Unpaid Carer Support Service

Midlothian Council is seeking a single provider to deliver community-based support services for unpaid carers across Midlothian. The service will support carers in a range of roles and circumstances, including those who may be underserved by existing provision, while helping implement the Midlothian Integration Joint Board (IJB) Unpaid Carer Strategy 2025–2028.

The estimated contract value is £3,720,798.75 excluding VAT. The successful provider will work with statutory and third-sector partners to improve outcomes for carers through prevention, early intervention and accessible community support.

Service Requirements

The appointed provider will deliver a range of unpaid carer support services across Midlothian, including operating a Carer Centre and helping implement the IJB Unpaid Carer Strategy and Action Plan, alongside the IJB Strategic Plan.

Key responsibilities include:

• Information and advice: Provide information and guidance on topics relevant to unpaid caring roles and circumstances.
• Individual and group support: Offer individual support, group activities and peer-support opportunities for carers.
• Adult Carer Support Plans: Support the completion of Adult Carer Support Plans (ACSPs), helping carers identify their needs and access appropriate assistance.
• Future planning and breaks from caring: Help carers plan for the future and access opportunities for breaks from their caring responsibilities.
• Partnership working: Collaborate with the Health and Social Care Partnership, Midlothian Council and third-sector organisations to coordinate support and improve access to services.
• Strategy development: Contribute to the development and delivery of future carer strategies and related community services during the contract.
• Statutory responsibilities: Help the local authority meet its duties under the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016, including supporting carers’ access to identification, assessment-related planning, information, advice and support.

The service is intended to ensure carers receive appropriate support in the right place and at the right time. The contract is not divided into lots, and the funding available is fixed over the contract term.

Contract Information

• Buyer: Midlothian Council
• Enquiry Deadline: Not disclosed in the supplied notice
• Tender Submission Deadline: 27 November 2026, 12:00pm
• Contract Value: £3,720,798.75 excluding VAT
• Contract Duration: Not disclosed in the supplied notice
• Tender Reference: MID/25/85
• Tender Portal: Public Contracts Scotland
• Contract Location: Midlothian, Scotland
• Procurement Procedure: Open procedure
• Submission Language: English
• Community Benefits: Required as part of the contract
• Contract Terms: Midlothian Council’s terms and conditions

Evaluation Criteria

The supplied notice does not disclose the detailed award criteria or evaluation weightings. Tenderers should consult the procurement documents available through Public Contracts Scotland for the full evaluation methodology and submission requirements.

Supplier Requirements

Prospective bidders should review the procurement documents carefully and demonstrate that they can deliver the required support services while meeting the council’s financial and contractual conditions.

Key requirements include:

• Relevant service capability: Ability to deliver community-based support for unpaid carers, including information, advice, individual support and group or peer-support activities.
• Financial viability: Submit two years of audited accounts, or equivalent evidence, along with details of any significant changes since the most recent year-end.
• Financial assessment: Bidders will be assessed using the Midlothian Council Financial Viability Test detailed in Appendix 4.
• Community benefits: All tenderers must sign Schedule 5, committing to work with the council to identify and deliver community benefits for people living in Midlothian. The successful provider must meet the council’s requirements set out in that schedule.
• Compliance: Operators may be excluded if they fall within the relevant exclusion grounds under regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
• Tender communications: All questions must be submitted through the Question and Answer facility. Direct contact with local authority staff about the tender may result in exclusion.
• Electronic submission: Responses can be submitted electronically through the Public Contracts Scotland Postbox facility.

The opportunity may be relevant to organisations experienced in carer support, community services and partnership-based social care. Bidders should review the full tender documents, particularly the financial viability requirements and community benefits schedule, before preparing their submissions.

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