Award

Provision of Best Start Foods

SOCIAL SECURITY SCOTLAND

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

18 May 2026 at 00:00

OJEU - F15 - Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

This public procurement process involves Social Security Scotland, a national authority responsible for providing social protection, extending the Provision of Best Start Foods contract. Located in Dundee, the contracting authority has published a Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency (VEAT) notice, indicating the intention to extend the existing contract with a start date of 4th June 2026 and an end date on 2nd March 2027. The procurement stage is currently at 'Contract', having been awarded through a limited procedure without a prior call for competition. The contract falls within the services category and covers the UKM region. The value of the contract is £336,033.81, awarded to allpay Limited, a large supplier based in Hereford.

This tender presents opportunities for businesses involved in the provision of social protection services, especially those offering payment solutions. The extension of the existing contract without a competitive process underscores essential service continuity, providing businesses that specialise in prepaid card solutions for social benefit payments a chance to align their services with government standards. Potential competitors for future contracts may include firms with capabilities in financial technology and service delivery efficiency to secure follow-on contract opportunities post-March 2027, when a competitive process is expected to be completed for a new contract.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Best Start Foods

Notice Description

This is a voluntary ex ante transparency (VEAT) notice. This notice is to indicate that Scottish Ministers, acting through Social Security Scotland, intend to extend the current Provision of Best Start Foods contract from 04 June 2026 to 02 March 2027

Lot Information

Lot 1

This is a voluntary ex ante transparency (VEAT) notice. This notice is to indicate that Scottish Ministers, acting through Social Security Scotland, intend to extend the current Provision of Best Start Foods contract from 03 June 2026 to 02 March 2027

Options: This is not a fixed price contract therefore actual spend may vary from the value stated above.

Procurement Information

The continued provision of services under the current contract is essential to ensure that Social Security Scotland can continue to provide Best Start Foods benefit payments until a replacement contract can be put in place. A competitive process is underway to identify and put such a replacement in place, by March 2027. The extension of the current term is considered to be proportionate in the circumstances based on previous experience, and taking into account the need for a contingency to account for potential delays.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000830455
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAY556002
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F15 - Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

98 - Other community, social and personal services

CPV Codes

98390000 - Other services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£336,033 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 May 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
27 Apr 20261 months ago
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
SOCIAL SECURITY SCOTLAND
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
DUNDEE
Postcode
DD1 4BF
Post Town
Dundee
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM0 Eastern Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM03 Angus and Dundee City
Delivery Location
TLM Scotland
Local Authority
Dundee City
Electoral Ward
Maryfield
Westminster Constituency
Dundee Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

ALLPAY

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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