--- title: "Provision of Best Start Foods" ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000830455" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000830455" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000830455.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000830455.json" source: "Public Contracts Scotland" 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-r6ebe6-0000830455 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000830455) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000830455.json) ## Summary This public procurement process involves Social Security Scotland, a national authority responsible for providing social protection, extending the Provision of Best Start Foods contract. Located in Dundee, the contracting authority has published a Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency (VEAT) notice, indicating the intention to extend the existing contract with a start date of 4th June 2026 and an end date on 2nd March 2027. The procurement stage is currently at 'Contract', having been awarded through a limited procedure without a prior call for competition. The contract falls within the services category and covers the UKM region. The value of the contract is £336,033.81, awarded to allpay Limited, a large supplier based in Hereford. This tender presents opportunities for businesses involved in the provision of social protection services, especially those offering payment solutions. The extension of the existing contract without a competitive process underscores essential service continuity, providing businesses that specialise in prepaid card solutions for social benefit payments a chance to align their services with government standards. Potential competitors for future contracts may include firms with capabilities in financial technology and service delivery efficiency to secure follow-on contract opportunities post-March 2027, when a competitive process is expected to be completed for a new contract. ## 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 | Public Contracts Scotland | | Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAY556002 | | Notice type | OJEU - F15 - Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency 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 | 27 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 | Complete | | Awards status | Not specified | | 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 00:00 - Award - OJEU - F15 - Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAY556002 ## Documents - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAY556002 Provision of Best Start Foods - 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 ## Notice URLs - http:// - https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000830455 - 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-r6ebe6-0000830455. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000830455.json.