Official UK procurement notice
Mental Health Service Users Benefits Advice Services
Authority: Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (Central government)·Consortium: 2 public authorities
Re-procurement plannedCOMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY SERVICE · tender expected
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionCardiff and Vale UHB intends to commission a community-based service providing specialist welfare benefits and debt advice to adults with mental health problems. The service will support individuals to maximise income, reduce or manage debt, and improve overall health
and wellbeing.
CPV: Community health services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedLot #1Cardiff and Vale University Health Board intends to commission a community-based…Awarded
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board intends to commission a community-based Mental Health Welfare Benefits and Debt Advice Service for adults aged 18+ experiencing mental health difficulties across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. The service will provide specialist, holistic advice and casework support to address complex welfare benefits and debt issues, recognising the interrelationship between financial hardship and mental health.
The service will support individuals to maximise their income by ensuring access to all appropriate welfare benefits, provide representation and assistance with appeals, and offer specialist debt advice including debt management, negotiation with creditors, and access to appropriate debt relief options. It will focus on early intervention and prevention to reduce the escalation of financial problems, including the risk of homelessness and crisis situations, and will aim to improve financial resilience and long-term independence.
Delivery will be flexible, accessible and person-centred, offering support through a range of channels including face-to-face appointments, outreach provision, home and hospital visits where appropriate, and other accessible formats. The service will work collaboratively with statutory and third sector partners, including mental health services, to ensure coordinated pathways of support and improved access for vulnerable individuals.
The overarching aim of the service is to improve financial stability, reduce stress associated with debt and financial insecurity, and contribute to improved mental health, wellbeing, and the ability for individuals to maintain independent living within their communities.
This notice is an intention to award a contract under the Most Suitable Provider Process.
This is an existing service with an existing provider.
The contract is for a period of 3 years, with the option to extend for 2 further years in 12‑month intervals at the Health Board’s discretion, commencing 1st April 2027 to 31st March 2030 (31st March 2032).
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record · publisher note attached- Procedure method
- Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded without competition
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Direct award (no call for competition)
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 15 May 2026, 16:08 BST
- Last source update
- 1 Jun 2026, 12:13 BST
- Authority reference
CAV-MSPP-(26-27) 20- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-051332- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-069a4aFind a Tender
- Why no open competition
New works/services, constituting a repetition of existing works/services and ordered in accordance with the strict conditions stated in the directive
- Published justification
This is a Provider Selection Regime Wales (PSR Wales) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Services (Provider Selection Regime) (Wales) Regulations 2025. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015/Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to this award. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to decision makers by 10th June 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR Wales
Publisher note: This is a Provider Selection Regime Wales (PSR Wales) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Services (Provider Selection Regime) (Wales) Regulations 2025. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015/Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to this award. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to decision makers by 10th of June 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR Wales. Representations by providers must be made to decision makers by E-mail: marisa.riley2@wales.nhs.uk. The award decision makers for this process are members of the Mental Health Clinical Board within Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. The award decision-makers’ rationale for selecting the chosen provider and utilising the Most Suitable Provider Process was based on key considerations. The provider delivers a specialised, bespoke welfare benefits and debt advice service specifically tailored to individuals with diagnosed mental health conditions. This level of expertise is not replicated within the local market, and the provider has developed a strong understanding of the complex relationship between mental health and financial hardship, supported by established delivery models and integration with local services. Continuity of provision was also a critical factor. The provider is currently supporting service users with ongoing benefit claims, appeals and tribunal cases. Any disruption or change in provider would present a significant risk to these individuals, potentially impacting case outcomes, financial stability and mental health. Retaining the existing provider ensures continuity of support from experienced staff familiar with service users’ circumstances. Additionally, the provider’s established partnerships with statutory and third-sector organisations support effective referral pathways and joined-up service delivery. No providers were excluded from the procurement process; There were no declared conflicts or potential conflicts of interest of individuals making the decision. Information that has not been published and is withheld under regulation 23(1) due to commercial sensitivity (WA Ref:165571)
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- —
Timeline
1 Jun 2026 → 1 Jun 2026 · 2 dates- Next notice expected150 days ago1 Jun 2026, 00:00 BST
- Notice published149 days ago1 Jun 2026, 12:13 BST
Notice history
3 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 1 Jun 2026- Status changed to complete1 Jun 2026, 12:13 BST
- Procurement method changed1 Jun 2026, 12:13 BST
- Buyer details updated1 Jun 2026, 12:13 BST
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside AdviceSME | £252,400 † | — | Awarded |
Contracts
Contract 051332-2026-Mental Health Service Users Benefits Advice Services-1 · Riverside AdviceSME
- Signed
- 26 May 2026
- Value
- £252,400
- Status
- active
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1bids · 0 electronic · 1 from abroad | 1 | — | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
2 public bodies on the noticeDispute resolution & review bodies
- High CourtReview body
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- Riverside AdviceAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications
Official links; attachments are not copiedNo document links were published on the notice.