Social and other specific services – public contracts
Contract award notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
The Highland Council
Glenurquhart Road
Inverness
IV3 5NX
UK
Contact person: Paul Adlinton
E-mail: socialcare10.contracts@highland.gov.uk
NUTS: UKM6
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.highland.gov.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00045
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local agency/office
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Female Domestic Abuse Outreach Services - Inverness and South
Reference number: HSCC44 South
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85000000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
The Highland Council require a female domestic abuse outreach support service across the Inverness and South area (this is an area that covers Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey). The funding offered is to support core expenditure. The service provider will become part of a Highland Domestic Abuse Service (HDAS).
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
371 600.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85000000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM6
Main site or place of performance:
An area that includes Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey.
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Highland Council require a female domestic abuse outreach support service across the Inverness and South area (this is an area that covers Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey). The funding offered is to support core expenditure. The service provider will become part of a Highland Domestic Abuse Service (HDAS).
The contract will start in the Summer of 2026 and will initially run until March 2029. There will be the option to extend the contract by two separate twelve month periods until March 2031.
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
II.2.14) Additional information
The contract has an option to extend by two twelve month periods (if both options are realised this would extend the contract to 31 March 2031).
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.11) Main features of the award procedure:
Open Procedure.
The evaluation will be based on a Quality:Price ratio of 95 per cent Quality and 5 per cent Price, as detailed in the Tender Overview provided in PCS‑Tender.
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2026/S 000-030249
Section V: Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
11/06/2026
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 1
Number of tenders received from tenderers from EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 1
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Inverness Badenoch and Strathspey Citizens Advice Bureau
29-31 Union Street, Alasdair Christie
Inverness
IV1 1QA
UK
Telephone: +44 1463252290
NUTS: UKM62
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 371 600.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
Tender will be uploaded onto PCS-Tender during week commencing 30th March 2026 with an anticipated upload date of 1st or 2nd April 2026 (further details of project number below).
Credit Checks:
1.The Council shall obtain a Creditsafe credit check and will score bidders accordingly:
71 - 100 Very Low Risk – Accept
51 - 70 Low Risk - Accept
30 - 50 Moderate Risk – subject to further discussion internally with the option to reject.
21-29 High Risk – subject to further discussion internally with the option to reject.
1-20 Very High Risk – Reject.
*The following applies if no credit check can be undertaken:
2. Please state current turnover (if contract value is over 50% of reported turnover, further discussion will be had internally with the option to reject).
3. If you are under no obligation to publish accounts on Companies House and/or do not have a comprehensive credit rating then provide audited financial accounts for the previous two years. Both quick and current ratios should be a minimum of 1:1.5 for the two successive years. Bidders whose ratios do not meet the minimum criteria will be rejected. Bidders who can provide audited accounts but chose not to do so shall be rejected.
4. Bidders who have been trading for less than one year and cannot provide audited accounts must submit the cash flow for the current year and a letter from the bank outlining the current cash and credit position for the current year and subsequent year. This will be subject to internal discussion with the option to reject.
5. If bidder still does not meet the financial criteria for consideration but has a parent company that does, the firm may still be eligible for consideration where their submission is supported by a parent company guarantee.
Insurance:
It is a requirement of this contract that bidders hold, or can commit to obtain prior to the commencement of any subsequently awarded contract, the types and levels of insurance indicated below:
Employer’s Liability Insurance = GBP10m
Public Liability Insurance = GBP5m
(SC Ref:834675)
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Inverness Sheriff Court
The Inverness Justice Centre, Longman Road
Inverness
IV1 1AH
UK
Telephone: +44 1463230782
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
15/06/2026