---
title: "Rural Community Support Service (RCSS)"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-061225"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-061225"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-061225.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-061225.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "BEDFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL"
published: "2026-04-30"
---

# Rural Community Support Service (RCSS)

Buyer: BEDFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-061225

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-061225)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-061225.json)

## Summary

The Rural Community Support Service (RCSS) tender process, initiated by Bedford Borough Council, is aimed at connecting individuals within rural communities to essential services and resources. The award for this procurement was completed on 17th April 2026, with Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity being selected as the supplier. This contract, focused on guidance services, falls under the services category and involves an open procurement method described as below threshold - open competition. Key dates for the contract include its start on 13th June 2026, with a potential maximum extension to 12th June 2031, provided through two additional one-year renewal options. The procurement falls under a light-touch regime for streamlined administration.

This tender process opens opportunities for businesses specialising in community and social services, particularly those adept at navigating the requirements of public authority contracting. The focus on light-touch services makes it particularly suited for large-scale suppliers like Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity, although SMEs specialising in these areas could find valuable entry points through open competition conditions. Businesses that excel in providing quality guidance and support services to rural communities could leverage this tender to expand their portfolio and enhance their market credibility within the public sector, potentially fostering further contractual opportunities with sub-central government bodies like Bedford Borough Council.

## Notice

The Rural Community Support Service connects individuals with relevant services and support, acting as a bridge between residents and local resources. The Service undertakes visits to older people to help them with free support & assistance.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/040164-2026 |
| Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - open competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 30 Apr 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 19 Feb 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 16 Apr 2026 |
| Contract period | 12 Jun 2026 - 12 Jun 2029 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £420,760 |
| Lots value | £420,760 |
| Awards value | £302,933 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | BEDFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL |
| Locality | BEDFORD |
| Post town | Milton Keynes |
| Postcode | MK42 9AP |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLH East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire |
| ITL 3 | TLH24 Bedford |
| Local authority | Bedford |
| Electoral ward | Cauldwell |
| Westminster constituency | Bedford |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | BEDFORDSHIRE RURAL COMMUNITIES CHARITY |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85312310 - Guidance services

## Release History

- 30 Apr 2026 at 15:59 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/040164-2026
- 29 Jan 2026 at 14:19 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008090-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/040164-2026
  30th April 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008090-2026
  29th January 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.in-tendhost.co.uk/bedford/aspx/Home
  Please see Bedford Borough Council eProcurement Portal Rural Community Support Services (RCSS) InTend Reference BBC AD 04115

## Notice URLs

- https://www.in-tendhost.co.uk/bedford/aspx/HomeViaBedfordBoroughCouncileProcurementPortalInTend
- 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-061225. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-061225.json.