Social and other specific services – public contracts
Contract award notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Aberdeenshire Council
Woodhill House, Westburn Road
Aberdeen
AB16 5GB
UK
Contact person: Wendy Probert
Telephone: +44 1467539600
E-mail: wendy.probert@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
NUTS: UKM50
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00232
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
2026 - Aberdeenshire - Discharge to Assess (D2A)
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85000000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Discharge to Assess (D2A) is a core component of the Discharge without Delay (DwD) national programme in Scotland.
DwD supports a “Home First” approach, where discharge is planned early and delay is avoided by making D2A the default model for assessment and care planning where possible.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
907 432.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85000000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM50
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Discharge to Assess service would be implemented in the following areas: Formartine, Garioch and Buchan plus those registered with the two general practices in Fraserburgh. It will involve the commissioning of a social care provider to work collaboratively with Occupational Therapy (OT) and Enablement and Support Coordinators (ESC) employed to support the commissioned social care provider to deliver D2A in the above areas. The model will mostly target people admitted to acute wards and look to support people home from our emergency department in ARI (ED).
The aim is to reduce ongoing care requirements, avoiding unnecessary lengthy hospital admissions, by maximising independence and enabling people to remain in their own homes. The commissioned care-at-home offer will support safe discharge and short-term reablement, including personal care; moving and handling/transfers; meal preparation/provision; medication administration/support; and overnight support where required.
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.11) Main features of the award procedure:
Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT)
Quality: Price XX:XX (see Tender Overview)
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2026/S 000-072278
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
15/10/2026
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 9
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 9
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 9
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
British Red Cross
1 Smithhills Street
Paisley
PA1 1EA
UK
Telephone: +44 7858302899
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 907 432.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
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
has context menu
(SC Ref:846290)
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Aberdeenshire Sheriff Court
Castle Street
Aberdeen
AB10 1WP
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
21/10/2026