Portsmouth Advice Service
Overview
Summary, notice description and lot information
Portsmouth City Council is planning to procure an open access social welfare advice service for adults residing in Portsmouth, under the project titled "Portsmouth Advice Service." This procurement is currently in the planning stage, with a focus on engaging providers through a preliminary market engagement exercise. The industry category is welfare services, not delivered through residential institutions, with the contract valued at £295,000 annually.
Key milestones include the submission deadline for the Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) Questionnaire, due by 18th January 2026. The service aims to enhance outcomes and resource utilisation for residents within the city and Portsmouth City Council tenants living in Havant. The upcoming procurement process aligns with the legal framework set by the 2023/54 UKPGA legislation.
The procurement offers substantial opportunities for businesses, especially SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs), to contribute to a vital community service designed to prevent crises and optimize resource allocation. The service provides expertise across housing, welfare benefits, debt, income maximisation, and employment rights, among other areas. Businesses with a track record in delivering welfare services, particularly those adept at community engagement and providing advice services either in-person, via telephone, or online, will find this tender particularly suited to their capabilities.
The Council's engagement further outlines potential for ongoing collaboration post-tender, enhancing service delivery and community impact over the contract period from 1st November 2026 to 31st October 2031.
Portsmouth City Council (the council) are looking to engage with providers who can deliver an open access social welfare advice service for adults in Portsmouth. This service will provide specialist and generalist advice to improve outcomes and maximise use of resources for all people living or working within the boundaries of the city, and for Portsmouth City Council tenants living in Havant. As part of this consultation document there is a questionnaire for providers to complete which will help us in deciding our future commissioning models.
We welcome any feedback from interested parties. Providers are encouraged to complete as many of the questions within the questionnaire as possible. The existing service provides expert advice on housing, welfare benefits, debt, income maximisation, employment rights, general family issues, and consumer issues, and general advice on other queries, such as access to services and support.
The overarching aim of the provision is to help prevent further crisis and improve outcomes for the individual whilst helping reduce the need for healthcare, social care and other statutory services. All advice is completely free of charge, confidential and impartial. Residents are supported either in-person, by telephone, or via email.
The service also has a standalone dedicated website. The council commission the existing advice service through a single provider contract and the service is delivered from one building based centrally within the city. The service receives additional funding via the Household Support Fund to deliver outreach services in eleven community locations including across the city, however, this outreach provision does not form part of the commissioned contract.
The current contract commenced on the 1st November 2022 and has run for an initial period of three years. The council have extended this contract for one further year until 31st October 2026 to allow for the service to be retendered. The current value of the contract is PS295,000 per annum.
Interested providers should return the PME Questionnaire using the Intend Portal correspondence function by 18th January 2026, 23:59.
N/A
Procurement Classification
Notice type, method, and CPV codes
Contract Values
Financial information and value estimates
The contract period is five years.
Key Dates
Publication, submission, and award timeline
Notice Status
Current status of tender, lots, awards, and contracts
Contracting Authority
Buyer organisation and contact details
Awarded Supplier
Supplier who was awarded this contract
Documents & Links
External resources and data downloads
The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector.
Need help with your tender submission?
Our expert team can help you prepare a winning bid. Get professional support from CareSync Experts.
Get in touch with our team at Care Sync Experts today for a consultation.
Email: hello@caresyncexperts.co.uk
Phone: 0333 577 0877
Contact UsBidding for contracts like this
Other tenders in Portsmouth
- Prior Information Notice - Portsmouth City Council Home Care Re-Commissioning Consultation in Portsmouth
- Day Opportunity Services for Adults with Learning Disabilities - Open Framework in Portsmouth
- Integrated Specialist Community Public Health Nurses services (SCPHN) in Portsmouth
- Extension of SS14 142 (24-26) - Older Persons Residential Care, Nursing Care and Respite Care Services in Maidstone
- Urgent Treatment Centre - Outsourcing of Services in Basingstoke and Deane
- Cataracts service in Maidstone