Provision of an Independent Advocacy Service for Adults

This tender for an Independent Advocacy Service is an open procedure, but its quality is significantly hampered by a lack of crucial details, particularly the estimated value and evaluation criteria, alongside a critical inconsistency regarding submission deadlines.

The tender follows an open procedure, which is generally compliant. However, the absence of detailed evaluation criteria in the provided summary is a significant concern for legal compliance, as it undermines transparency and fairness.

The core service requirements (what is needed, for whom, where) are clearly stated. However, the clarity diminishes significantly when it comes to *how* providers are expected to demonstrate 'high quality' or 'ability,' lacking specific metrics or detailed expectations.

The tender summary is notably incomplete, lacking essential information such as the estimated contract value, specific financial requirements (e.g., minimum turnover, insurance), and, most critically, the criteria by which submissions will be evaluated.

The fairness of the procurement process is severely compromised by the absence of clear evaluation criteria, which creates a risk of subjective assessment. Furthermore, the inconsistency regarding the Expression of Interest deadline, which is in the past relative to today's date, could unfairly disadvantage potential bidders who might have missed this initial step.

Bidders will find it challenging to prepare a comprehensive and competitive submission without knowing the estimated value, specific financial thresholds, or the exact criteria against which their proposals will be judged. The past EOI deadline also creates practical hurdles.

There is a critical inconsistency regarding the Expression of Interest deadline (August 5, 2025) which is in the past relative to the current date (2026-01-14), while the full tender submission deadline is in the future (2026-02-19). This suggests either outdated information or a significant error in the tender summary.

The requirement to 'outline community benefits' is a positive inclusion, indicating a focus on social value. However, the tender does not explicitly detail broader environmental (green procurement) or innovation criteria.