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PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

All Age Advocacy Services

Milton Keynes City Council · compiled

Tender information last checkedLast checked 29 Sept 2026, 20:53.

Opportunity overview

Milton Keynes City Council are currently out to tender for the provision of All Age Advocacy Services. Advocacy services provide support which enables an individual, usually a vulnerable person, to understand and communicate their choice or express their views on issues and participate in making decisions which affect them.The procurement will be split into 3 separate lots:- Lot 1 – Advocacy Services for Children- Lot 2 – Advocacy Services for Adults- Lot 3 – Both Lot 1 and Lot 2 CombinedBidders may bid for any one or two or all three lots. This procurement is being run via Open FTS under the Light Regime.The Council proposes to enter into a contract that will be for an initial term of 3 years with an option for the Council to extend for 2 years with the successful tenderer (Service Provider).

Awarded to

Amounts belong to published awards or contracts. Where several suppliers share one value, it is labelled as shared and is not a supplier-specific allocation.

The Advocacy People

Matched by exact name
Contract value
£1.2m
Awarded
Not supplied
Contract signed
8 Sept 2025
Award ID
057556-2025-2024-145-2
Status
active
Identifier
03963421
Location
Hastings, UKJ2, TN34 1DT, United Kingdom

Classification

  • CPV85000000 — Health and social work services
  • CPV85300000 — Social work and related services
  • CPV85310000 — Social work services
  • CPV85312000 — Social work services without accommodation

Lots

  • Advocacy Services for Children£750k
  • Advocacy Services for Adults£1.3m
  • Lot 3 – Both Lot 1 and Lot 2 Combined - Advocacy Services for Children and Adults£2.1m

Published notice details

Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.

Scope, procedure and submissions

Id
2024-145
Status
complete
Has Recurrence
Yes
Review Details
The Council will incorporate a minimum 10 calendar day standstill period at the point information on the award of the Contract is communicated to tenderers.Applicants who are unsuccessful shall be informed by the Contracting Authority as soon as possible after the decision has been made as to the reasons why the Applicant was unsuccessful. Applicants may seek further clarification from the Contracting Authority following receipt of this information and the Contracting Authority will provide further clarification as appropriate. If any clarification regarding the award of the Contract has not been successfully resolved, an Applicant can consider its option under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.Applicants would need to obtain their own legal advice.
Procurement Method
open
Main Procurement Category
services
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure

Covered By

GPA

Amendments

Entry 1
Id
2
Description
Tender submission deadline extended to 12 noon on the 14th March 2025.

Unstructured Changes

Entry 1

Where

Label
Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Section
IV.2.2

New Value

Date
14 Mar 2025, 12:00

Old Value

Date
17 Feb 2025, 12:00
Entry 2

Where

Label
Conditions for opening of tenders
Section
IV.2.7

New Value

Date
14 Mar 2025, 12:00

Old Value

Date
17 Feb 2025, 12:00

Bid Opening

Date
17 Feb 2025, 12:00

Address

Street Address
Milton Keynes City Council - Remote Opening via In-Tend

Legal basis

Id
32014L0024
Scheme
CELEX

Lot Details

Maximum Lots Bid Per Supplier
9,999,999

Recurrence

Description
2030

Expected award period

Starts
17 Feb 2025, 12:00

Tender Period

Ends
17 Feb 2025, 12:00

Contract terms

Performance Terms
As stated in the procurement documents
Has Electronic Payment
Yes

Classification

Id
85000000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Health and social work services

Submission terms

Languages

en

Submission Method

written

Selection criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Type
suitability
Description
As stated in the procurement documents

