Scope
Reference
ASC25086
Description
Worcestershire County Council (the Council) and the NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board (the ICB) are jointly seeking a supplier to deliver a countywide advocacy service in Worcestershire.
This includes:
• Care Act Advocacy
• Complaints Advocacy for NHS and Adult Social Care
• Independent Mental Health Advocacy for all ages (IMHA)
• Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA) including Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS) and Relevant Person Representative (RPR)
• Continuing Health Care Advocacy
In accordance with the Procurement Act 2023, the Council has chosen to use a Competitive Flexible procedure for this above-threshold contract to ensure fair competition while maintaining proportionality.
This procedure will be conducted in three (3) stages:
Stage 1 - Conditions of Participation
Stage 2 - Quality and Price
Stage 3 - Presentations
Total value (estimated)
- £3,360,966 excluding VAT
- £4,033,159 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 February 2026 to 31 January 2031
- Possible extension to 31 January 2033
- 7 years
Description of possible extension:
Option to extend for up to a further two years (on a one year, plus one year basis) subject to performance and the availability of funding.
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
Contract locations
- UKG12 - Worcestershire
Participation
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Submission type
Requests to participate
Deadline for requests to participate
18 July 2025, 4:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Please visit https://www.in-tendhost.co.uk/worcestershire/aspx/Home to access this opportunity. You will need to register for In Tend in order to apply for this opportunity.
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
30 September 2025
Award criteria
| Name | Type |
|---|---|
| Stage 1 - Conditions of Participation | Quality |
| Stage 2 - Quality | Quality |
| Stage 2 - Price | Price |
| Stage 3 - Presentations | Quality |
Weighting description
Stage 1 - Conditions of Participation Assessment:
The Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) will be assessed during Stage 1. Suitability to meet the following requirements will be assessed on a pass/fail basis:
Core Supplier Information
Exclusions Information
Legal, Economic and Financial Viability
Technical and Professional Ability
Stage 2 - Quality and Price:
Stage 2 will commence by inviting Suppliers that have been successfully shortlisted at Stage 1 to submit their response to quality questions...
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Special regime
Light touch
Competitive flexible procedure description
In accordance with the Procurement Act 2023, the Council has chosen to use a Competitive Flexible procedure for this above-threshold contract to ensure fair competition while maintaining proportionality.
This procedure will be conducted in three (3) stages:
Stage 1 - Conditions of Participation
Stage 2 - Quality and Price
Stage 3 - Presentations
Please see ASC25086 Tender Guidance for further detail on the stages.
Reduced tendering period
Yes
Light touch contract - no minimum
Documents
Associated tender documents
https://www.in-tendhost.co.uk/worcestershire/aspx/Home
Please visit https://www.in-tendhost.co.uk/worcestershire/aspx/Home to access this opportunity. You will need to register for In Tend in order to apply for this opportunity.
Contracting authorities
Worcestershire County Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PRPQ-4584-WLPQ
County Hall, Spetchley Road
Worcester
WR5 2NP
United Kingdom
Region: UKG12 - Worcestershire
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government
NHS HEREFORDSHIRE AND WORCESTERSHIRE INTEGRATED CARE BOARD
- NHS Organisation Data Service: QGH
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PNMN-7243-RQRR
Kirkham House, John Comyn Drive, Perdiswell
Worcester
WR3 7NS
United Kingdom
Email: HWicb.contracts@nhs.net
Region: UKG12 - Worcestershire
Organisation type: Public authority - central government