---
title: "Provision of Communicator Guide and Intervenor Services"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0505ac"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0505ac"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0505ac.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0505ac.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL"
published: "2025-05-08"
---

# Provision of Communicator Guide and Intervenor Services

Buyer: HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0505ac

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## Summary

The procurement process initiated by Hertfordshire County Council focuses on the provision of Communicator Guide and Intervenor Services, classified under the health and social work services category (CPV: 85000000). This direct award was necessitated by urgent requirements to replace the current service provider that could only offer a limited extension beyond 31st March 2025. The contract spans 18 months, from 3rd May 2025 to 31st October 2026, addressing the local authority's legal obligations to support individuals with deafblindness. The buyer, Hertfordshire County Council, is a sub-central government authority based in Hertford, United Kingdom (region UKH23). The procurement stage is complete, with the award being made to Action Deafness, an SME located in Leicester.

This tender creates valuable opportunities for businesses in the healthcare and social services sectors, particularly those experienced in tailoring services to individuals with sensory impairments. Enterprises capable of providing skilled guiding and specialised communication systems can significantly benefit by expanding into this niche market. The direct award indicates a vital service requirement, presenting a growth opportunity for service providers adept at fulfilling the specified legal and support obligations for deafblind individuals. The contract's light touch regime may be especially appealing to SMEs and similar entities capable of delivering bespoke, compassionate care solutions.

## Notice

This is an 18 month contract to provide communicator guide and intervenor services. Communicator guides work with people who acquire deafblindness, helping them with everyday tasks such as shopping, going to the doctors and going to the gym. The guides are trained in safe guiding skills to support with mobility. They will help the Deafblind person to adjust to life as their eyesight and hearing gets worse. For example, they might train the person to use hands-on signing or the Deafblind manual alphabet. Intervenors work with children and adults who have had deafblindness from birth. Their role is similar to a communicator guide but they will also help to develop a special communication system.

### Procurement Information

The current provider of these services gave sudden and unexpected notice to the Council on 29th January 2025 that they would not provide these services beyond 31st March 2025. The Council sought to negotiate a 4 month extension to this, which was refused, however the provider did agree to extend for a shorter period. The Council is therefore making an urgent direct award to a single replacement provider. The service is required to enable the Council to fulfil its legal obligations - local authorities are required to act under the "Care and Support for Deafblind Children and Adults Policy Guidance" under Section 7 of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 (for children) and section 78 of the Care Act 2014 (for adults). They have to: * provide appropriate services for deafblind people * provide specially trained one-to-one support workers when necessary * provide accessible information for deafblind people

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019673-2025 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 8 May 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 21 Apr 2025 |
| Contract period | 2 May 2025 - 31 Oct 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £904,000 |
| Contracts value | £904,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL |
| Locality | HERTFORD |
| Post town | Stevenage |
| Postcode | SG13 8DQ |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLH East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire |
| ITL 3 | TLH26 North and East Hertfordshire |
| Local authority | East Hertfordshire |
| Electoral ward | Hertford Castle |
| Westminster constituency | Hertford and Stortford |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | ACTION DEAFNESS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85000000 - Health and social work services

## Release History

- 8 May 2025 at 11:00 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019673-2025
- 22 Apr 2025 at 13:18 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/016259-2025
- 22 Apr 2025 at 13:08 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/016252-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019673-2025
  8th May 2025 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/016259-2025
  22nd April 2025 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/016252-2025
  22nd April 2025 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.actiondeafness.org.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-0505ac. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0505ac.json.