Applies To

supplier

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Title
Advocacy Services for Children
Status
cancelled
Has Options
No
Has Renewal
Yes
Description
Advocacy services provide the support which enables an individual, usually a vulnerable person, to understand and communicate their choice or express their views on issues and participate in making decisions which affect them. Under the Children Act 1989, Care Act 2014 and National Health Service Act 2006, Milton Keynes has a statutory duty to ensure that some form of independently led support is available for cohorts of children, young people and Care experienced young people aged 18-25 years old. The Provider will be required to work jointly with Milton Keynes City Council in the delivery of the support provided to eligible service users across Milton Keynes. This will include ensuring that the support is accessible and meets the young person's needs. Milton Keynes’ aim is for all children and young people to have access to appropriate support and representation to ensure their rights are protected and their wishes and feelings are listened to and taken into account. To support this aim, Milton Keynes has a requirement for the provision of independent advocacy services for children and young people. Services are expected to be delivered in line with the National Standards for The Provision of Children’s Advocacy and will include: • Independent Visiting Service for children and young people in care • Independent Social Care Advocacy for children and young people who make a complaint /are intending to make a representation or complaint about a service• Independent Return Home Conversations following missing episode(s) for children and young people in care • Child Protection Advocacy Service The overarching service objectives of this service are: • For the Local Authority to meet their statutory obligations in relation to advocacy, independent visiting, and independent return from home conversations. • For suitable support to be provided within appropriate statutory timescales to ensure the child’s voice, their welfare, safety, wishes, and feelings are represented • Ensure that the rights of children and young people are effectively communicated • Advocacy services contribute effectively to high quality care planning and support for children and young people who are eligible for an advocacy service • IV services enable children and young people to feel supported and reduce risk of isolation • Ensure that all children and young people who go missing are offered a return home conversation and that return conversations are completed in accordance with local protocols and statutory guidance • Return conversation services contribute to reduction in missing episodes and to strategic planning around missing children • Empower children and young people to identify coping strategies to keep them safe in all circumstances. The overarching objectives for children and young people are: • To guarantee that children are first, and their voice is at the centre of all key decisions in their lives, prioritising their best interests while focusing on their individual needs, rights and potential, and ensuring all work is trauma informed in line with the Child first approach. To empower them to understand their rights, statutory processes and when/how they can challenge decisions made about their lives • Improved social skills - i.e. building and sustaining relationships, positive self-identity, and esteem • Improved communication skills and effective relationships with trusted adults • To ensure that children are safeguarded and have independent avenues to be able to express worries, concerns, and challenges.

Value

Amount
750,000
Currency
GBP

Renewal

Description
A provision to extend for a period of a further 24 months

Award criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Name
Quality
Type
quality
Description
60
Criterion 2
Type
price
Description
40

Contract period

Duration In Days
1,080

Submission terms

Variant Policy
notAllowed
Entry 2
Id
2
Title
Advocacy Services for Adults
Status
cancelled
Has Options
No
Has Renewal
Yes
Description
The Adults Advocacy Service will deliver statutory advocacy services, ensuring that the right support is provided at the right time, in the right place, to each individual using the full range of advocacy provision. The Council has a statutory duty under the Care Act 2014 to ensure that some form of independently led support is available for adults. Advocacy Services include: • Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy Service including Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (IMCA & IMCA DoLS)• Relevant Person's Paid Representative Service (RPPR)• Rule 1.2 (Court of Protection DoLS)• Independent Mental Health Advocacy Service (IMHA) – within hospital, secure hospital and community if under a Community Treatment Order (CTO)• NHS Independent Complaints Advocacy Service• Independent Care Act Advocacy Service (ICAA)The Provider will deliver specialist IMCA and IMCA DoLS, Relevant Person’s Paid Representative (RPPR) and Rule 1.2 services to those eligible under the Mental Health Act 2005 (lndependent Mental Capacity Advocates) (General) Regulations 2006, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (Independent Mental Capacity Advocates) (Expansion of Role) Regulations 2006: and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. The Mental Capacity Act 2005 makes it a legal requirement for people who lack mental capacity for certain decisions to have access to an independent advocate when there are no known relatives, or close friends appropriate to consult on their behalf. IMCA/IMCA DoLS services in Milton Keynes form an integral part of overall services provided to those who lack capacity and who are without an appropriate relative or friend to consult with.The Provider is required to deliver the following: • A fully accessible range of adult advocacy services that deliver consistent high-quality advocacy support to individuals no matter what type of advocacy they are being referred for. • Support that increases independence or recovery and promotes choice and control.• A service that reflects the principles, expert practice and quality standards as recommended by the Advocacy Charter and Code of Practice. Code-of-Practice-1.pdf (qualityadvocacy.org.uk) • A service that is physically accessible to all users, and where possible with an accessible office base. • A service that is flexibly delivered to ensure accessibility, which may include advocates visiting people in their home, if they are unable to access the service at an office. • A service that is delivered locally to where people reside as far as possible. • Evidence based outcomes which demonstrate the positive impact of the advocacy service received by the individual. • Co-productive approaches and engagement activities to include the involvement of staff, carers, and individuals in the delivery of outcomes and service design. • Appropriate tools that capture outcomes for individuals and their progress. This may mean more than one tool to cover different needs of the people accessing the adult advocacy services. • The Provider will be expected to report the number of referrals and issues based advocacy referrals have been received on a quarterly basis in arrears. • The Provider will be expected to report the number of referrals and issues received that have been carried over to the next quarter, on a quarterly basis in arrears • The Provider will be expected to report the number of referrals and issues based advocacy referrals declined, on a quarterly basis in arrears and the reason why the referral was declined. • The Provider will also be expected to report the number of referrals and issues, received within each advocacy field on a quarterly basis, in arrears.

