Official UK procurement notice
Statutory Advocacy Service · UK public procurement notice
Authority: Staffordshire County Council (Local council)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe Authority is commissioning a Statutory Advocacy Service for the provision of a range of statutory advocacy services.
The Supplier will deliver a Service that reflects the key principles of:
- making use of digital.
- recognising the benefits of strength-based and asset-based approaches to improving health and wellbeing, promoting independence and building community capacity.
- targeting and supporting those with greatest need.
- encouraging Individuals to build their skills and confidence to self-advocate
- adopt lean and flexible working practices in order to maximise service reach
- demonstrate continual learning and share best practice through local partnerships and forums.
The total estimated value (without VAT) for the contract period including extension period is £1,977,453. A tender submission received that exceeds the Maximum Total Annual Budget of £659,151 for either year 1,2 or 3 and the Contract value of £1,977,453 will be REJECTED.
The service to be procured as a competitive tender using the open procedure is classed as a Light Touch Contract under the Procurement Act 2023.
The Authority will be holding a supplier "bidders day" on Wednesday 27 August 2025 at 10.30am - 12.00 noon, this will be a Microsoft Teams event held to give suppliers an opportunity to ask Procurement and/or the Commissioning area questions in relation to the procurement process
Suppliers are requested to have familiarised themselves with the Tender Documents prior to this event to avoid duplicating questions raised previously and already answered. Where a supplier is unable to attend, information will be shared via an e-tendering Proactis post, shortly after the event. This will include any questions asked and their respective answers.
For avoidance of doubt suppliers will still be able to submit pre-tender clarifications after the event in line with the process outlined in the IA3595 ITT Procurement Pack.
CPV: Health and social work services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1AwardedRenewalPublished value£1,977,453
- Economic & financial standing
For Participation please refer to Part 3 Condition of Participation within the IA3595 Invitation to Tender (ITT) Procurement Specific Questionnaire.
- Technical & professional ability
For Participation please refer to Part 3 Condition of Participation within the IA3595 Invitation to Tender (ITT) Procurement Specific Questionnaire.
What it takes to wini
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 morei
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).
Published award criteria (2)
- Quality: Quality will be split as stated within the Procurement Pack.
- Price: Price will be split as stated within the Pricing Matrix.
- Economic & financial standing
For Participation please refer to Part 3 Condition of Participation within the IA3595 Invitation to Tender (ITT) Procurement Specific Questionnaire.
- Technical & professional ability
For Participation please refer to Part 3 Condition of Participation within the IA3595 Invitation to Tender (ITT) Procurement Specific Questionnaire.
- Price carries 40 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 4 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
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
- Light touch regime
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 6 Jun 2025, 14:11 BST
- Last source update
- 25 Feb 2026, 11:59 GMT
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 2 Jan 2026
- Authority reference
IA3595- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-049763- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-054481Find a Tender- Contract terms summary
Please see the Terms and Conditions.
Upon expiry of the Agreement the Authority shall consider
Schedule 5 Direct Award Justifications, Additional or repeat goods, services or works
Section 8 where is it the authorities intention to carry out a subsequent procurement of similar services in reliance of this direct award justification.
- Risks
Risk: Legislation and Registration.
Modification - Changes in Legislation is within contract terms & Specification.
Risk: Annual discretionary fee review
Modification -Annual discretionary price review is within the contract terms.
Risk: Increases to Budget
Modification -Provided for in contract terms. The Pricing matrix will be updated. The total value of the contract terms will need to account for any potential increase to the budget.
Risk: Budget reduction
Modification -Contract terms allow for termination due to funding removal. Pricing schedule in contract would need to be updated.
Risk: Provider failure
Modification -Clauses within the contract to serve notice & terminate.
Risk: Increase in demand for advocacy services.
Modification -The contract allows for modifications. The Council will comply with the modification grounds within the Procurement Act (PA).
