Official UK procurement notice
Tender for Sensory Impairment Rehabilitation Service in Herefordshire
Authority: Herefordshire Council (Local council)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionHerefordshire Council is seeking to appoint a suitably qualified and experienced provider to deliver a countywide Sensory Impairment Service for adults aged 18 and over who are living with visual impairment, hearing impairment or dual sensory loss. The service forms part of the Council's prevention and wellbeing offer and supports residents to maintain independence, improve wellbeing and remain connected to their communities.
The provider will deliver specialist assessments, rehabilitation and enablement support, information, advice and guidance, equipment and assistive technology provision, and administration of sensory impairment registration functions on behalf of the Council. The Service will be accessible across the County of Herefordshire, including rural communities, and will support approximately 55,000 residents living with hearing loss and 6,000 residents living with sight loss. Referrals may be received from service users, health professionals, social care practitioners, carers, families and relevant partner organisations.
The contract is expected to commence on 1 February 2027, with an initial mobilisation and implementation period prior to service commencement on 1 April 2027. The initial contract term will be 5 years, with an option to extend for up to a further 2 years. The procurement is being conducted under the Procurement Act 2023 using the Open Procedure and is subject to the Light Touch Regime.
The maximum available Contract Value for the Sensory Impairment Service is £833,000 (excluding VAT) over the full potential 7-year term. The Contract also includes the ability for the Council to purchase up to £259,000 (excluding VAT) over the full potential 7-year term of Assistive Technology, Equipment and Aids where required. This additional budget does not form part of the £833,000 Contract Value and is available only where the Council approves additional purchases. These additional purchases are not guaranteed. The maximum potential Contract Value is therefore up to £1,092,000 (excluding VAT).
TUPE information:
TUPE is expected to apply to this contract, and bidders should ensure that the implications of TUPE, including the associated employment and cost implications, are fully considered and reflected in their tender.
Bidders must request access to the TUPE information well in advance of the tender closing date. To access the Employee's information, bidders are required to complete and sign the Completion Document 5 (TUPE Confidentiality Letter Agreement) included within the tender pack, and return it via ProContact messaging system at www.supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk ↗. The TUPE information will be provided following receipt of the completed agreement.
Bidders are responsible for ensuring that they request the TUPE information sufficiently early to enable them to take it into account when preparing their Tender. Failure to request or review the TUPE information will not relieve the successful Bidder of its obligations in relation to TUPE.
- The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 1 Sept 2033, 23:59 BST.
CPV: Health and social work services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1RenewalPublished value£1,092,000
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 (3)
- Quality
- Social Value
- Price
No conditions of participation were published on the notice; check the tender documents.
- Price carries 38 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 3.8 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- Turnover usually expected at this size: about £422,682 (twice the annual value).
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula. Turnover is an indicative market norm (≈2× annual value), not a published condition.
Competition analysis · published record, not a forecast of who will bid
How Herefordshire Council buys Health and social work services (CPV 85), and who usually turns up
Herefordshire Council’s own published record, next to the published market for the same work. Frameworks and DPS are kept out: they attract a different number of bids. Whole-market view: Health and social work services (CPV 85) →
How the contest usually goes
Winner shares use published awards; bid and price charts use contested lots.
i
How often small and medium firms win.
Share of awards where the winner’s size is known.
The counts under this question show how many awards have a known supplier size.
Small firms have won here. Neither number says whether you qualify; it describes who has been winning.
i
How often local firms win similar work.
Winners with a registered address in the delivery region, out of awards with a known address.
Here, local means registered in West Midlands.
A local branch does not count if the registered address is elsewhere.
Most of this buyer’s recorded winners are registered in West Midlands.
i
How long buyers here take to decide after bids close.
Middle value in days from the deadline to the first award notice, on competitions that published both dates.
Only decided tenders count, so slow ones still waiting are not in.
Half of these awards were announced within 34 days of the bid deadline.
i
How often work is awarded with no recorded rival.
Direct awards and tenders where every published lot count shows one bid.
Both shares are minimums: some awards have no bid count.
Thin markets produce this too; it is not proof of a tailored specification.
Direct awards or one recorded bid are common here. Check the route before spending time on a bid.
How many bids did past lots attract?
i
How many bids past lots received.
