh
Local Authority
City of Edinburgh
Electoral Ward
City Centre
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh East and Musselburgh

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Who Cares? Scotland

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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