Social and other specific services – public contracts
Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Midlothian Council
Fairfield House, 8 Lothian Road
Dalkeith
EH22 3AA
UK
E-mail: barbara.foxwell@midlothian.gov.uk
NUTS: UKM73
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.midlothian.gov.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00336
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
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
Unpaid Carer Support Service
Reference number: MID/25/85
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85300000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Midlothian Council seeks a single Provider to be the main service delivering a range of community based unpaid carer support services to relevant carers in Midlothian. The services will support carers in a range of carer roles and circumstances, including carers who are currently underserved within services. The service contract is focussed on delivery of Midlothian Integration Joint Board (IJB) Unpaid Carer Strategy (2025-28), and the Provider will support development and delivery of future strategies in place during the duration of the contract. The Provider is expected to work collaboratively with statutory and Third Sector Providers in Midlothian. The funding to support the contract is fixed over the term.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
3 720 798.75
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85000000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM73
Main site or place of performance:
Midlothian
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Authority seeks proposals for unpaid carer support services to implement the Midlothian Integration Joint Board (IJB) Unpaid Carer Strategy (2025-2028) and Action Plan, and Midlothian Integration Joint Board (IJB) Strategic Plan, delivering on priorities and improve outcomes for carers through prevention and early intervention community-based support services. The service will include the operation of a Carer Centre and a range of services offering support to adult carers in a variety of caring roles and circumstances. Services will work collaboratively with others (Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), Council, and Third Sector partners) to be part of a network of carer support, ensuring carers receive the right support, in the right place, at the right time.
The service is being commissioned to undertake direct service delivery that will meet the local authority duties under the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016, by delivering services to meet identified requirements; including the right to be identified, offered an Adult Carer Support Plan (ACSP), and access to information, advice, and support. Services are being commissioned with the intention of delivering services and outcomes for carers based on the Midlothian IJB Unpaid Carer Strategy 2025-28.
Areas of service include:
- Information and advice services covering a range of themes relevant to the caring role.
- Delivering opportunities for individual, group and peer, carer support including completion of Adult Carer Support Plans, future planning, and breaks from caring.
- Participation in and contribution to activities supporting strategic development and delivery of services and strategies in Midlothian for carers and the wider community.
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 III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
III.2.2) Contract performance conditions
The contract will be governed by Midlothian Council terms & conditions.
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2026/S 000-057518
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
27/11/2026
Local time: 12:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
VI.3) Additional information
Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any situation referred to in regulation 58 of The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
Financial Viability Test
The financial information will be evaluated using the Midlothian Council Financial Viability Test, please see Appendix 4.
The Tenderer will require to submit evidence in the form of their audited accounts or equivalent for the most recent 2 years (2 sets of signed, audited accounts), along with details of any significant changes since the last year end.
Tenderers must not contact anyone at the Local Authority directly in relation to this tender exercise, doing so may result in your exclusion from any further part in the process.
All questions must be raised using the Question & Answer facility within this notice.
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=846231.
The buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Postbox facility. A user guide is available at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx.
Suppliers are advised to allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic response well in advance of the closing time to avoid any last minute problems.
Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/
A summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows:
All Tenderers must sign Schedule 5 - Community Benefits as a commitment to engage with Midlothian Council to identify and deliver community benefits to make positive contributions to people living in Midlothian.
The successful Tenderer is required as part of their contract to provide community benefits in compliance with Midlothian Council requirements as set out in Schedule 5 - Community Benefits.
(SC Ref:846231)
Download the ESPD document here: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ESPD/ESPD_Download.aspx?id=846231
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Edinburgh Sheriff Court
Sheriff Court House, 27 Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1LB
UK
Telephone: +44 1312252525
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
21/10/2026