---
title: "Direct Payments Support Service"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06a292"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06a292"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06a292.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06a292.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "LANCASHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL"
published: "2026-07-27"
---

# Direct Payments Support Service

Buyer: LANCASHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06a292

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06a292)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06a292.json)

## Summary

The procurement process involves the Lancashire County Council undertaking a planning stage for the "Direct Payments Support Service". This initiative falls under the health and social work services industry category and aims to fulfil the Council's duty to provide information, advice, and payroll services for direct payment recipients. The procurement location is in Lancashire, United Kingdom, with activities focusing on engaging stakeholders. A market engagement exercise is scheduled, culminating on 10 August 2026. The procurement is planned to eventually progress into awarding contracts by mid-2027, running through to 2030.

This tender presents substantial opportunities for businesses within the health and social services sector, particularly those specialising in offering innovative solutions and expert advice for managing direct payments. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs) will find this procurement attractive due to its suitability criteria that encourages participation from these entities. Businesses that are well-placed to compete will have the capability to deliver services that align with the priorities of Lancashire residents, leveraging innovation and best practices to enhance direct payment support services.

## Notice

Lancashire County Council (the Council) is in the process of undertaking a review of Direct Payments Support Services. The Council is yet to determine how these services will be commissioned.

### Planning Information

We wish to engage with key stakeholders for the delivery of these services in relation to some of the priorities outlined by residents of Lancashire who have used these Direct Payment services. (Lancashire Residents).
This is a pre tender market engagement exercise to inform future service design. The Council is not seeking bids, pricing, or formal proposals at this stage. Responses will be used to understand market capability, innovation and best practice. 
Providers should not submit bids, pricing, or commercially sensitive proposals as part of this engagement. Any future procurement will be conducted separately and transparently.
For the avoidance of doubt the proposals set out within the market engagement document are subject to change at the Council's discretion.
Following the market engagement, if any procurement activity is required this will be to publish via the Oracle Fusion Portal.
See questionnaire on LCC's tendering opportunities page under the Direct Payment title: 
https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/business/tenders-and-procurement/tenders/
The deadline is 12pm on Monday 10th August 2026.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070663-2026 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 27 Jul 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 1 Nov 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 30 Jun 2027 - 30 Jun 2030 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £5,760,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planned |
| Lots status | Planned |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | LANCASHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL |
| Additional buyers | SOCIAL VALUE PORTAL LTD |
| Locality | PRESTON |
| Post town | Preston |
| Postcode | PR1 0LD |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI4 Inner London - East |
| ITL 3 | TLI45 Lambeth |
| Local authority | Lambeth |
| Electoral ward | Vauxhall |
| Westminster constituency | Vauxhall and Camberwell Green |
| Delivery location | TLD4 Lancashire |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85000000 - Health and social work services

## Release History

- 27 Jul 2026 at 09:58 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070663-2026
- 26 May 2026 at 07:57 - Planning - UK1 - Pipeline Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/048391-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070663-2026
  27th July 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/048391-2026
  26th May 2026 - Pipeline notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/
- https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/business/tenders-and-procurement/tenders/
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.socialvalueportal.com/

## 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-06a292. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06a292.json.