ASC0311 - Best Interest Assessor (BIA)

Leicester City Council ('the Authority') invited tenders for the provision of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) Best Interest Assessors (BIA) for Leicester.

The BIA Service assists the Council to deliver their statutory responsibilities, as outlined in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and subsequent Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), to ensure that where a decision to deprive someone of their liberty is required it is made lawfully and based on relevant best practice, guidance and case law.

The Contract is for an initial period of 3 years which commenced on 7th February 2026, with an option to extend, subject to satisfactory performance outcomes and agreement by the Authority, for a further period, or periods, up to a total of 2 years, taking the contract term to a maximum of 5 years up to 6th February 2030.

The Authority conducted this procurement under the Light Touch Regime for Social and Other Specific Services, as set out in the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (PCR), at Section 7 (Regulations 74 to 77).

The Procurement process was similar to that of an Open Procedure however, the Process, unlike an Open Procedure, included the flexibility, as allowed under the Light Touch Regime.