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Published 12 May 2026, 10:34 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Appropriate Adult Service. · UK public procurement notice

Official notice

Authority: Durham County Council (Local council)

ServicesBelow threshold - open competitionBelow thresholdLight touch regimeSME suitableVCSE suitable
Sectors: Health & Social Care (85) Delivery: North East (UKC14)
Published estimate£435,287≈ £131k / year · £522,344 inc. VAT · 1 value update
Submissions closed 20 Oct 2026
Next notice expected 1 Jun 2026
Contract term 3 yrs 4 moends 31 Mar 2030 · up to 31 Mar 2032 with extensions · starts 1 Dec 2026

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Durham County Council has a requirement for an Appropriate Adult Service. An Appropriate Adult (AA) service is a safeguarding service used in the criminal justice system to protect the rights and welfare of vulnerable people when they are involved with the police. It exists because some people may not fully understand police procedures or be able to communicate effectively without support.

The Service is delivered from a central custody suite in Spennymoor, County Durham, however on occasions Appropriate Adults may be required to attend alternative locations when a voluntary attendance interview is undertaken.

The AA service currently assists custody for vulnerable adults and children on a call out basis as and when required. For adults this service is 24/7 and for children this is out of hours including bank holidays.

CPV: Health and social work services

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · value published
Lot #1Renewal 3 yrs 4 moSMEVCSEPublished value£435,287
Contract period: 1 Dec 2026 – 31 Mar 2030 (3 yrs 4 mo) · up to 31 Mar 2032 with extensionsValue: £435,287 exc. VAT · £522,344 inc. VAT
Delivery: North EastEligibility: SME eligibleVCSE eligible
Extensions: At the Council's discretion, should the Council acquire further funding, including from different sources, additional services may be required and may differ to that detailed in the Specification but will fall under the remit or compliment delivery of an Appropriate Adult service. The Council reserves the right to modify the contract specification if new legislation and/or guidance regarding Appropriate Adults is published by the Government and or Governing Bodies. · The contract will include the option to extend for two further period of up to 12 months each, subject to performance, funding and commissioner approval.
85000000 Health and social work services

What it takes to win
i

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 more
How bids were scored

Lot awarding rule: Contract will be awarded using an evaluation weighting of 10% social value and 90% quality, subject to all essential criteria being met.

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Below threshold - open competition
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Closed
Procurement threshold
Below threshold
Regulatory regime
Light touch regime
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
12 May 2026, 10:34 BST
Last source update
22 Sept 2026, 15:58 BST
Authority reference
003756/ OPEN 20261557
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-089789
Latest notice
Tender notice (UK4)
Classification (CPV)
Health and social work services
Delivery area
North East (UKC14)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06966e Find a Tender

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: OPEN-UK
Supplier login requiredElectronic submission allowed
Access & registration note: Free
Submission deadline
20 Oct 2026, 23:59 BST
Clarification deadline
12 Oct 2026, 12:00 BST
Submission channel
Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission
Allowed
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

documents can be accessed free of charge by visiting www.open-uk.org ↗ using reference OPEN 20261557

Timeline

12 May 2026 → 1 Dec 2026 · 7 dates
  1. Planning notice published168 days ago
    12 May 2026, 10:34 BST
  2. Market engagement154 days ago
    26 May 2026, 23:59 BST

    A preliminary market engagement questionnaire has been published at www.open.org-uk ↗ and documents can be accessed free of charge using reference OPEN20261027

  3. Next notice expected148 days ago
    1 Jun 2026, 23:59 BST
  4. Tender notice published35 days ago
    22 Sept 2026, 15:58 BST
  5. Clarification questions by15 days ago
    12 Oct 2026, 12:00 BST
  6. Submission deadline7 days ago
    20 Oct 2026, 23:59 BST
  7. Today
    28 Oct 2026
  8. Contract startsin 33 days
    1 Dec 2026

Notice history

6 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 12 May 2026
  1. Preliminary market engagement notice published
    12 May 2026, 10:34 BST
    UK2
  2. Tender notice published
    22 Sept 2026, 15:58 BST
    UK4
  3. Published value published: £435,287
    22 Sept 2026, 15:58 BST
  4. Status changed to active
    22 Sept 2026, 15:58 BST
  5. Procurement method changed
    22 Sept 2026, 15:58 BST
  6. Deadline published: 20 Oct 2026, 23:59 BST
    22 Sept 2026, 15:58 BST

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Durham County Council

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-PPON: PMPB-8772-VYWM Corten House, Dunholme Close, Durham, North East, DH1 5WBContact email

Official documents & specifications (2)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure