--- title: "Provision of an Independent Advocacy Service for Adults" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0559f3" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0559f3" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0559f3.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0559f3.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "SOUTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL" published: "2026-01-14" --- # Provision of an Independent Advocacy Service for Adults Buyer: SOUTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0559f3 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0559f3) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0559f3.json) ## Summary South Ayrshire Council invites tenders for the provision of an Independent Advocacy Service for adults aged 16 and over, located in South Ayrshire, classified under health and social work services. The procurement process, currently in the tender stage, seeks an independent and professional service that supports both individual and collective advocacy needs under Scottish statutory requirements. The open procedure is utilised with electronic submission access. Interested parties must submit their tenders by 19th February 2026, and the contract, if awarded, will have an initial duration of 1,800 days with the possibility of renewal in November 2030. The project promises community benefits, emphasising targeted employment, training opportunities, SME development, and community engagement as per the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014. This tender represents a substantial opportunity for organisations specialising in advocacy services, enabling them to expand their influence within the public health and social care sector. Suitable businesses are those offering specialised advocacy services, particularly with expertise in mental health, learning disabilities, and other neurodivergent conditions. Additionally, businesses adept in delivering advocacy linked with substance misuse support can benefit due to the specified need for lived-experience workers. Organisations will leverage their technical and economic capabilities to meet the Council's requirements, adhering to strict quality and price criteria, thereby fostering growth through government partnerships within a legally structured environment. ## Notice South Ayrshire Heath and Social Care Partnership requires a high-quality Independent Individual and Collective Advocacy Service in South Ayrshire for adults ages 16 years and over ### Lot Information Lot 1 South Ayrshire Heath and Social Care Partnership requires a high-quality Independent Individual and Collective Advocacy Service in South Ayrshire for adults ages 16 years and over that is: - Independent and professional - Provides individual (one-to-one) advocacy that is issue focused - Provides collective (group) advocacy that is issue focused - Provides instructed and non-instructed advocacy - Meets statutory requirements and Scottish Government priorities - Provided by skilled and appropriately trained advocates The service will follow the Independent Advocacy Guide for Commissioners and will serve persons who require advocacy under the Adults With Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 and the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007. The service will also include adults seeking advocacy under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 who are: - People with mental health conditions - People with learning disabilities - People with Neurodivergent Conditions, including Autism - People with dementia The service will also cover generic advocacy for adults. Individual Advocacy - is also known as one to one, professional or issue-based advocacy. It is provided by paid and unpaid advocates. An advocate supports a person to represent their own interests and represents the views of the person if the person is unable to do this themselves. The advocates provide support on specific issues, and provide information, but not advice. Collective (Group) Advocacy - A collective voice can be stronger than that of an individual. Being part of a collective advocacy group can help reduce a person's sense of isolation when raising a difficult issue. The group may campaign on an issue. This service will also include advocacy for persons connected with the Alcohol and Drug Partnership, with workers providing advocacy to this group based on their own lived experience. Additional information: This PIN is a request for information, the responses from this PIN will help the Council to understand the number of Providers who may be interested in bidding for a potential Contract. If you are interested in the above requirement, please complete the attached expression of interest form and return, by email to procurement@south-ayrshire.gov.uk by Friday 5th August 2025. Renewal: November 2030 ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003040-2026 | | Notice type | Planning Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning, Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 14 Jan 2026 | | Submission deadline | 19 Feb 2026 | | Future notice date | 14 Sep 2025 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | November 2030 | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Active | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | SOUTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL | | Locality | AYR | | Post town | Kilmarnock | | Postcode | KA7 1DR | | Country | Scotland | | ITL 1 | TLM Scotland | | ITL 2 | TLM9 Southern Scotland | | ITL 3 | TLM94 South Ayrshire | | Local authority | South Ayrshire | | Electoral ward | Ayr West | | Westminster constituency | Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock | | Delivery location | TLM94 South Ayrshire | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 85 - Health and social work services ### Codes - 85000000 - Health and social work services - 85300000 - Social work and related services - 85310000 - Social work services - 85311000 - Social work services with accommodation ## Release History - 14 Jan 2026 at 11:36 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003040-2026 - 7 Jul 2025 at 12:45 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037770-2025 ## Notice URLs - http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343 - http://www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/procurement/ - https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000803611 - https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/ - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00405 - https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk ## 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-0559f3. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0559f3.json.