Each colour is a bid-count range. Only competed lots with a published count are included.
Past bids do not predict this tender.
1 bid38% / 17%
2–338% / 22%
4–613% / 18%
7+13% / 43%
How did awards compare with estimates?
i
Where winning prices landed against estimates.
Each colour shows awards below, close to or above the published estimate, one lot at a time.
Past prices are a guide, not a bid price.
Below estimate17% / 29%
Within ±2%67% / 64%
Above estimate17% / 7%
Assess each lot i
What past awards tell you about each lot.
See the forecast, this buyer’s earlier suppliers and firms with relevant wins.
No supplier is confirmed as a bidder.
i
What past awards tell you about each lot.
See the forecast, this buyer’s earlier suppliers and firms with relevant wins.
No supplier is confirmed as a bidder.
Open a lot for its forecast, this buyer’s previous supplier and possible competitors, from published award history, not a bid list
Lot #1Published estimate£1.1m
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How many bids this lot may attract.
The forecast uses similar past competitions. The bar shows either that forecast or past bid counts; the line below says which.
Each lot shows its own forecast based on its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.
A forecast, not a list of bidders.
1 bid37%
2–341%
4–616%
7+6%
i
Where the award price may land.
The forecast uses similar awards and the buyer’s estimate. The band covers the middle half of likely prices.
Based on 223 comparable awards. Each lot reflects its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.
A statistical guide from past awards, not a price to bid.
Middle 50%£1.1m–£1.1m
Estimate£1.1m
Who has supplied this buyer on similar work? i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
| Supplier | This buyer’s earlier contract | Lot | Award value | Why listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Herefordshire Vision LinksEarlier contract | Invitation to Tender for the provision of a Sensory Impairment Service for Herefordshirenotice published Jan 2022 | The provision of a Sensory Impairment Service for Herefordshire | £713k | Matched as the earlier contract |
| caring for communities and peopleWorked for this buyer | Tender for Accommodation based support service for children in care and care leavers aged 16-25notice published Apr 2025 | — | — | Similar wording and category |
| Connexus Homes LimitedWorked for this buyer | Re-tender for the provision of Housing-Related Support Service for children in care and care leavers (16-25 years old) in Herefordshireruns to Feb 2029 | — | £2.7m | Similar wording and category |
| Rainbow Care Solutions LtdWorked for this buyer | Provision of the Discharge to Assess (D2A) Reablement Service in Herefordshirenotice published Jun 2026 | — | — | Similar wording and category |
Who could compete for this lot? i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
| Supplier | Won in this category | Live contracts | Award vs estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | None on file | at estimate n=1 | |
| £18m12 awards in 36m · last 6 months ago | 7 live · £5.0m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=5 | |
| £95m8 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago | 3 live · £79m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=4 | |
| £500k6 awards in 36m · last 6 months ago | 2 live · £15m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=2 | |
| £3.2m2 awards in 36m · last 11 months ago | 3 live · £4.5m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=3 |
About this data
- Source. Official UK public procurement notices (Find a Tender), reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0. New notices arrive through the day; the figures are rebuilt nightly.
- Two views, kept apart. The authority’s own track record and the wider market for the same kind of work sit side by side and are never mixed. Where the local picture is too thin, a figure widens to a broader market and says which one it used.
- Forecasts are labelled. The price forecast and its range, possible competitors and the earlier-work matches are our estimates from past awards: not published facts, not win chances and not price advice. Official notices do not say who is bidding.
- Every figure shows what it rests on. Not every notice publishes a bid count, a value or a delivery region, so each figure carries the number of records behind it, and one built on few records is marked as such. The on a figure explains it; the counting rules are in the methodology. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
What this replaces i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
64% title match.
A past supplier may not bid again.
i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
64% title match.
A past supplier may not bid again.
The prior contract this notice most likely re-tenders · matched by title and category (64% title match), the holder is not guaranteed to re-bid
Invitation to Tender for the provision of a Sensory Impairment Service for Herefordshire — held by Herefordshire Vision Links; no contract end date published.
