--- title: "IA3617 Communicator Guide" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-068910" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-068910" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-068910.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-068910.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL" published: "2026-04-22" --- # IA3617 Communicator Guide Buyer: STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-068910 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-068910) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-068910.json) ## Summary Staffordshire County Council is initiating a tender process under the title "IA3617 Communicator Guide," aimed at offering health and social work services primarily in Staffordshire. The procurement is at the tender stage and is classified under services, with an industry category focusing on enabling independence for persons with sight and hearing impairments. The procurement method is an open procedure, seeking to establish suppliers on a Light Touch Framework Agreement. Key dates include the tender period ending on 22 May 2026 and the anticipated contract start from 1 September 2026, continuing until 31 August 2031. The procurement is designed to support sensory-impaired persons and is expected to have a significant service value estimated at £2,753,405. This tender presents substantial opportunities for businesses in health and social care, particularly those specialising in services for sensory impairments. Companies with expertise in providing tailored support and training for Communicator Guides and in delivering community-based services will find this an attractive proposition. The framework approach allows for flexibility and potentially unlimited supplier involvement, offering room for growth and entry for businesses that can meet the quality criteria stipulated, such as service delivery models, workforce capabilities, and quality assurance. As the framework may re-open subject to capacity and demand, there is also potential for previously unsuccessful tenderers to participate if reviewed by the council. Businesses keen on accessing statutory duty services backed by consistent funding will benefit significantly from engaging in this procurement process. ## Notice Communicator Guides offer support to Eligible Persons who have developed sight and hearing impairments, often as they get older. These difficulties can cause people to become increasingly withdrawn, depressed and isolated. With the right help, deafblind people can live fulfilling lives at home and in the community. The Communicator Guide Service supports sensory impaired Eligible Persons within Staffordshire by providing suitably trained and qualified 'Communicator Guides.' The Service supports Eligible Persons either in their home or in the community in accordance with their Care Support Plan to achieve their agreed assessed outcomes. The Communicator Guide Service support for each Eligible Persons will depend on their individual needs as stated in their Care and Support Needs Assessment and their Care Support Plan. The Service will to be delivered to meet the support needs of the Eligible Persons. The Service will be delivered within the Contract Area as defined in the Framework Agreement but ultimately will be Staffordshire wide. The service is a 7 day a week service. Communicator Guide Support will be provided to the Eligible Persons through the most suitable format of Communication. The Service's primary objective is to enable Eligible Persons to remain living independently and maintain a good quality of life, and to help them achieve their assessed outcomes, and to limit the extent to which a person's sensory loss detrimentally impacts on their life, and the lives of their family. The delivery and intensity of the Service will be flexible to reflect the support that the Eligible Persons requires, and to enable them to meet their individual outcomes as set out in their Care and Support Needs Assessment. The Open tender procedure is to appoint Suppliers to a Framework. The Light Touch Framework Agreement will have the option to re-open on an ad-hoc basis subject to capacity and demand on the Service if required to allow new entrants and resubmissions from previously unsuccessful tenderers to apply, after the Commissioner has reviewed the effectiveness of the Framework and determined that there is a need. The decision to re-open though will be made in line with the availability of resources from Procurement and Commissioning. The Council will also reserve the right to not open the Framework. ### Lot Information Lot 1 This Procurement is for a Framework Agreement between the successful supplier(s) and the Authority, to supply Services, as and when required under a Call-Off Contract. The Authority makes no guarantee as to the volume of business on offer and any figures / quantities / volumes given are indicative and are guidance only. Number of Suppliers to be awarded is unlimited onto the Framework Agreement. Options: Term - the Framework Agreement will commence on 1st September 2026 and, subject to earlier termination in accordance with its terms, will continue until midnight on 31st August 2029. At the Authority's entire discretion, the term may be extended by Two (2) One (1) year extensions on the same terms for such period(s) in accordance with the contract. Renewal: Statutory duty Service, subject to budget and internal approvals. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036837-2026 | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Framework | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 22 Apr 2026 | | Submission deadline | 22 May 2026 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 31 Aug 2026 - 31 Aug 2031 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £2,753,405 | | Lots value | £2,753,405 | | 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 | STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL | | Locality | STAFFORD | | Post town | Stoke-on-Trent | | Postcode | ST16 2DH | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLG West Midlands (England) | | ITL 2 | TLG2 Shropshire and Staffordshire | | ITL 3 | TLG24 Staffordshire CC | | Local authority | Stafford | | Electoral ward | Forebridge | | Westminster constituency | Stafford | | Delivery location | TLG2 Shropshire and Staffordshire | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 85 - Health and social work services ### Codes - 85000000 - Health and social work services ## Release History - 22 Apr 2026 at 16:36 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036837-2026 ## Notice URLs - https://www.proactisplaza.com - https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk - https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/business/selling-council/procurement ## 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-068910. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-068910.json.