Independent Advocacy

{
  "id": "013428-2026",
  "tag": [
    "planning"
  ],
  "date": "2026-02-13T13:28:51Z",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-0653f2",
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-PPON-PYRH-9827-DWLP",
    "name": "Cornwall Council"
  },
  "tender": {
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-0653f2",
    "lots": [
      {
        "id": "1",
        "status": "planning",
        "hasRenewal": true,
        "suitability": {
          "sme": true,
          "vcse": true
        },
        "contractPeriod": {
          "endDate": "2030-12-30T23:59:59+00:00",
          "startDate": "2026-12-31T00:00:00+00:00",
          "maxExtentDate": "2032-12-30T23:59:59+00:00"
        }
      }
    ],
    "items": [
      {
        "id": "1",
        "relatedLot": "1",
        "deliveryAddresses": [
          {
            "region": "UKK3",
            "country": "GB",
            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
          }
        ],
        "additionalClassifications": [
          {
            "id": "85000000",
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "description": "Health and social work services"
          }
        ]
      }
    ],
    "title": "Independent Advocacy",
    "value": {
      "amount": 4000000,
      "currency": "GBP",
      "amountGross": 4000000
    },
    "status": "planning",
    "legalBasis": {
      "id": "2023/54",
      "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents",
      "scheme": "UKPGA"
    },
    "description": "Cornwall Council is conducting preliminary market engagement to help shape the future commissioning of Independent Advocacy across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. This engagement follows earlier activity undertaken in August 2025 relating to the Adults Advocacy Service and now expands the scope to explore the feasibility of an all‑age Independent Advocacy model, including Children and Young People’s Advocacy and the Independent Visitor Service.\nThe Council is seeking views from providers on potential delivery models, including separate Adults and CYP arrangements, integrated all‑age models, partnership or consortium approaches, and the role of statutory and non‑statutory advocacy within future provision. Feedback will support the Council’s Outline Business Case and inform subsequent specification development.\nSuppliers are invited to participate by reviewing the Soft Market Test documentation and submitting written responses via the ProContract procurement portal (Project DN774644) by 16:00 on Wednesday 11 March 2026. Further engagement events, including an in‑person session and online workshops, will be advertised through the portal.\nParticipation in this engagement will not prejudice suppliers in any future procurement process. This notice and the associated SMT do not constitute a call for competition, and the Council is not committing to any procurement or contracting approach at this stage.                                                                                                                                                                   \nThe contract start date shown in this PMEN is indicative only and required for system purposes. It supersedes any earlier dates referenced in previous market engagement notices. Final timelines will be confirmed following analysis of this Soft Market Test and approval of the Outline Business Case.",
    "communication": {
      "futureNoticeDate": "2026-09-23T23:59:59+01:00"
    },
    "specialRegime": [
      "lightTouch"
    ],
    "aboveThreshold": true,
    "mainProcurementCategory": "services"
  },
  "parties": [
    {
      "id": "GB-PPON-PYRH-9827-DWLP",
      "name": "Cornwall Council",
      "roles": [
        "buyer"
      ],
      "address": {
        "region": "UKK30",
        "country": "GB",
        "locality": "Truro",
        "postalCode": "TR1 3AY",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "streetAddress": "County Hall"
      },
      "details": {
        "url": "http://www.cornwall.gov.uk",
        "classifications": [
          {
            "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
            "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
            "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
          }
        ]
      },
      "identifier": {
        "id": "PYRH-9827-DWLP",
        "scheme": "GB-PPON"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "name": "Celia Penhaligon",
        "email": "celia.penhaligon@cornwall.gov.uk"
      }
    }
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "planning": {
    "documents": [
      {
        "id": "013428-2026",
        "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013428-2026",
        "format": "text/html",
        "noticeType": "UK2",
        "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
        "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
        "datePublished": "2026-02-13T13:28:51Z"
      }
    ],
    "milestones": [
      {
        "id": "engagement",
        "type": "engagement",
        "status": "scheduled",
        "dueDate": "2026-04-30T23:59:59+01:00",
        "description": "Cornwall Council is undertaking further preliminary market engagement to inform the future commissioning approach for Independent Advocacy across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. This phase of engagement includes a written Soft Market Test (SMT) and a series of market engagement events.\nSuppliers are invited to review the SMT documentation, available via the ProContract procurement portal (Project DN774644), and submit written responses by 16:00 on Wednesday 11 March 2026. Written responses form a core part of this engagement process and will be used to understand market views on potential service models, collaborative approaches, lot structures and workforce considerations.\nIn addition to written submissions, the Council will host an in‑person market engagement event during the week commencing 16 March 2026, followed by two to three online workshops during March and April 2026. These events will provide opportunities for suppliers to discuss key themes arising from the SMT, share insights on feasible delivery models and explore partnership or consortia approaches. Details of how to book onto these sessions will be published through the ProContract portal.\nSuppliers may participate in any or all parts of the engagement process. Participation is entirely voluntary and will not prejudice involvement in any future procurement. All information gathered through the SMT and events will be used solely to support the development of the Council’s Outline Business Case and to inform future commissioning decisions. This engagement is not a call for competition and does not commit the Council to any procurement procedure or contracting route."
      }
    ]
  },
  "initiationType": "tender"
}