AWARD OUTCOME
What happened
Care Quality Commission awarded Tonic Consultants Limited a framework call-off for research and consultation support on statutory guidance for good dementia care.
Published outcomeAn active award of up to £66,160 was published. The notice records an award date of 7 October 2026 and a planned contract period from 12 October 2026 to 31 October 2027.
Market significanceThis is a small, specialist research and consultation-services call-off made by direct award under the CQC Research and Evaluation Framework Agreement, Lot 3.
AWARDED SUPPLIERS AND LOTS
1 supplier record analysed
TONIC CONSULTANTS LIMITED
99% confidenceAward ocds-b5fd17-3d4ddb56-2a6b-4c8d-a4a0-8b4b64c24ac6-1 · Lots Lot 3 - Consultation Partner (framework lot) · 66160 GBP · Active award
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The award names TONIC CONSULTANTS LIMITED as supplier and gives an award value of £66,160. Supplier identity is verified by exact-name match to company number 06141892.
LIFECYCLE
Award or contract stage
Notice type
99% confidenceAwarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
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Process notice_type and award document description.
Award status
98% confidenceActive
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Award status is recorded as active.
Award decision date
98% confidence7 October 2026
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Award date: 2026-10-07T00:00:00+01:00.
Publication date
99% confidence9 October 2026
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Award notice datePublished: 2026-10-09T12:39:16+01:00.
Planned contract start
97% confidence12 October 2026
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Tender and award contractPeriod startDate: 2026-10-12.
VALUES
Published values explained
Awarded value ceiling
99% confidence£66,160 maximum, including optional extensions
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Notice description states total awarded value is the maximum of all charges including optional contract extensions; tender and award value are £66,160.
Value allocation
98% confidenceSingle-supplier award; the published £66,160 value is associated with the award
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One award names one supplier, TONIC CONSULTANTS LIMITED.
TIMELINE
Procurement timeline
Submission deadline
98% confidence21 September 2026, 12:00 BST
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Tender period endDate: 2026-09-21T12:00:00+01:00.
Award date
98% confidence7 October 2026
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Award date field.
Notice publication
99% confidence9 October 2026
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Award notice datePublished field.
Planned contract period
97% confidence12 October 2026 to 31 October 2027
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Tender and award contractPeriod fields.
SCOPE
What was awarded
Requirement
99% confidenceResearch services supporting the design and delivery of a consultation on statutory guidance for good dementia care; independent analysis of consultation responses and engagement evidence; and a final publication-ready report.
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Published notice description.
Category
99% confidenceResearch and development services and related consultancy services (CPV 73000000)
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Primary classification.
Delivery area
95% confidenceEngland, United Kingdom
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Tender item delivery address region is England and country is United Kingdom.
PROCEDURE
Procedure and competition
Procurement route
99% confidenceSelective procedure: call-off from a framework agreement
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Procurement method and method details fields.
Framework route
99% confidenceCQC Research and Evaluation Framework Agreement (CQC EPS 052), Lot 3 - Consultation Partner
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Published notice description.
Award method
99% confidenceDirect Award Process
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Published notice description.
Competition information
99% confidenceBid count, evaluation scoring and comparative supplier information are unknown.
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Information not supplied in the published notice.
CONTRACT TERMS
Published contract terms
Initial term
99% confidence9 months
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Published notice description.
Extension option
99% confidenceUp to 3 months
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Published notice description.
Published end date
97% confidence31 October 2027
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Tender and award contractPeriod endDate.
Contract reference
99% confidenceCQC EP&S 135
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Published notice description.
COMMERCIAL VIEW
Commercial observations
Commercial structure
98% confidenceThe stated maximum value includes optional extension charges, so it should not be interpreted as confirmed spend.
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Published notice description states the total awarded value is the maximum of all charges including optional extensions.
Route-to-market signal
99% confidenceThe requirement was sourced through an existing specialist framework lot by direct award rather than an openly competed standalone tender.
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Published notice description and procurement method details.
DATA QUALITY
Gaps and source limitations
Award versus contract conclusion
99% confidenceThe source is an award notice with an active award status and planned dates. It does not explicitly evidence signature or execution of a contract.
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Notice type is award; award status is active; no explicit signature or execution field is supplied.
Term-date inconsistency
98% confidenceThe stated initial 9 months plus up to 3 months' extension does not straightforwardly align with the published period from 12 October 2026 to 31 October 2027. The source does not explain the difference.
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Notice description states 9 months plus up to 3 months; contractPeriod is 12 October 2026 to 31 October 2027.
Publication completeness
99% confidenceInformation on bid numbers, evaluation, pricing breakdown, award rationale and detailed lot allocation was not supplied in the published notice.
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Information not supplied in the published notice.
SOURCE DATA LIMITATIONS
Information not supplied in the published notice
- The source does not explicitly confirm that a contract was signed or executed; it evidences an active award notice and planned contract dates.
- The published initial term and extension option do not straightforwardly reconcile with the stated contract end date.
- Information on bids, evaluation, detailed pricing, award rationale and actual spend was not supplied in the published notice.
MARKET THEMES
Relevant award themes
Care Quality CommissionCQCTonic Consultants Limiteddementia consultationresearch servicesCQC EPS 052CQC EP&S 135framework call-off
COMMON QUESTIONS
About this award
Who won the CQC Dementia Consultation award?
TONIC CONSULTANTS LIMITED was named as the supplier for the active award.
What is the published value of the award?
The published maximum award value is £66,160, including any optional contract extensions.
How was the supplier appointed?
The notice states that CQC used a direct award under its Research and Evaluation Framework Agreement, CQC EPS 052, Lot 3 - Consultation Partner.
Is the contract confirmed as signed?
No. The source is an award notice and does not explicitly confirm contract signature or execution.
ProcuraAxis award analysis supplements, but does not replace, the official award notice, contract data or procurement documents. “Awarded” does not by itself prove that a contract has been signed.