Scope
Reference
DN809074
Description
Oldham Council currently provides and grant funds several financial inclusion services supporting multiple levels of need from low level issues to complex advice and guidance. Moving forwards and supported by the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) provided by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) from 1 April 2026, we will improve and consolidate the offer to residents, making it easier to access timely and resident-focused support and advice with a one front door approach wherever possible. The current grant agreement is due to end on 31 March 2026 however there is a 6 month extension to the current contract to enable a formal tender process.
Moving forwards, it is preferable to move from annual grant
funding agreements to a commissioned partner model via a procurement exercise. This provides a longer-term
funding commitment providing stability for both the Council, residents and the provider. It also brings the Council in line with other authorities and means that service quality and performance can be robustly defined and managed through an established contract, service specification and performance framework. The commissioned service offer will include all levels of financial advice including personal budgeting and income maximisation, debt advice and energy and consumer advice. They will also continue to provide legal and advice services across a range of other issues such as housing, employment, family etc. The provider will also fulfil a role to quality assure and provide training and guidance across the borough to ensure a consistency of advice across the public and Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise sectors. Lastly, they will also work with the Council to establish, maintain and nurture a financial inclusion
offer that is well communicated and significantly easier for residents, elected members, services and partners to navigate. The Council will retain the design and delivery of crisis schemes and grant funding.
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2029
- Possible extension to 30 June 2032
- 6 years
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 79200000 - Accounting, auditing and fiscal services
- 79900000 - Miscellaneous business and business-related services
- 98390000 - Other services
Contract locations
- UKD - North West (England)
Engagement
Engagement deadline
27 March 2026
Engagement process description
The main purpose of the preliminary market engagement exercise is to assist the Council and potential suppliers to prepare for a procurement process in respect of the Project; the Council will gather information, which it will use to clarify its requirements, assess the market's capacity and develop a final procurement strategy.
More specifically for this particular market engagement exercise, the Council's objectives are:
To share information in relation to the Project and the potential tender opportunity with the market.
To obtain feedback from potential suppliers/the market generally and in particular in relation to the questions set out in Appendix 1 Combined Questions & Specification document available following registration on the Chest (the Council's e-tendering portal https://procontract.due-north.com). Access to this document pack is not restricted, with the exception that those wishing to access it must be registered on The Chest.
Suppliers are asked to submit written responses through The Chest (the Council's e-tendering portal https://procontract.due-north.com). in respect of this market engagement exercise. Written responses are not mandatory nor are they a prerequisite for accessing future procurement documents.
Stage 1 - One to One Discussion
Stage 2 - Written Responses
Issue Market Engagement Documents on Chest - 13th March 2026
Stage 1 - One-to-One discussions 16th March 2026 To be booked via Chest at times to be confirmed
20th March 2026 To be booked via Chest at times to be confirmed.
Deadline for written responses - 27th March 2026
Contracting authority
Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PMRJ-8362-DVNT
Spindles Shopping Centre, West Street
Oldham
OL1 1HD
United Kingdom
Contact name: Angela Porter
Email: angela.porter@oldham.gov.uk
Region: UKD37 - Greater Manchester North East
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government