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Advocacy Services

East Ayrshire Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

23 Oct 2026 at 01:00

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

East Ayrshire Council intends to procure independent advocacy services across East Ayrshire. The provider will help service users and individuals have their views heard, protect their rights and take part in decisions affecting their lives, while also supporting families and carers. The expected service covers statutory mental health advocacy, independent advocacy for adults and young people, collective advocacy, and non-instructed advocacy where appropriate. It must support protected groups and people experiencing inequalities, working with health and social care services, third-sector organisations and local communities. Advocates will travel across the area and may meet people at home or in settings including hospitals, offices, day and resource centres, nursing homes and HMP Prison Kilmarnock. The service must be accessible directly through premises in East Ayrshire.

This is at the planning stage: the council has stated its intention to procure, but has not yet invited tenders. A future procurement notice is expected on 8 January 2027. The council expects to use a single lot. The indicative annual budget is approximately £378,000 and may change; the service had 174 active cases in the previous year. Suitable organisations were asked to email the procurement officer by 20 November 2026 with evidence of local presence and relevant experience. The council’s requirements refer to the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance Principles and Standards, and relevant Scottish Government policy. TUPE may apply.

The work is best suited to an established advocacy provider with premises in East Ayrshire, the capacity to deliver across the whole area and advocates able to travel to meet service users in varied settings. The council is looking for demonstrable experience delivering independent advocacy locally, established relationships with a diverse range of people with differing needs, and a sound understanding of local needs and communities. Strong links with local services and stakeholders, and the ability to work in partnership with health and social care, third-sector organisations and communities, will be important. Providers should be prepared to deliver mental health, adult and young people’s, collective and, where appropriate, non-instructed advocacy, in line with the relevant Scottish legislation, SIAA principles and standards, and government policy. Consider workforce transfer implications, as 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-r6ebe6-0000845591
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT567294
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F21 - Social And other Specific Services (Public Contracts)
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 20264 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

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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