---
title: "CBC-2139-RFI-SK ( Request for Information) Information Advice and Guidance services)."
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06f447"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06f447"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f447.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f447.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "Central Bedfordshire Council"
published: "2026-09-08"
---

# CBC-2139-RFI-SK ( Request for Information) Information Advice and Guidance services).

Buyer: Central Bedfordshire Council  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06f447

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## Summary

Central Bedfordshire Council is exploring the future commissioning of an Information, Advice and Guidance service for Central Bedfordshire. The service is expected to provide information, guidance, counselling, welfare support and community health support, aimed at people who do not require residential care. The procurement is for services under the light-touch regime and is intended to understand how the market could deliver a joined-up support offer. Relevant providers may include organisations delivering social and welfare advice, community-based guidance, counselling, health-related support or related services. The work will be delivered in Central Bedfordshire. The council has identified one service requirement and has indicated that the future opportunity should be suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises.

This process is at the planning stage and is currently a voluntary Request for Information, not a formal procurement or invitation to tender. The council expects interested organisations to submit an RFI questionnaire by 25 September 2026 through its online procurement portal. Responses will inform the council’s understanding of market capability, capacity and potential future procurement options. A subsequent notice is anticipated around 1 November 2026. The planned contract period is from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2029, with a possible extension to 31 March 2030 and a renewal option. The procurement has one planned lot and is being considered under the light-touch services regime. No contract value or award criteria are set at this planning stage.

This market engagement will suit providers already delivering information, advice and guidance, welfare support, counselling, community health or related social care services. Organisations should be able to explain their delivery models, available capacity and experience of supporting people in community settings, including how different advice, welfare and health functions could work together. The council is specifically seeking feedback on market capability and innovative approaches, so providers with evidence of effective service design, partnership working and adaptable delivery may be well placed to contribute. Small and medium-sized businesses and voluntary, community and social enterprises are identified as suitable participants. This is a chance to influence the future service design and commissioning approach, rather than to bid for a contract now.

## Notice

Central Bedfordshire Council is undertaking a Request for Information (RFI) to engage with the market and seek feedback from providers on the potential delivery of an Information, Advice and Guidance Service. The purpose of this exercise is to understand market capability, capacity, and innovative approaches that could inform the future design and commissioning of the service. This RFI is for information gathering purposes only and does not constitute a formal procurement process.

### Planning Information

Interested organisations are invited to complete and submit the RFI questionnaire via the In-Tend portal by the stated deadline. Responses will be used to inform the Council's understanding of the market and potential future procurement options. Participation is voluntary and does not form part of any formal procurement or evaluation process.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084765-2026 |
| 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 | 8 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 1 Nov 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2029 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | Central Bedfordshire Council |
| Locality | SHEFFORD |
| Postcode area | Stevenage |
| Postcode | SG17 5TQ |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLH East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire |
| ITL 3 | TLH25 Central Bedfordshire |
| Local authority | Central Bedfordshire |
| Electoral ward | Shefford |
| Westminster constituency | Hitchin |
| Delivery location | TLH25 Central Bedfordshire |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85312000 - Social work services without accommodation
- 85312300 - Guidance and counselling services
- 85312400 - Welfare services not delivered through residential institutions
- 85323000 - Community health services

## Release History

- 8 Sep 2026 at 11:00 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084765-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084765-2026
  8th September 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://in-tendhost.co.uk/centralbedfordshire/aspx/Home
- 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-06f447. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f447.json.