Value

Amount
1,300,000
Currency
GBP

Renewal

Description
A provision to extend for a further period of 24 months

Award criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Name
Quality
Type
quality
Description
60
Criterion 2
Type
price
Description
40

Contract period

Duration In Days
1,080

Submission terms

Variant Policy
notAllowed
Entry 3
Id
3
Title
Lot 3 – Both Lot 1 and Lot 2 Combined - Advocacy Services for Children and Adults
Status
active
Has Options
No
Has Renewal
Yes
Description
This Lot is for both Lots 1 and 2 Combined so Advocacy Services for Children and Advocacy Services for Adults.If bidding for all 3 lots, please complete bid and quality questions for both Lots and upload your pricing schedule for Lot 3. The Council would expect to see an efficiency saving if you are bidding for Lot 3.The Council’s Plan sets out how Milton Keynes will deliver its strategy for 2050, seeking to ensure that everyone in Milton Keynes can live happy and healthy lives. A key objective of this vision is to promote a thriving, inclusive and sustainable city to support and promote strong communities so that people live their lives as successfully, independently, and safely as possible. Advocacy services provide support which enables an individual, usually a vulnerable person, to understand and communicate their choice or express their views on issues and participate in making decisions which affect them.Lot 1 – Advocacy Services for ChildrenMilton Keynes’ aim is for all children and young people to have access to appropriate support and representation to ensure their rights are protected and their wishes and feelings are listened to and taken into account. To support this aim, Milton Keynes has a requirement for the provision of independent advocacy services for children and young people. Services are expected to be delivered in line with the National Standards for The Provision of Children’s Advocacy and will include: • Independent Visiting Service for children and young people in care • Independent Social Care Advocacy for children and young people who make a complaint /are intending to make a representation or complaint about a service• Independent Return Home Conversations following missing episode(s) for children and young people in care • Child Protection Advocacy Service Lot 2 – Advocacy Services for AdultsThe Council has a statutory duty under the Care Act 2014 to ensure that some form of independently led support is available for adults. Advocacy Services include: • Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy Service including Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (IMCA & IMCA DoLS)• Relevant Person's Paid Representative Service (RPPR)• Rule 1.2 (Court of Protection DoLS)• Independent Mental Health Advocacy Service (IMHA) – within hospital, secure hospital and community if under a Community Treatment Order (CTO)• NHS Independent Complaints Advocacy Service• Independent Care Act Advocacy Service (ICAA)

Value

Amount
2,050,000
Currency
GBP

Renewal

Description
A provision to extend for a further period of 24 months

Contract period

Duration In Days
1,080

Submission terms

Variant Policy
notAllowed

Items and delivery

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKJ12
Entry 2
Region
UKJ12
Entry 3
Region
UKJ12

