Tender: Open Access Social Welfare Advice Services for Havant Borough Residents and Workers

About

Havant Borough Council is seeking a supplier for the provision of open access social welfare services for people aged 16 and over who live or work in Havant Borough, delivering free, confidential and impartial advice to improve outcomes and help prevent future crisis. The Service must be available through multiple channels — walk-in at accessible locations, with and without appointment, by telephone, email or other confidential technologies — and provide accurate, up-to-date lawful advice tailored to customer needs, with advisors trained in high-volume/high-value areas including welfare benefits, debt, housing, consumer issues and other matters such as family and employer rights. The Service must also provide specific debt and other advice to council housing customers, including attendance at the council's premises for 1.5 days per week to work with the housing team. The council's budget for the service is £141,000 per year excluding VAT (paid in two instalments in March and October each year) and the contract is due to commence on 01 April 2026 for an initial three-year period to 31 March 2029, with extension options to a maximum five-year term and a total approximate contract value of £705,000 excluding VAT; payment for the contract will be made in two instalments at six-month intervals starting on contract commencement. Tenderers should note TUPE applies and TUPE information is available on request under a non-disclosure agreement. Key procurement dates are tender submission by 12:00 on 19 January 2026, a standstill period from 30 January to 11 February 2026, and contract start on 01 April 2026. The council is part of the Hampshire and Solent devolution/LGR process and has set minimum contract terms to allow flexibility; the contract may be novated or varied during local government reorganisation and extension options may depend on future commissioning across any new authority structure.