Risk: Local Government Re-organisation
Modification- If any legislative changes result in a significant impact upon referral numbers & subsequent service capacity pressures, the Council will meet with the Supplier to jointly agree any mitigating action and/or possible resolutions through the relevant clauses within the contract.
Risk: IT systems and development
Modification -The Supplier will complete an updated Third Party Security Questionnaire. Modifications will be captured through the relevant clauses & schedules within the contract.
Risk: Fixed Budgets Constraints
Modification -The annual discretionary fee review process will consider the impact of national changes. The Supplier & Council will meet through Contract Review Meetings (CRM) to flag any capacity pressures that may need addressing through the relevant clauses & schedules within the contract.
Risk: Resource Availability
Modification -The Supplier will have the opportunity through CRM to notify the Council of any such capacity pressures & work with the Council to find a solution. The contract allows for modifications, the Council will comply with the modification grounds within the PA.
Risk: Cost, Budget and Contractual requirements
Modification - the contract has a Change in Law clause.
Risk: Value for Money
Modification -The Council will have CRM with the Supplier to ensure continuous monitoring of service outcomes, Modifications will be captured through the relevant clauses & schedules within the contract.
Risk: Implementation/mobilisation
Modification - There will be 3 months mobilisation supported by a mobilisation plan. Exit meeting(s) will take place . Contract allows modification to the commencement & end date for all contracts.
Risk: Engagement
Modification -The Council will develop relationships through CRM & support facilitation of innovative means of engagement. Modifications can be made through the relevant clauses and schedules within the contract.
Risk: Accessibility
Modification - The Council will have CRM with the Supplier to ensure the Service can evidence it is targeting those hard to reach & reducing barriers for Individuals. The tender documents will address suppliers service delivery model and accessibility. Modifications can be made through the relevant clauses and schedules within the contract.
Risk: Training
Modification -The Specification specifies the level of qualification & the timescale achieve it. It provides an opportunity for providers to consider using non-qualified advocacy staff and/or volunteers to supplement (where appropriate) qualified advocates. The Council will maintain compliance of this through CRM. Required modifications can be made through the relevant clauses & schedules within the contract.
Risk: Credentials/Experience
Modification - The tender process will assess and request bidders to evidence their ability to meet the Specification . Tender submissions will be evaluated on Price and Quality. The Council will monitor performance through CRM. Modifications can be made through the relevant clauses and schedules within the contract.
Risk: Quality
Modification required: The Council will have regular CRM , KPI's and have a quality framework to measure the quality of Service. The Council will have an annual discretionary fee review process which considers the impact of national changes. Modifications can be made through the relevant clauses & schedules within the contract.
Risk: Operational
Modification - The contract has clear escalation processes, CRM will take place and the Specification supports continuous improvement. Suppliers will submit their Business Continuity Plan within their tender submission.
Risk: External Factors
Modification -The Supplier will have a business continuity plan in place. The Council will have regular CRM, good lines of communication and supplier relationship management to facilitate discussions with regards to mitigating actions and/or possible resolutions. Required modifications can be made through the relevant clauses & schedules within the contract.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 6 Oct 2025, 12:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 30 Sept 2025, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Suppliers should register on the Councils' eProcurement system, Proactis.
supplierlive.proactisp2p.com/Account/Login ↗
Suppliers will need to log in and select "Opportunities" then enter the tender reference "IA3595" in the box and select "Search".
All tender documents will be found in the request document section.
Please see clause 46 of the Terms and Conditions with regards to further information on the Local Government Re-Organisation.
Timeline
6 Jun 2025 → 1 Apr 2026 · 11 dates- Planning notice published6 Jun 2025, 14:11 BST
- Market engagement25 Jun 2025, 23:59 BST
The Council wishes to commission a Statutory Advocacy Service for eligible Individuals across Staffordshire.
The Council is keen to understand the following provider views from the market, particularly from a Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) point of view:-
- How can the Council remove/reduce any barriers for providers, particularly SME's, during the tender process?
