Find a TenderAwardedContract award notice
Published 2 Jul 2025, 13:15 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Specialist Benefit Advice and Take-Up Service

Official notice

Authority: Bolton Council (Local council)

Framework agreementServicesOpen procedureAbove thresholdSME suitableVCSE suitable
Framework ceiling (notional)£480,000framework ceiling, not attributable revenue
Submissions closed 1 Aug 2025awarded 29 Aug 2025
Award (standstill) to Age UK (Bolton), Citizens Advice Bury & Bolton
Framework period 4 yrsends 30 Sept 2029 · starts 1 Oct 2025

What is being bought

Published requirement description

The Borough Council of Bolton ("the Authority") received tenders for the Specialist Benefit Advice and Take-Up Service Framework Agreement.

This Procurement was conducted in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023, using the Framework Procedure. The Framework period will be for four (4) years. It is intended for the contract to commence 1 October 2025, subject to the information, specification and tender package enclosed.

CPV: Benefit services

How this framework works

From the published notice
Type
Closed framework
Call-offs
call-offs may be awarded directly or by further competition
Places
up to 2 suppliers · 2 bids received (1.0 per place) · 2 appointed (full)
Framework period
4 yrs from 1 Oct 2025
Published description of the framework

Call Off Contracts will be either via a Direct Award or Mini Competition as detailed in the Invitation to Tender.

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · value published
Lot #1Awarded 4 yrsSMEVCSEPublished value£480,000
Contract period: 1 Oct 2025 – 30 Sept 2029 (4 yrs)Value: £480,000 exc. VAT · £480,000 inc. VAT
Delivery: North WestEligibility: SME eligibleVCSE eligible

What it takes to win
i

How this buyer will score bids.

The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).

Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add more
How bids were scored
Quality: 80%Social value: 20%
Published award criteria (2)
  • Quality
  • Social Value
What this means for your bid
  • “Specialist Benefit Advice and Take-Up Service” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, up to 2 suppliers, not a single contract: call-offs may be direct or by further competition.

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Open procedure
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Awarded
Procurement threshold
Above threshold (FTS publication)
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Framework agreement
Who may use this agreement
Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
2 Jul 2025, 13:15 BST
Last source update
29 Aug 2025, 11:50 BST
Award evaluation window
Submission end – 29 Sept 2025
Authority reference
TC094
FTS notice number
2025/S 000-036788
Latest notice
Contract award notice (UK6)
Classification (CPV)
Benefit services
Delivery area
North West (UKD3)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05578c Find a Tender

How it was run

Official notice
Appointment period ends
1 Aug 2025, 16:00 BST
Clarification deadline
25 Jul 2025, 16:00 BST
Electronic submission
Allowed
Accepted languages
en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

Timeline

2 Jul 2025 → 1 Oct 2025 · 8 dates
  1. Tender notice published
    2 Jul 2025, 13:15 BST
  2. Clarification questions by
    25 Jul 2025, 16:00 BST
  3. Admission / appointment period endsperiod end, not a bid countdown
    1 Aug 2025, 16:00 BST
  4. Assessment summaries sent
    29 Aug 2025, 00:00 BST
  5. Latest notice published
    29 Aug 2025, 11:50 BST
  6. Standstill ends
    9 Sept 2025, 23:59 BST
  7. Award decision expected by393 days ago
    29 Sept 2025, 23:59 BST
  8. Contract starts392 days ago
    1 Oct 2025, 00:00 BST

Notice history

4 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 2 Jul 2025
  1. Tender notice published
    2 Jul 2025, 13:15 BST
    UK4
  2. Contract award notice published
    29 Aug 2025, 11:50 BST
    UK6
  3. Status changed to complete
    29 Aug 2025, 11:50 BST
  4. Contract signature expected
    12 Sept 2025, 23:59 BST
    scheduled

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Age UK (Bolton)SMEVCSE, Citizens Advice Bury & BoltonSMEVCSE1 Oct 2025 – 30 Sept 2029£480,00029 Aug 2025standstill to 9 Sept 2025Standstill

Bid statistics published by the authority

BidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
2final-stage tenders · 4 at stage one20—

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-PPON: PBJZ-9785-JTLD Town Hall, Victoria Square, Bolton, North West, BL1 1RUContact email

Framework contractors & participating bidders

2 commercial parties on the notice
  • AGE UK BOLTONFramework contractorGB-CHC: 223240GB-PPON: PPRN-3687-BRPN The SQUARE, 53-55 Victoria Square, North West, BL1 1RZContact email
  • CITIZENS ADVICE BURY AND BOLTON LIMITEDFramework contractorGB-COH: 05030345GB-PPON: PMMC-7571-VPLX 1 Victoria Plaza, Bolton, North West, BL1 1RDContact email

Official documents & specifications (3)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Tender pack and attachments

  • Bidding documents and specificationstenderBidding documents and specifications

Notices published for this procedure

  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender