---
title: "Lightening Reach System"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-bc94591d-7aaa-404d-94a9-a60576713a23"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-bc94591d-7aaa-404d-94a9-a60576713a23"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-bc94591d-7aaa-404d-94a9-a60576713a23.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-bc94591d-7aaa-404d-94a9-a60576713a23.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL"
published: "2026-07-17"
---

# Lightening Reach System

Buyer: DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-bc94591d-7aaa-404d-94a9-a60576713a23

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## Summary

Durham County Council has completed the procurement process for the "Lightening Reach System". This contract falls under the Information Technology Services category as per the Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV), with specific delivery within the North East region of the United Kingdom. The procurement process was at the award stage as of 17 July 2026, with an initial contract beginning on 1 July 2026 and concluding on 30 June 2029. The established contract, valued at £150,000, is facilitated through a selective procurement method, specifically a call-off from a framework agreement, designed to offer financial support services efficiently. The procurement’s original tender period ended on 10 June 2026, reflecting a well-planned timeline managed by Durham County Council.

This tender opens significant opportunities for businesses specialising in IT services, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary community and social enterprises (VCSEs), as it aligns with their suitability and capabilities. The contract has been awarded to Lightning Social Ventures Ltd, a company recognised for its impactful contributions and adeptness in delivering personalised support systems. Businesses with expertise in developing financial portals and supportive frameworks that enhance accessibility to various grants, benefits, and vital resources stands to benefit greatly from engaging with similar contracts facilitated by local councils striving for technological advancement and improved service delivery.

## Notice

Lightning Reach Refer is a financial support portal which makes it easy for people to find and apply for a wide range of personalised support in one place. This can include charity grants, help with benefits, help with their bills and other vital resources. Initial Contract Terms is 12months with 2 x 12 months optional extensions embedded.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8f273074-2115-40f4-a593-de702f85f1a5 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Call-off from a framework agreement |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 17 Jul 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 10 Jun 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 16 Jul 2026 |
| Contract period | 30 Jun 2026 - 30 Jun 2029 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £150,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £150,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL |
| Locality | DURHAM |
| Post town | Durham |
| Postcode | DH1 5UQ |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLC North East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear |
| ITL 3 | TLC41 Durham |
| Local authority | County Durham |
| Electoral ward | Neville's Cross |
| Westminster constituency | City of Durham |
| Delivery location | TLC North East (England) |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | LIGHTNING SOCIAL VENTURES |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

### Codes

- 72222300 - Information technology services

## Release History

- 17 Jul 2026 at 12:56 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8f273074-2115-40f4-a593-de702f85f1a5

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8f273074-2115-40f4-a593-de702f85f1a5
  17th July 2026 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-bc94591d-7aaa-404d-94a9-a60576713a23. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-bc94591d-7aaa-404d-94a9-a60576713a23.json.