Provision of Best Start Foods

Official notice

Authority: Social Security Scotland

ServicesAward procedure without prior publication of a call for competition

Sectors: Community & Cultural Services (98) Delivery: Scotland (UKM)

Awarded value£336,034published contract · exc. VAT

Awarded 27 Apr 2026no call for competition

Awarded to allpay Limited2 awards

What is being bought

Published requirement description

This notice is to confirm that Scottish Ministers, acting through Social Security Scotland, has extended the current Provision of Best Start Foods contract from 04 June 2026 to 02 March 2027

CPV: Other services

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published

Lot #1This notice is to confirm that Scottish Ministers, acting through Social Security…Awarded

This notice is to confirm that Scottish Ministers, acting through Social Security Scotland, has extended the current Provision of Best Start Foods contract from 03 June 2026 to 02 March 2027

Delivery: Scotland

Extensions: This is not a fixed price contract therefore actual spend may vary from the value stated above.

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record · publisher note attached

Procedure method: Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Legal basis: CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
Procurement category: Services
Notice status: Awarded without competition
Procurement threshold: Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime: Standard
Commercial structure: Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type: Direct award (no call for competition)
GPA / WTO covered: Yes (GPA)
Recurring procurement: Unspecified in notice
First published: 18 May 2026, 10:17 BST
Last source update: 11 Aug 2026, 12:33 BST
Authority reference: CASE/563976
FTS notice number: 2026/S 000-076197
Classification (CPV): Other services
Delivery area: Scotland (UKM)
Official registry OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-069abe Find a Tender

Why no open competition: The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the directive
Published justification: The continued provision of services under the current contract is essential to ensure that Social Security Scotland can continue to provide Best Start Foods benefit payments until a replacement contract can be put in place. A competitive process is underway to identify and put such a replacement in place, by March 2027. The extension of the current term is considered to be proportionate in the circumstances based on previous experience, and taking into account the need for a contingency to account for potential delays.

Publisher note: Award against framework: Crown Commercial Services Payment Solutions 2 Lot 2 - Prepaid Cards. This contract award notice is for administrative purposes only. The original contract was awarded in 2022 and ended in June 2026. This award notice relates to a short extension from June 2026 to March 2027 to allow for the continued provision of services under the original contract to ensure that Social Security Scotland can continue to provide the Best Start Foods Benefit. A competitive process is underway to identify and put a replacement contract in place, by March 2027. The extension of the current term of the contract is considered to be proportionate in the circumstances based on previous experience and taking into account the need for a contingency to account for potential delays. (SC Ref:839861)

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast

Awards 2

Awarded value £336,0341 contract exc. VAT · 1 repeated publication of the same award counted once

Bids received 1

Contracts signed 2latest 27 Apr 2026

Awarded to	Value	Date	Status
allpay Limited	£336,034 †same award published again · counted once	—	Awarded
allpay Limited	£336,034 †	—	Awarded

Contracts

Contract 045240-2026-CASE/563976-1 · allpay Limited
Signed
27 Apr 2026
Value
£336,034
Status
active
Contract 076197-2026-CASE/563976-1 · allpay Limited
Signed
27 Apr 2026
Value
£336,034
Status
active

Bid statistics published by the authority

Bids	SME	VCSE	Valid bid range
1bids · 0 electronic · 1 from abroad	0	—	—

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Social Security Scotland

Contracting authorityMinistry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisionsSocial protection 3rd Floor, Agnes Husband House, 17 South Union Street, Dundee, Scotland, DD1 4BFContact email

Dispute resolution & review bodies

Edinburgh Sheriff CourtReview body Edinburgh

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice

allpay LimitedAwarded supplier Whitestone Business Park Whitestone, Hereford, West Midlands, HR1 3SE

Official documents & specifications

Official links; attachments are not copied

No document links were published on the notice.