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
- Open for tender
- 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
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Yes · next expected 1 Sept 2033
- First published
- 3 Jul 2026, 14:41 BST
- Last source update
- 9 Oct 2026, 14:45 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 19 Jan 2027
- Authority reference
DN832448- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-095737- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06c394Find a Tender
- Risks
The Council has identified the following known risks as risks which could affect the satisfactory performance of the Contract, but which because of their nature and uncertainty as to the impact or extent, cannot be fully addressed or quantified:
- fluctuations in referral volumes and service demand;
- changes in the prevalence and complexity of sensory impairment needs;
- demographic changes, particularly growth in older age groups;
- changes in legislation, statutory guidance or national policy;
- developments in assistive technology and equipment available to support people with sensory impairments;
- variations in the type, volume and cost of equipment required by service users; and
- wider pressures affecting health, social care and local government services
Subject to the application of any other provision in the Contract relating to the materialisation of a known risk, including but not limited to Force Majeure and Change in Law, and subject to the Variation Procedure in the Contract, the Parties may modify the Contract where the Council considers that, in accordance with paragraph 5, Schedule 8 of the Procurement Act 2023:
- a known risk has materialised otherwise than as a result of any act or omission of the Council or the Supplier;
- because of that fact, the Contract cannot be performed to the satisfaction of the Council;
- the modification goes no further than necessary to remedy that fact;
- awarding a further contract (instead of modifying the current Contract) would not be in the public interest in the circumstances; and
- the modification would not increase the estimated value of the Contract by more than 50 per cent ignoring, for the purpose of estimating the value of the Contract, the fact that the risk has materialised.
Where such risks materialise, the Parties may agree to make modifications to the Contract, including adjustments to service scope, delivery model, capacity, performance requirements, or contract value, where necessary to maintain satisfactory performance. Any such modifications will be limited to what is necessary and will comply with statutory requirements, including value thresholds and transparency obligations.
How to participate & submission route
Official notice Submit via ProContract (Due North)- Requests to participate (first stage)
- —
- Tender submission deadline
- 13 Nov 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 5 Nov 2026, 17:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Herefordshire Council has published this contract opportunity on the 'Supplying the Southwest Portal' (project reference DN832448).
Interested parties are invited to review the tender documentation by registering on the portal (ProContract) and expressing an interest in the opportunity.
Please note that tenders must be submitted exclusively via the Procontract e-tendering portal at www.supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk ↗ by the closing date and time as indicated in the timetable. Submissions received by any other means will not be considered.
To register with ProContract on the Supplying the Southwest Portal, click on the link below or copy and paste the link into your browser's address bar: www.supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk ↗
Timeline
3 Jul 2026 → 1 Feb 2027 · 7 dates- Planning notice published109 days ago3 Jul 2026, 14:41 BST
- Market engagement94 days ago17 Jul 2026, 23:59 BST
Herefordshire Council has published this RFI on the 'Supplying the Southwest Portal' (project reference DN821194).
Interested parties are invited to review the RFI documentation by registering on the portal (ProContract) and expressing an interest in the opportunity.
Closing date for responses - 12.00 noon, Friday 17 July 2026.
Please note that responses to this RFI should be submitted via the Procontract e-tendering portal at www.supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk ↗ by the closing date and time as indicated above.
To register with ProContract on the Supplying the Southwest Portal, click on the link below or copy and paste the link into your browser's address bar: www.supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk ↗
- Tender notice published11 days ago9 Oct 2026, 14:45 BST
- Today20 Oct 2026
- Clarification questions byin 16 days5 Nov 2026, 17:00 GMT
- Submission deadlinein 24 days13 Nov 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Award decision expected byin 92 days19 Jan 2027, 23:59 GMT
- Contract startsin 104 days1 Feb 2027
Notice history
6 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 3 Jul 2026- Preliminary market engagement notice published3 Jul 2026, 14:41 BSTUK2
- Tender notice published9 Oct 2026, 14:45 BSTUK4
- Published value published: £1,092,0009 Oct 2026, 14:45 BST
- Status changed to active9 Oct 2026, 14:45 BST
- Procurement method changed9 Oct 2026, 14:45 BST
- Deadline published: 13 Nov 2026, 12:00 GMT9 Oct 2026, 14:45 BST
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Nothing awarded yet- Awards (0)
- No award published
- Contracts (0)
- No contract published
- Bid statistics
- No aggregate bid statistics published
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender