25096 Cambridgeshire County Council – Crisis Payment Scheme

Cambridgeshire County Council is seeking a provider to deliver the 25096 Cambridgeshire County Council – Crisis Payment Scheme, which will become the county’s primary route for financial crisis support.

The new Crisis Payment Scheme will replace the Cambridgeshire Local Assistance Scheme (CLAS), which ended on 31 March 2026. The Council has confirmed that Citizens Advice Bureau is providing an interim service between 1 April and 30 September 2026 before the new scheme is fully launched.

The procurement builds on the Household Support Fund, established in 2021 to help households experiencing immediate financial hardship through financial vouchers, cash payments and other forms of assistance. The Council noted that between April 2024 and March 2025, more than £3.6 million was allocated to free school meal holiday provision, while more than £500,000 supported Citizens Advice Bureau, the Cambridgeshire Local Assistance Scheme and Cambridgeshire ACRE.

Under the new contract, the successful provider will deliver support to people experiencing financial crisis through one-off cash grants or vouchers, in-kind support to address immediate needs, and information, advice and guidance designed to improve financial resilience and stability.

The Council has confirmed that the contract will be awarded as a single countywide service to ensure residents receive a consistent approach to crisis support across Cambridgeshire.

Contract Information

Buyer – Cambridgeshire County Council

Deadline – 2 September 2026 – 12:00pm

Contract Value – £3,400,000 excluding VAT

Delivery Length – 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2029, with the option to extend for a further 12 months by agreement between both parties.

Tender Link – Click Here

Evaluation Criteria

Tenders will be evaluated using the following criteria:

• Quality – 50%
• Price – 50%

Procurement Information

The procurement is being conducted through an Open Procedure.

The opportunity is identified as being particularly suitable for:

• Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
• Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs)

The Council has indicated that this is a recurring procurement, with the next tender notice currently expected to be published in October 2028.

The opportunity reflects continued investment in countywide financial crisis support, helping residents experiencing immediate hardship while providing advice and guidance aimed at improving long-term financial resilience.

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