Tier 1 Peer Support, and Information, Advice, and Guidance Service

Suffolk County Council has recently awarded a contract to Realise Futures CIC for the delivery of the Tier 1 Peer Support, and Information, Advice, and Guidance (IAG) service. This initiative is a part of the council's focus on health and social work services, primarily targeting people with Learning Disabilities and Autism (LD&A). The direct award contract, adhering to the light touch regime, spans from 30th September 2025 to 29th September 2027, with the possibility of a two-year extension.

The services will be conducted in the Ipswich region, and the total value of the services is set at £1,017,600. The procurement stage has moved from award to contract, marking the process as complete as of 3rd September 2025, with formalities set for finalisation by 22nd September 2025. This tender presents substantial opportunities for social enterprises and organisations focused on health and social care services, particularly those experienced in working with vulnerable populations such as individuals with special educational needs and disabilities.

Businesses with expertise in providing comprehensive guidance and support services, ideally within a collaborative framework, will find this contract beneficial for growth. The direct award approach, while limiting competitive procurement, ensures the continued delivery of critical services amid ongoing programme evaluations, which can be advantageous for agile SMEs ready to adapt and extend the contracted services in the future.