---
title: "Direct Payments Support Service"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0513e4"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0513e4"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0513e4.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0513e4.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "LANCASHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL"
published: "2026-01-23"
---

# Direct Payments Support Service

Buyer: LANCASHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0513e4

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[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0513e4.json)

## Summary

Lancashire County Council is currently in the planning stage for a new procurement process titled "Direct Payments Support Service," set to address the needs within the health and social work services sector. As a buyer, the council is engaging with prospective providers to innovate and enhance support services related to direct payments and individual service funds. The procurement process encompasses regions within Lancashire, UK, and is aligned with their operating model of "Living Better Lives in Lancashire." Interested parties are invited to express interest by 4 p.m. on 13 February 2026, as part of a market engagement before the scheduled contract period begins on 1 April 2027 and could extend up to 31 March 2033.

This tender represents a substantial business growth opportunity for organisations capable of delivering innovative solutions in supporting individuals with direct payments. Suitable candidates include SMEs and VCSEs with expertise in providing information, advice, payroll, and recruitment support for personal assistants, among other services. The procurement follows a competitive flexible procedure, encouraging a diverse range of suppliers to present proposals that address Lancashire's ambition to increase independent living through direct payments support. With a gross value of approximately £6,912,000, this opportunity is noteworthy for businesses looking to expand their service offerings within the public sector in the UK.

## Notice

Direct Payment Support Service in Lancashire offers Information and advice, payroll support, support to recruit Personal Assistants and supported banking services for individuals in receipt of a direct payment.

### Planning Information

Lancashire County Council is in the process of undertaking a review and redesign of Direct Payments Support Services. The Council is yet to determine how these services will be commissioned and in future, different elements of the service may be delivered by one or more providers. 
Our operating model, Living Better Lives in Lancashire, guides how we work and make decisions. We are passionate about promoting people's wellbeing and independence and have more than 4000 people in receipt of a Direct Payment.
The Council's intention is to move to a Direct Payments first model and increase the numbers of people who can benefit from directing their own support. We are interested in hearing from providers who have innovative solutions to supporting people with Direct Payments and Individual Service Funds to enhance our support offer. We are also interested in hearing from support providers who offer Independent Individual Service Funds.
We wish to engage with key stakeholders who can deliver all or some of the proposed service elements in relation to some of the key elements of the Service, including changes from the existing provision.
If you would like to take part in our review process, please send an expression of interest including 'Direct Payments' in the subject of the email to awpicomm@lancashire.gov.uk by 4pm on Friday 13th February 2026.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006009-2026 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Competitive flexible procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 23 Jan 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 1 Aug 2025 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 31 Mar 2027 - 31 Mar 2030 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £5,760,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planned |
| Lots status | Planned |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | LANCASHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL |
| Additional buyers | SOCIAL VALUE PORTAL LTD |
| Locality | PRESTON |
| Post town | Preston |
| Postcode | PR1 0LD |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI4 Inner London - East |
| ITL 3 | TLI45 Lambeth |
| Local authority | Lambeth |
| Electoral ward | Vauxhall |
| Westminster constituency | Vauxhall and Camberwell Green |
| Delivery location | TLD4 Lancashire |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85000000 - Health and social work services

## Release History

- 23 Jan 2026 at 08:27 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006009-2026
- 15 May 2025 at 08:40 - Planning - UK1 - Pipeline Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021557-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006009-2026
  23rd January 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021557-2025
  15th May 2025 - Pipeline notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/fusion-supplier-portal/
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.socialvalueportal.com/

## 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-0513e4. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0513e4.json.