Learning Disability / Mental Health Supported Living (Service User Choice)

Durham County Council has completed a procurement process for the "Learning Disability / Mental Health Supported Living (Service User Choice)" contract, classified under the health and social work services category, with a procurement value amounting to £68,071,639. This contract, initiated as a user choice service, employs a direct award procurement method to cater to individual service users' preferences for supported living services. The contract commenced on 20th October 2025 and is set to run until 31st March 2026, with the potential for extension based on service user needs.

The contract is aligned with the light-touch regime and primarily focuses on services delivered in the Durham region (UKC14), United Kingdom. This procurement offers extensive business growth opportunities particularly for providers specializing in health and social care services, as multiple providers can engage in line with individual user choice provisions. Ideal candidates for this tender are businesses that already possess commissioning approval and have a strong presence or interest in the local health and social service sectors.

The direct award nature of this contract further emphasizes the importance of being an approved service provider, aligning with service users' specific preferences and needs, thus providing a significant competitive advantage to versatile and user-focused businesses.