---
title: "Provision of Best Start Foods"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-069abe"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-069abe"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-069abe.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-069abe.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "SOCIAL SECURITY SCOTLAND"
published: "2026-05-18"
---

# Provision of Best Start Foods

Buyer: SOCIAL SECURITY SCOTLAND  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-069abe

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## Summary

The procurement process for the "Provision of Best Start Foods" is overseen by Social Security Scotland, a national authority based in Dundee, UK. The contract focuses on the delivery of services categorised under "other services" (CPV code: 98390000) and is located within the UKM region. The process is currently in the Award stage, with the decision made on 18th May 2026. This tender is particularly noteworthy as it involves an extension of the current contract from 4th June 2026 to 2nd March 2027. The procurement method used was limited, specifically an award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition, justified by the need to continue vital services until a replacement contract is established by March 2027. The contract was awarded to allpay Limited, valued at GBP 336,033.81, and was signed on 27th April 2026.

This tender offers substantial opportunities for businesses involved in service provision, particularly those capable of handling payment solutions akin to the awarded supplier, allpay Limited. It presents a strategic opportunity for large companies proficient in providing prepaid card services to engage with public procurement in the social protection sector. The extension period allows businesses time to prepare offerings for the subsequent competitive process expected to take place by March 2027, aligning with Social Security Scotland's future procurement needs. This contract could serve as a crucial entry point for businesses seeking to establish or expand their footprint within the UK's public sector service provision market, especially in the delivery of critical social benefits.

## Notice

This is a voluntary ex ante transparency (VEAT) notice. This notice is to indicate that Scottish Ministers, acting through Social Security Scotland, intend to extend the current Provision of Best Start Foods contract from 04 June 2026 to 02 March 2027

### Lot Information

Lot 1

This is a voluntary ex ante transparency (VEAT) notice. This notice is to indicate that Scottish Ministers, acting through Social Security Scotland, intend to extend the current Provision of Best Start Foods contract from 03 June 2026 to 02 March 2027

Options: This is not a fixed price contract therefore actual spend may vary from the value stated above.

### Procurement Information

The continued provision of services under the current contract is essential to ensure that Social Security Scotland can continue to provide Best Start Foods benefit payments until a replacement contract can be put in place. A competitive process is underway to identify and put such a replacement in place, by March 2027. The extension of the current term is considered to be proportionate in the circumstances based on previous experience, and taking into account the need for a contingency to account for potential delays.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/045240-2026 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 18 May 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 26 Apr 2026 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £336,033 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | SOCIAL SECURITY SCOTLAND |
| Locality | DUNDEE |
| Post town | Dundee |
| Postcode | DD1 4BF |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM0 Eastern Scotland |
| ITL 3 | TLM03 Angus and Dundee City |
| Local authority | Dundee City |
| Electoral ward | Maryfield |
| Westminster constituency | Dundee Central |
| Delivery location | TLM Scotland |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | ALLPAY |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 98 - Other community, social and personal services

### Codes

- 98390000 - Other services

## Release History

- 18 May 2026 at 09:17 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/045240-2026

## Notice URLs

- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000830455
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA30345
- https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/

## 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-069abe. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-069abe.json.