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Id
85000000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Health and social work services
Entry 2
Id
85310000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Social work services
Entry 3
Id
85312000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Social work services without accommodation
Entry 4
Id
85300000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Social work and related services
Item 2
Id
2
Related Lot
2

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKJ12
Entry 2
Region
UKJ12
Entry 3
Region
UKJ12

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Id
85000000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Health and social work services
Entry 2
Id
85310000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Social work services
Entry 3
Id
85312000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Social work services without accommodation
Entry 4
Id
85300000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Social work and related services
Item 3
Id
3
Related Lot
3

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKJ12
Entry 2
Region
UKJ12

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Id
85000000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Health and social work services
Entry 2
Id
85310000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Social work services
Entry 3
Id
85312000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Social work services without accommodation
Entry 4
Id
85300000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Social work and related services

Published documents

Entry 1
Id
economic
Document Type
economicSelectionCriteria
Entry 2
Id
technical
Document Type
technicalSelectionCriteria

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Id
GB-FTS-73644
Name
Milton Keynes City Council

Roles

buyer

Address

Region
UKJ12
Locality
Milton Keynes
Postal Code
MK9 3EJ
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
Civic Office, 1 Saxon Gate East

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Id
REGIONAL_AUTHORITY
Scheme
TED_CA_TYPE
Description
Regional or local authority
Entry 2
Id
01
Scheme
COFOG
Description
General public services

Identifier

Legal Name
Milton Keynes City Council

Contact

Organisation 2
Id
GB-FTS-38338
Name
High Court Royal Court of Justice

Roles

reviewBody

Address

Locality
London
Postal Code
WC24 2LL
Country Name
United Kingdom

Identifier

Legal Name
High Court Royal Court of Justice
Organisation 3
Id
GB-FTS-161253
Name
Reconstruct (Children and Adult Services) Limited

Roles

supplier

Address

Region
UKD3
Locality
Cheadle
Postal Code
SK8 3SR
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
Hobart House Oakwater Avenue,

Details

Scale
sme

Identifier

Id
14262108
Legal Name
Reconstruct (Children and Adult Services) Limited
Organisation 4
Id
GB-FTS-161254
Name
The Advocacy People

Roles

supplier

Address

Region
UKJ2
Locality
Hastings
Postal Code
TN34 1DT
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
Rock House, 49-51 Cambridge Road,

Details

Scale
sme

Identifier

Id
03963421
Legal Name
The Advocacy People

Award information

Award 1
Id
057556-2025-2024-145-1
Title
Advocacy Services for Children
Status
active
Has Subcontracting
Yes

Suppliers

Supplier 1
Id
GB-FTS-161253
Name
Reconstruct (Children and Adult Services) Limited

Related lots

1

Subcontracting

Description
Part of the contract will be sub contracted to Volunteering Matters to deliver the Youth Mentoring Service.

Value

Amount
122,500
Currency
GBP
Award 2
Id
057556-2025-2024-145-2
Title
Advocacy Services for Adults
Status
active

Suppliers

Supplier 1
Id
GB-FTS-161254
Name
The Advocacy People

Related lots

2

Contracts and changes

Entry 1
Id
057556-2025-2024-145-1
Title
Advocacy Services for Children
Status
active
Award ID
057556-2025-2024-145-1
Date Signed
9 Sept 2025, 00:00

Value

Amount
749,500
Currency
GBP
Entry 2
Id
057556-2025-2024-145-2
Title
Advocacy Services for Adults
Status
active
Award ID
057556-2025-2024-145-2
Date Signed
9 Sept 2025, 00:00

Value

Amount
1,243,750
Currency
GBP

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · Milton Keynes · UKJ12 · MK9 3EJ · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKJ12

Notice and amendment history

1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

1 VERSION
  1. ocds-h6vhtk-04d0a5-2025-09-18T09:10:32+01:00compiled ·