---
title: "2023 Social Care Self Directed Support and ISF Management Service"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-038dac"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-038dac"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-038dac.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-038dac.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "ABERDEENSHIRE COUNCIL"
published: "2025-01-13"
---

# 2023 Social Care Self Directed Support and ISF Management Service

Buyer: ABERDEENSHIRE COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-038dac

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## Summary

Aberdeenshire Council has recently completed a public procurement process to award the "2023 Social Care Self Directed Support and ISF Management Service" contract. The initiative, focusing on the social work and related services industry, covers the Aberdeenshire region (UKM50). The procurement method utilized was a limited procedure, justified under regulation due to technical reasons and the bespoke nature of the service. The contract was awarded without prior publication of a call for competition. Key dates include the contract's signing on 12th December 2022. The awarded contract, valued at £1,882,632, was assigned to Cornerstone Community Care, a decision documented on 13th January 2025.

This procurement is an excellent opportunity for businesses involved in social care services to understand the high standards and specific skills required to provide integrated individual service fund management. Companies specializing in legal and payroll support, advice, and information dissemination for self-directed support services will find this project representative of potential public sector collaboration and growth avenues. Cornerstone Community Care's successful bid indicates the type of tailored and skilled approach that public authorities, such as Aberdeenshire Council, are looking for in service providers. Businesses with the right expertise can leverage such contracts to expand their service offerings and credibility in the social care sector.

## Notice

A locally based service to provide advice and information to members of the public regarding all aspects of Self-Directed Support, including information about the legislation and the four options available under The Social Care (Self Directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013; and to provide an Individual Service Fund management service. The Individual Service Fund management service will be accessible to eligible individuals that choose an Individual Service Fund under Option 2 to fund all or some of their care and support package. This service will include the management of prepaid card accounts.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

A locally based Self Directed Support service that includes: - a sign-posting facility; the provision of information, support and advice; participation in the support planning process; assistance to those supported persons that choose to employ staff to do so effectively and lawfully; and including support to the individual to access legal and payroll support - an integrated Individual Service Fund management service that will include the management of prepaid card accounts

### Procurement Information

Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition is justified under regulation 33(1)(b)(ii) of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 because competition is absent for technical reasons. The Council issued a Prior Information Notice issued via PCS which did not identify alternative economic operators able to evidence the technical capacity to deliver the integrated individual fund management service of the form being procured to meet the service requirement of the Council. The Council's service delivery model, including the individual support fund management service and prepaid account facility, is bespoke and tailored to the needs of its users. The lack of a reasonable alternative or substitute is reflective of regulator findings that since the Social Care (Self Directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013[3] was enacted, Self Directed Support (SDS) has been implemented inconsistently across the country; and that Aberdeenshire Council has implemented a 'bespoke approach to delivering Option 2', with a uniqueness of supply that is recognised independently to be a 'well designed system working well and the model most in the spirit of the Act' . This notice of intent to award is made with reference to Chapter 3 Particular Procurement Regimes, Section 7 Social and Other Specific Services. This procurement responds primarily to the Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013. It is relevant to the integration agenda and the 'Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014'; and recognises Council responsibilities under Section 12 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act. The Scottish Government guidance on Specific Considerations and Rules for Care and Support Contracts has been followed, and light touch provisions are determined to be applicable. In relation to the award the Council has taken into account the need to ensure quality, continuity, accessibility, affordability, availability and comprehensiveness of the services; the specific needs of different categories of users, including disadvantaged and vulnerable groups; the involvement and empowerment of users' and innovation. (76.9) The Council intends to award a contract to Cornerstone Community Care and considers that award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition is justified under regulation 33(1)(b)(ii) of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 as competition is absent for technical reasons.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/001019-2025 |
| Notice type | Award 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 |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 13 Jan 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 12 Dec 2022 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £1,882,632 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | ABERDEENSHIRE COUNCIL |
| Locality | ABERDEEN |
| Post town | Aberdeen |
| Postcode | AB16 5GB |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM5 North Eastern Scotland |
| ITL 3 | TLM50 Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire |
| Local authority | Aberdeen City |
| Electoral ward | Midstocket/Rosemount |
| Westminster constituency | Aberdeen North |
| Delivery location | TLM50 Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | CORNERSTONE COMMUNITY CARE |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85300000 - Social work and related services

## Release History

- 13 Jan 2025 at 13:28 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/001019-2025
- 7 Jun 2023 at 08:16 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/016077-2023
- 15 Dec 2022 at 11:16 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035476-2022

## Notice URLs

- http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000716588
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2015/446/contents/made
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00232

## 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-h6vhtk-038dac. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-038dac.json.