--- title: "Direct Payments" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0502a7" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0502a7" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0502a7.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0502a7.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "CHESHIRE WEST AND CHESTER COUNCIL" published: "2026-03-06" --- # Direct Payments Buyer: CHESHIRE WEST AND CHESTER COUNCIL Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0502a7 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0502a7) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0502a7.json) ## Summary The procurement process led by Cheshire West and Chester Council, named 'Direct Payments', is primarily focused on redesigning a previous care service arrangement into a comprehensive service offering advice and guidance on the utilisation of Direct Payments. The industry category for this service falls under Health and Social Work Services, with the project location situated within the UKD63 region in the United Kingdom. The procurement began in the planning stage with milestones for market engagement but has since progressed to the award and contract stages. Key dates for this contract include the signature date on 5th March 2026, with the service period extending from 1st April 2026 to 31st March 2030, and a potential one-year renewal subject to review. The procurement method employed was an open procedure, which aligns with the 'lightTouch' regime, under the legal framework referenced UKPGA 2023/54. This tender represents significant opportunities for business growth, particularly within the services sector focusing on health and social work. As the project supports both children and adult recipients without including Personal Health Budgets, businesses adept in providing consultancy and tailored advisory services can benefit from this initiative. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), especially those specialising in social care services, are well-positioned to compete, given the demonstration of a 90% weight on quality and a 10% weight on social value in the award criteria. Furthermore, the contract holds substantial economic potential with a gross value of approximately 1,632,000 GBP, offering stability and long-term engagement over a four-year period with possible extension. The awarded supplier, BARRIE BOOKKEEPING & PAYROLL SOLUTIONS LIMITED, indicates that the scope for bookkeeping and financial management solutions integrated into service delivery could be vital for prospective bidders aiming to innovate within this domain. ## Notice Cheshire West and Chester Council are redesigning their previous Arrangement of Care service into a more focused 'Direct Payment' service. This new Service is designed to provide Information, Advice and Guidance to residents interested in utilising Direct Payments and how they can spend them to meet their assessed needs. This service will be an essential element in achieving the Councils aim of increasing the number of people using a Direct Payment. Residents who are classified as a 'Self-Funder' will not be supported by this Commission unlike the previous 'Arrangement of Care' service. This is a service that will support both Children and Adult direct payment recipients of any age and does not include Personal Health Budgets. ### Planning Information Please refer to The Chest, www.the-chest.org.uk for the draft specification and QR link to the questionnaire ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/020287-2026 | | Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | SME | | All stages | Planning, Tender, Award | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 6 Mar 2026 | | Submission deadline | 21 Nov 2025 | | Future notice date | 1 Sep 2025 | | Award date | 14 Jan 2026 | | Contract period | 31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2030 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £1,375,000 | | Lots value | £1,375,000 | | Awards value | £1,632,000 | | Contracts value | £1,632,000 | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Complete | | Lots status | Complete | | Awards status | Active | | Contracts status | Active | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | CHESHIRE WEST AND CHESTER COUNCIL | | Locality | ELLESMERE PORT | | Post town | Chester | | Postcode | CH65 0BA | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLD6 Cheshire | | ITL 3 | TLD63 Cheshire West and Chester | | Local authority | Cheshire West and Chester | | Electoral ward | Central & Grange | | Westminster constituency | Ellesmere Port and Bromborough | | Delivery location | TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLD63 Cheshire West and Chester, TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England) | ## Supplier | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Number of suppliers | 1 | | Supplier names | BARRIE BOOKKEEPING & PAYROLL SOLUTIONS | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 85 - Health and social work services ### Codes - 85000000 - Health and social work services ## Release History - 6 Mar 2026 at 11:07 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/020287-2026 - 15 Jan 2026 at 15:34 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003596-2026 - 22 Oct 2025 at 15:32 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/067611-2025 - 1 May 2025 at 15:14 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018545-2025 - 14 Apr 2025 at 14:08 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015022-2025 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/020287-2026 6th March 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003596-2026 15th January 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/067611-2025 22nd October 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018545-2025 1st May 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015022-2025 14th April 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.the-chest.org.uk/ ## Notice URLs - http://www.barriebookkeeping.co.uk - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents ## 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-0502a7. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0502a7.json.