- What risks do you think might affect your organisation during the delivery of the Service? For example, legislative changes, IT systems, changes to standards, resource, value for money and operational considerations.
Please send your responses in a pdf word document to [email protected] by Wednesday 25 June 2025.
The Council anticipates issuing a tender notice on Tuesday 19 August 2025 and currently envisages the tender closing 12 noon Friday 19 September 2025.
It is anticipated that a bidder event will be held on Wednesday 27 August 2025 (date dependent on the actual tender live date).
As well as completing the required tender documents Suppliers will be required to register on the Central Digital Platform (CDP), to find out more please access the following information:
www.gov.uk/government/collectio… ↗
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67bdf4e489b4a5… ↗
The tender will be issued via the Council's e-tendering system Proactis and you must be registered to participate in the procurement opportunity. You can register expressions of interest via the Councils e-tendering portal
supplierlive.proactisp2p.com/Default.aspx ↗
Please search for IA3595 Statutory Advocacy Service.
- Tender notice published19 Aug 2025, 11:10 BST
- Next notice expected19 Aug 2025, 23:59 BST
- Clarification questions by385 days ago30 Sept 2025, 12:00 BST
- Submission deadline379 days ago6 Oct 2025, 12:00 BST
- Assessment summaries sent327 days ago27 Nov 2025
- Standstill ends313 days ago10 Dec 2025, 23:59 GMT
- Award decision expected by290 days ago2 Jan 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Latest notice published237 days ago25 Feb 2026, 11:59 GMT
- Contract starts202 days ago1 Apr 2026, 00:00 BST
Notice history
10 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 6 Jun 2025- Preliminary market engagement notice published6 Jun 2025, 14:11 BSTUK2
- Tender notice published19 Aug 2025, 11:10 BSTUK4
- Published value published: £1,977,45319 Aug 2025, 11:10 BST
- Status changed to active19 Aug 2025, 11:10 BST
- Procurement method changed19 Aug 2025, 11:10 BST
- Deadline published: 6 Oct 2025, 12:00 BST19 Aug 2025, 11:10 BST
- Contract award notice published27 Nov 2025, 12:16 GMTUK6
- Status changed to complete27 Nov 2025, 12:16 GMT
- Contract signature expected16 Jan 2026, 23:59 GMTscheduled
- Contract details notice published25 Feb 2026, 11:59 GMTUK7
Routine re-releases (4)
- 2025-06: 1 release · 6 Jun 2025
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| AsistSMEIA3595 Statutory Advocacy Service1 Apr 2026 – 31 Mar 2028 · up to 31 Mar 2029Extensions: The contract will commence on 1 April 2026 and, subject to earlier termination in accordance with its terms, will continue until midnight on 31 March 2028. At the Authority's entire discretion, the term may be extended by 12 months to the 31 March 2029 on the same terms for such period in accordance with the contract. · Options: At the Authority's entire discretion, the term may be extended by 12 months to the 31 March 2029 on the same terms for such period in accordance with the contract. | £1,977,453 | 27 Nov 2025 | Awarded |
Contracts
Statutory Advocacy Service · AsistSME
- Signed
- 16 Feb 2026
- Value
- £1,977,453
- Period
- 1 Apr 2026 – 31 Mar 2028 · up to 31 Mar 2029 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- The contract will commence on 1 April 2026 and, subject to earlier termination in accordance with its terms, will continue until midnight on 31 March 2028. At the Authority's entire discretion, the term may be extended by 12 months to the 31 March 2029 on the same terms for such period in accordance with the contract.
- Options
- The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid. At the Authority's entire discretion, the term may be extended by 12 months to the 31 March 2029 on the same terms for such period in accordance with the contract.
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5final-stage tenders | 4 | 1 | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- ASIST.Awarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (6)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specifications IA3595 PME Feedback Summary
- Signed contract
Notices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender