Scope
Reference
CPH130
Description
****PRELIMINARY MARKET ENGAGEMENT****
We are seeking to engage with organisations to gather information and explore potential solutions for achieving the Social Connectedness objectives.
This Preliminary Market Engagement is being undertaken to seek ideas and information from interested organisations by completing a questionnaire to:
• Ensure any future service is well designed, efficient, effective, delivering value for money and meets people's needs and desired outcomes.
• Design of the service level agreement.
• Determine the capacity of the market to supply the service and the level of interest in the anticipated forthcoming service procurement.
Derbyshire County Council's intention is to develop and design services for social connection to provide effective, prevention focused social connection initiatives to reduce loneliness, improve wellbeing, make best use of community assets, and increase the resilience of local communities.
DCC will be considering a range of commissioning arrangements, with initial ideas for geographical 'lots' set out in the project information document and we are keen to hear from potential providers on the options they believe could work best or other options.
The contract length currently under consideration will be for 2 years from November 2026, with the option to extend for 1 further period of twelve months.
The funding for the model is allocated at £400,000 per annum, with a total potential financial envelope of £1.2m (if the extension option is taken).
Total value (estimated)
- £1,200,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 November 2026 to 31 October 2028
- Possible extension to 31 October 2029
- 3 years
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
Contract locations
- UKF1 - Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
Engagement
Engagement deadline
20 October 2025
Engagement process description
The Soft Market information can be accessed via the following link: https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=8002ce34-a393-f011-813a-005056b64545
Please complete the online questionnaire which can be accessed via the following link: https://forms.office.com/e/cRdQVt2Uir or within the Soft Market information document.
The deadline for completion of the questionnaire is 5pm on Friday 3/10/2025
Attend a Microsoft Teams information event on 22/10/2025 at 11am - this event will last for approx. 1 hour. Please confirm you intend to attend by emailing first.contact@derbyshire.gov.uk by Monday 20 October. You will then be sent a Microsoft Teams calendar invite. Attendance at the event is not mandatory as part of responding to this Preliminary Market Engagement Exercise and is intended as a further information and Question and Answer session.
If we need to seek any additional clarification or detail around a response, then we will contact the organisation/responder directly.
Next Steps After the Market Engagement
The Council anticipates undertaking a procurement exercise subject to Preliminary market engagement outcomes early 2026.
Participation
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Procedure
Special regime
Light touch
Contracting authority
Derbyshire County Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PWZQ-2162-JJQL
County Hall
Matlock
DE4 3AG
United Kingdom
Region: UKF13 - South and West Derbyshire
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government