--- title: "ASC25078 Direct Payment Support" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05662d" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05662d" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05662d.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05662d.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "WORCESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL" published: "2026-06-11" --- # ASC25078 Direct Payment Support Buyer: WORCESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05662d [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05662d) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05662d.json) ## Summary Worcestershire County Council has successfully completed the procurement process for two distinct service contracts under the title "ASC25078 Direct Payment Support". These contracts, now in the award stage, encompass the provision of strategic support and financial management services for direct payments across Worcestershire. Tagged under the "services" category within the health and social work services industry, the contracts were signed on 9th June 2026 and commenced on 1st July 2026. The tendering process utilised a competitive flexible procedure under the selective procurement method, ensuring that suitable suppliers were awarded these crucial service contracts. The entire procurement process began with an initial planning phase dating back to a market engagement in 2025 and culminated in the awards issued in 2026. These contracts present significant opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary community sector entities (VCSEs), particularly those experienced in health and social work services. With a total value exceeding £1.7 million, this initiative will not only foster strategic growth in the delivery of direct payment services but also stimulate local economic opportunities by engaging in service provision community sectors. SMEs and VCSEs equipped with skills to manage accounts and payroll services, as well as those offering strategic guidance to optimise direct payment recipients' access to available resources, are particularly well-positioned to benefit and contribute meaningfully to the execution of these contracts. ## Notice The Council is seeking a supplier to deliver Direct Payment Support across two distinct Lots. A supplier can be awarded either a single Lot or both Lots o Lot 1 - Direct Payments Strategic Support Partner o Lot 2 - Direct Payment Finance Partner The Direct Payments Strategic Support Partner would be required to deliver strategic support to promote the growth of direct payments across Worcestershire and find suitable services to meet the needs of direct payment recipients. As part of Lot 1 the Strategic Support Partner would act as a micro brokerage service for Direct Payment recipients, advising what may be available to them in their area, both paid for and free services that might be available in the Voluntary Community Sector (VCS). The Supplier would also be required to advise social work staff where required. This wider remit could lead to closer working with the Communities Directorate, social prescribers and public health initiatives, supporting the Council to deliver the right service at the right time and the right price. There is evidence that this has worked well in other local authorities, especially with voluntary or service-user-led organisations. It is likely that the VCS will benefit from this approach as they have all the skills available to support people to maximise the potential of direct payments. As part of Lot 2, the Direct Payment Finance Partner would deliver a financial management service with elements within the contract covering support for the payments, including managed accounts and payroll for Personal Assistants (PAs). The Finance Partner would also be operating managed accounts on WCC's behalf in line with new approval process and are required to employ PA's to deliver cost-effective services. ### Lot Information Lot 1 Direct Payments Strategic Support Partner Renewal: option to extend for up to 2 years subject to funding and performance Lot 2 - Direct Payment Finance Partner Renewal: option to extend for up to 2 years subject to funding and performance ### Planning Information The Council held a virtual open information and feedback session on Thursday 7th August 2025. Slides and supplementary documentation are available via In-Tend. Worcestershire County Council would now like to invite interested organisations to further feedback on the proposed Service Specification via an MS Forms survey https://forms.office.com/e/CeMbarQBAA The specification documents are available via In-Tend. Your views and feedback will not be used for any part of the tender process and will only be used for the development of the specification. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/055001-2026 | | Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Selective | | Procurement method details | Competitive flexible procedure | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | SME | | All stages | Planning, Tender, Award | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 11 Jun 2026 | | Submission deadline | 12 Jan 2026 | | Future notice date | 24 Oct 2025 | | Award date | 25 Mar 2026 | | Contract period | 30 Jun 2026 - 30 Jun 2031 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £2,053,254 | | Lots value | £2,053,254 | | Awards value | £1,759,932 | | Contracts value | £1,759,932 | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Complete | | Lots status | Complete | | Awards status | Active | | Contracts status | Active | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | WORCESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL | | Locality | WORCESTER | | Post town | Worcester | | Postcode | WR5 2NP | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLG West Midlands (England) | | ITL 2 | TLG1 Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire | | ITL 3 | TLG12 Worcestershire CC | | Local authority | Worcester | | Electoral ward | Nunnery | | Westminster constituency | Worcester | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## Supplier | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Number of suppliers | 1 | | Supplier names | IDEAL FOR ALL | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 85 - Health and social work services ### Codes - 85000000 - Health and social work services - 85310000 - Social work services ## Release History - 11 Jun 2026 at 08:12 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/055001-2026 - 26 Mar 2026 at 09:59 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/027712-2026 - 28 Nov 2025 at 14:47 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078158-2025 - 15 Oct 2025 at 10:18 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/065519-2025 - 14 Oct 2025 at 10:19 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/065094-2025 - 25 Jul 2025 at 10:52 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/043082-2025 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/055001-2026 11th June 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/027712-2026 26th March 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078158-2025 28th November 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/065519-2025 15th October 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/065094-2025 14th October 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/043082-2025 25th July 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.in-tendhost.co.uk/worcestershire/aspx/Home Please visit https://www.in-tendhost.co.uk/worcestershire/aspx/Home to access this opportunity. You will need to register for In Tend in order to apply for this opportunity. ## Notice URLs - https://forms.office.com/e/CeMbarQBAA - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents - https://www.worcestershire.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-05662d. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05662d.json.