Open tenders / Health & social care
Open tender · Notice 102327-2026
Children's Direct Payment Support Service
- Value
- £264k
- Closes
- 25 Nov 2026 (17 days)
- Where
- North West
- Lots
- 1
- Suitable for SMEs
- Yes, says the buyer
- Contract
- 1 Apr 2027 – 31 Mar 2028
In plain English
Cumberland Council wants a provider to support families in receipt of children's Direct Payments, giving information and guidance on how the payments can be used and on the family's responsibilities. It starts on 1 April 2027 for twelve months, with one possible extension of up to twelve months, and the maximum total value is £263,867 excluding VAT.
Good fit for: Social care support or direct payment support organisations working with families of disabled children.
- Must show Find a Tender registration
Evidence of your Find a Tender registration must be provided with your tender submission.
- Must register on The Chest portal to bid
You must be registered on The Chest to be able to view the opportunity and submit a tender.
- Extension is at the council's discretion
Use of extension periods is at the absolute discretion of the council.
Written with AI from the official notice. Check the notice before relying on it.
What the buyer says
Cumberland Council is procuring a Children's Direct Payment Support Service under the Procurement Act 2023 Light Touch Regime The Authority is commissioning a Service Provider to offer a Direct Payment Support Service on its behalf. The Service Provider is required to deliver support to all eligible families in receipt of Direct Payments. Families will have the choice over the support they wish to access, so not all families will necessarily access all categories of support at any given point, though their needs may change over time. The Service Provider shall help families get the most out of their Direct Payment by providing information and guidance on how Direct Payments can be used and also explain the family's responsibilities in relation to receiving Direct Payments including putting in place, planning for and renewing indemnity insurance where a Personal Assistant is employed, undertaking and renewing a DBS for their Personal Assistant, clear accounting for income and expenditure of Direct Payments and their statutory payment duties where applicable. The proposed start date of the contract is 01st April 2027. The initial term of the contract is twelve months and there is one potential extension period available of up to twelve months. Use of extension periods is at the absolute discretion of the council. The maximum total contract value is £263,867 excluding VAT. This includes the initial term, extension periods if implemented and potential uplifts. If the council implements an extension or uplift, this will be confirmed in writing to the successful supplier in advance. If the services to be provided are exempt from VAT, then VAT cannot be charged by the successful supplier. For further details and to access the tender documents use the council's online pr…
Getting the documents
the-chest.org.uk (the buyer's own site, usually free to register).
Procedure: Below threshold - open competition (Open: anyone can bid (a lower-value contract with lighter rules)). Published 28 Oct 2026.
What similar contracts went for
Similar contracts went for £121k to £578k (3 since 2025; 2 won by small firms).
| Contract | Won by | Value | Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASC25078 Direct Payment Support Worcestershire County Council | Name withheld SME | £578k | 11 Jun |
| Support Services for Direct Payments London Borough of Bexley | BVSC SME | £433k | 20 Jan |
| Direct Payment Support Service Peterborough City Council | Peterborough Council for Voluntary Service | £121k | 20 Oct |
From the award notices on Find a Tender and Public Contracts Scotland. Values are as each notice states them and cover the contract's whole term: most notices give the value before VAT, but about one in seven gives only a figure including VAT. AI picked these as the same kind of work and can be wrong, so check what each one included before you price.
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