Scope
Reference
T2652
Description
The purpose of this Notice is to notify the market of Belfast City Council's intention to hold a pre-market engagement/consultation session with interested parties to inform them of a new tender regarding the requirement for a new Belfast Citywide Appeals Service.
The Council wishes to appoint an experienced Contractor to manage and deliver a Belfast Citywide Appeals Service, which will cover a full range of issues including benefits, appeals / tribunal support and representation, basic money and debt, consumer issues, basic immigration, administration of justice, human rights, employment, housing, education and health & disability.
Total value (estimated)
- £1,215,000 excluding VAT
- £1,458,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 October 2025 to 31 March 2028
- Possible extension to 31 March 2030
- 4 years, 6 months
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 75200000 - Provision of services to the community
- 98000000 - Other community, social and personal services
- 98133100 - Civic betterment and community facility support services
Contract locations
- UKN06 - Belfast
Engagement
Engagement deadline
2 July 2025
Engagement process description
As previously mentioned, the Council wishes to appoint an experienced Contractor to manage and deliver a Belfast Citywide Appeals Service, which will cover a full range of issues including benefits, appeals / tribunal support and representation, basic money and debt, consumer issues, basic immigration, administration of justice, human rights, employment, housing, education and health & disability
The aim is to have a contract that will run for a maximum of 4.5 years to provide flexible delivery of the service with engagement with clients, based on individual needs and circumstances, by telephone, face-to-face, on-line, etc. making use of technology and modern methods of delivery / engagement. The service will make use of mechanisms that will enable referrals, linking clients with the required appeals support around issues that include, debt, employment, housing, education, health and disability, immigration and complex social security issues.
With the appropriately qualified advisors, the service should be delivered in premises that are fully disabled accessible; have private interview room/s; be in a location which is accessible by public transport and considered neutral and acceptable to all sections of the community; have appropriate facilities for storage of confidential information and equipment; open five days per week with at least one early evening or weekend session.
The Council will be holding a consultation session at 10am on Wednesday 2nd July 2025. The session will be a short presentation on MS Teams, which will give a brief overview of the requirements of the new Citywide Appeals Service and an overview of the procurement process, including an indicative timeline. Representatives from the Councils Community Support and Commercial and Procurement Services teams will be present. Those interested in attending should register their interest by sending an email "FAO Rachel Crothers" to
cps@belfastcity.gov.uk no later than 4pm Friday 27th June 2025.
Participation
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
28 July 2025
Contracting authority
Belfast City Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PQXY-5321-CGZM
9-21 Adelaide Street
Belfast
BT2 8DJ
United Kingdom
Email: cps@belfastcity.gov.uk
Region: UKN06 - Belfast
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government
Devolved regulations that apply: Northern Ireland