Direct Payment Support Service
Planned
Key facts
- Closing date
- Tuesday 15 December 2026, 00:00 (UK time)
- Buyer's estimated value
- £661,917 (excl. VAT) The buyer's own estimate, not income to you.
- Contract period
- 1 May 2027 to 1 May 2030
- Procedure
- Open procedure
- Notice type
- Planned procurement notice (UK3)
- Suitable for SMEs (per buyer)
- Yes
Decision brief
Taken from the buyer's published notice (shown as written, shortened where long). Tenderpatch has not added to or interpreted it. Always read the official documents before bidding.
- How bids will be scored
- Not stated in the notice.
- Conditions of participation (what you must show)
- None published in the notice. They may be in the tender documents.
- Contract length and extensions
- 1 May 2027 to 1 May 2030.
- How to submit
- Through www.open-uk.org ↗ (the buyer's own portal). Electronic submission: allowed.
- Tender documents
- No document links in the notice. Use the official notice link.
New to public tenders? Plain-English guide to this page
- Framework
- An agreement that sets terms for work the buyer may order later, often from several suppliers. The value shown usually covers the whole agreement, not one job.
- Open for bids / closing date
- You must submit by the closing date and time, normally through the buyer's own online portal. Late bids are normally refused.
- Clarification questions
- A deadline for asking the buyer questions about the tender. It is earlier than the closing date.
- Conditions of participation
- What the buyer asks suppliers to show before they can be considered, such as experience, insurance or accreditations.
- Bids are scored on
- How the buyer will compare bids, usually a split between price and quality. A 60/40 split in favour of quality means the cheapest bid will not necessarily win.
- Lots
- A tender can be split into parts. You can often bid for only the lots that suit you.
- Area (ITL)
- The buyer names an official statistical area for where the work is, not a street address. Check the tender documents for the actual sites.
- UK4 and other notice codes
- Official codes for the type of notice. A "tender notice" means bids are being invited.
General explanations written by Tenderpatch, not part of this notice.
Description
Newcastle City Council is seeking to appoint an organisation to provide a Direct Payment Support Service to adults, children and carers who use, or are considering using, direct payments to purchase or arrange services.
Direct payments can be used to purchase care and support service to meet the care and support needs of the person and carer.
Direct payments do involve additional complexity and responsibility for the service user and therefore many need some support and/or advice.
The Direct Payment Support Service Newcastle City Council are procuring will:
-Information and Advice
Explain the benefits and responsibilities of direct payments to Service Users
Assist with budgeting and expenditure decisions
Provide information about the range of services that provide payroll, insurance and pensions and signpost direct payment users.
-Employment Support
Provide advice on becoming an employer
Support payroll, tax, insurance and pensions
Supply employment templates
Assist recruitment and selection of Personal Assistants
Operate a matching service where appropriate
Assist with all aspects of pension auto-enrolment
Promote safer employment by encouraging and facilitating the completion of enhanced DBS
-Safeguarding and Compliance
Promote safe recruitment
Support DBS applications
Attend safeguarding meetings when required
Report and escalate risks to vulnerable adults, children and public funds.
-Workforce Development
Advise on training for Direct Payment users and Personal Assistants
Promote professional development and competency frameworks
-Other requirements
Provide advice and practical assistance on request to social care professionals when needed
Have a permanent base within Newcastle
Expected usage:
487 adults are currently receiving a direct payment in Newcastle
In the financial year 25/26 there were 315 people who used the service
This notice is for information only. At this stage, no further details are available beyond what is published here.
When this opportunity progresses, a Tender Notice will be published on the Central Digital Platform along with any relevant notices such as engagement.