Planning

Independent Children's Advocacy Service

DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

18 Mar 2026 at 00:00

Summary of the contracting process

Dumfries and Galloway Council is progressing with the commissioning of an Independent Children's Advocacy Service. Classified under 'General public services', this procurement is in its planning stage as of 18 March 2026 with a future notice set for 17 April 2026. The council aims to establish services in Dumfries (region UKM92) to ensure advocacy for children and young people under various statutory requirements and priorities from the Scottish Executive. The service targets those who are looked after or on the Child Protection Register, or in terms of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.

This tender presents substantial prospects for businesses specialising in advocacy services. Suitable candidates include organisations with expertise in independent and professional advocacy, particularly those equipped to provide one-to-one support and handle complex statutory requirements. Companies aiming to work with young populations with diverse needs, including those with communication or capacity challenges, will find this opportunity aligns well with their expertise. It also offers a platform for growth through collaboration with Dumfries and Galloway Council and exploration of innovative service delivery models benefitting children and young people in the region.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Independent Children's Advocacy Service

Notice Description

Dumfries and Galloway Council (the Purchaser) wishes to commission children's advocacy services that: - are independent and professional; - provide individual (one-to-one) advocacy that is issue focused; and - meet statutory requirements and Scottish Executive priorities. The service will covers such services under the following categories: - Advocacy services for children and young people who are or have been looked after and accommodated within or outwith the region (excluding those who are placed locally by another Local Authority) up until the age of 26. - Advocacy for children and young people on the Child Protection Register. - Advocacy for children and young people in terms of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.

Lot Information

Lot 1

This procurement is to obtain a suitable advocacy service provider for children's advocacy services. The service objectives are as follows: To provide an independent and confidential advocacy service to include information, support and advice for Dumfries and Galloway children and young people who are or have been looked after and accommodated within or outwith the region. To provide access to an advocacy service for children & young people regardless of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, faith/religion, or social background. To match service users and advocates appropriate to each situation's needs, seeking specialist support where indicated and ensuring service users comfort at all times. To ensure that children & young people's own views are heard and adequately represented. To provide advocacy, related support and information in an age-appropriate and child/young person-centred manner. To help children and young people to access and understand information relevant to them and make appropriate choices or decisions which give them fuller control of their lives. To promote choices to young people. To support children & young people who, because of incapacity or communication difficulties, may not be able to express their needs or views. To provide advocacy for children and young people who have a mental disorder in compliance with the Mental Health Act. To guide children and young people towards self-advocacy and avoid creation of dependency. To develop links with service providers, professionals and relevant support organisations to ensure clear understanding of the role of advocacy. To develop and promote children and young people's involvement in service planning. Further information will be provided in the service specification documents when the tender process goes live.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000826940
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR551987
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F1 - Prior Information 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

85310000 - Social work services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Mar 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
17 Apr 20264 weeks 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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY 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
DUMFRIES
Postcode
DG1 2HP
Post Town
Dumfries and Galloway
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM9 Southern Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM92 Dumfries and Galloway
Delivery Location
TLM92 Dumfries and Galloway

Local Authority
Dumfries and Galloway
Electoral Ward
Nith
Westminster Constituency
Dumfries and Galloway

Further Information

Notice Documents

  • https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR551987
    Independent Children's Advocacy Service - Dumfries and Galloway Council (the Purchaser) wishes to commission children's advocacy services that: - are independent and professional; - provide individual (one-to-one) advocacy that is issue focused; and - meet statutory requirements and Scottish Executive priorities. The service will covers such services under the following categories: - Advocacy services for children and young people who are or have been looked after and accommodated within or outwith the region (excluding those who are placed locally by another Local Authority) up until the age of 26. - Advocacy for children and young people on the Child Protection Register. - Advocacy for children and young people in terms of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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.

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-r6ebe6-0000826940-2026-03-18T00:00:00Z",
    "date": "2026-03-18T00:00:00Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-r6ebe6-0000826940",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "org-5",
            "name": "Dumfries and Galloway Council",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Dumfries and Galloway Council"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Procurement Team, Carruthers House",
                "locality": "Dumfries",
                "region": "UKM92",
                "postalCode": "DG1 2HP"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "Procurement.PeopleandProjects@dumgal.gov.uk",
                "telephone": "+44 3033333000",
                "url": "http://"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "Regional or local authority",
                        "scheme": "TED_CA_TYPE"
                    },
                    {
                        "id": "01",
                        "description": "General public services",
                        "scheme": "COFOG"
                    }
                ],
                "url": "http://www.dumgal.gov.uk"
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "name": "Dumfries and Galloway Council",
        "id": "org-5"
    },
    "planning": {
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "MAR551987",
                "documentType": "plannedProcurementNotice",
                "title": "Independent Children's Advocacy Service",
                "description": "Dumfries and Galloway Council (the Purchaser) wishes to commission children's advocacy services that: - are independent and professional; - provide individual (one-to-one) advocacy that is issue focused; and - meet statutory requirements and Scottish Executive priorities. The service will covers such services under the following categories: - Advocacy services for children and young people who are or have been looked after and accommodated within or outwith the region (excluding those who are placed locally by another Local Authority) up until the age of 26. - Advocacy for children and young people on the Child Protection Register. - Advocacy for children and young people in terms of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.",
                "url": "https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR551987",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "DGCC-00261",
        "title": "Independent Children's Advocacy Service",
        "description": "Dumfries and Galloway Council (the Purchaser) wishes to commission children's advocacy services that: - are independent and professional; - provide individual (one-to-one) advocacy that is issue focused; and - meet statutory requirements and Scottish Executive priorities. The service will covers such services under the following categories: - Advocacy services for children and young people who are or have been looked after and accommodated within or outwith the region (excluding those who are placed locally by another Local Authority) up until the age of 26. - Advocacy for children and young people on the Child Protection Register. - Advocacy for children and young people in terms of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.",
        "status": "planned",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKM92"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "description": "This procurement is to obtain a suitable advocacy service provider for children's advocacy services. The service objectives are as follows: To provide an independent and confidential advocacy service to include information, support and advice for Dumfries and Galloway children and young people who are or have been looked after and accommodated within or outwith the region. To provide access to an advocacy service for children & young people regardless of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, faith/religion, or social background. To match service users and advocates appropriate to each situation's needs, seeking specialist support where indicated and ensuring service users comfort at all times. To ensure that children & young people's own views are heard and adequately represented. To provide advocacy, related support and information in an age-appropriate and child/young person-centred manner. To help children and young people to access and understand information relevant to them and make appropriate choices or decisions which give them fuller control of their lives. To promote choices to young people. To support children & young people who, because of incapacity or communication difficulties, may not be able to express their needs or views. To provide advocacy for children and young people who have a mental disorder in compliance with the Mental Health Act. To guide children and young people towards self-advocacy and avoid creation of dependency. To develop links with service providers, professionals and relevant support organisations to ensure clear understanding of the role of advocacy. To develop and promote children and young people's involvement in service planning. Further information will be provided in the service specification documents when the tender process goes live.",
                "status": "planned"
            }
        ],
        "communication": {
            "futureNoticeDate": "2026-04-17T00:00:00Z"
        },
        "coveredBy": [
            "GPA"
        ],
        "classification": {
            "id": "85310000",
            "scheme": "CPV"
        },
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "32014L0024",
            "scheme": "CELEX"
        }
    },
    "language": "EN",
    "description": "NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=826940. (SC Ref:826940)",
    "links": [
        {
            "rel": "canonical",
            "href": "https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000826940"
        }
    ],
    "noticetype": "OJEU - F1 - Prior Information Notice"
}