Independent Advocacy Services 2026

Tender description

In order to support in complying with the statutory requirement, the commissioner (East Riding of Yorkshire Council) is procuring the services of Independent Best Interest Assessors (BIAs) to assist in the completion of Deprivation of Liberty Standards (DoLS) assessments. This will be achieved through the provision of Best Interest Assessors, on an open Framework Agreement, who will be invited to undertake DoLS assessments for the purpose of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 on behalf of vulnerable adults across the East Riding of Yorkshire, and occasionally out of county. This is a Pseudo Open Framework under the Light Touch Regime for the provision of Independent Best Interest Assessors and will be opened once every 12 months during the duration. Following the tender initial tender deadline a new tender will be advertised, for continuity and submissions can be made at any time, however, please note they will only be evaluated once every 12 months. The initial deadline for submissions will be 12 noon on 11 August 2025. The next (second) opening after the initial deadline of 12 noon on 11 August 2025 will be the 1 September 2026. The evaluations for the second opening will be completed during the month of September 2026 and service providers notified of the outcome of their submission prior to the start of the following month e.g. submissions in September 2026 will be notified in October 2026 and will join the framework from the beginning of November 2026. This procedure will remain the same each year during the lifetime of the Framework agreement. (i.e. a new tender to be advertised after each deadline until the penultimate year of the Framework agreement). Service providers who have been appointed onto the Framework following the initial opening (and subsequent openings) do not need to resubmit and will remain on the Framework.