003271 - Online Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) application provider
Durham County Council is procuring an online Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) application and results administration service to support checks for council employees and other applicants, including carers, foster and adoption applicants, taxi drivers, volunteers and maintained schools. The buyer is a local authority responsible for public services and requires an electronic platform for submitting DBS applications, displaying subsequent check results to authorised council users, and providing the associated countersignatory and administrative services. The provider is expected to process approximately 5,000 applications annually, although volumes may fluctuate because of organisational changes, renewals and changes to national DBS eligibility rules; the fixed per-application administration charge must cover all specification requirements, excluding statutory certificate fees, which are included in the contract value. The contract will run for an initial three years, with an option to extend by a further two years subject to performance and future council requirements. Delivery locations are not specified. The critical qualification is approval as a DBS umbrella or registered body authorised to provide e-bulk and countersignatory services for the required check types; no contract value has been published.
Buyer: Durham County Council. Source: Find a Tender. Updated 25 Sept 2026.
Key facts
- Estimated value: £1.3m
- Bids close: 29 Oct 2026
- Location: Durham CC
- Procedure: Open procedure
- Contract period: 1 Apr 2027 to 31 Mar 2030
- Category: Software package and information systems (48000000)
From the official notice
DCC undertakes DBS checks on all employees in posts identified as requiring a DBS check in accordance with the DBS eligibility criteria; plus DBS checks for carers, fostering, adoption, taxi drivers, volunteers and maintained schools, amongst others. Checks ensure full compliance with recruitment processes, as well as statutory requirements. The Council also operates a rechecking process for employees, currently set at 5 years. We are seeking to formally procure the services of a DBS umbrella registered body, who will provide an electronic administration platform for the submission of DBS application forms and for the subsequent check results to be visible to users within DCC (E-Bulk System). We anticipate a requirement to process approximately 5,000 DBS applications per year for the Council. However, it should be noted that the number of applications processed may be subject to fluctuation due to organisational change, renewals required and policy decisions arising from national changes to disclosure and barring eligibility criteria. For avoidance of doubt, the spread of applications will not be uniform across any period.
View the official notice
Questions about this tender
When is the deadline?
Bids close on 29 Oct 2026.
What is it worth?
The estimated value is £1.3m.
Who can apply?
Any supplier that meets the buyer's requirements can apply. Check the official notice for conditions.
How do I bid?
Open the official notice, register on the buyer's portal and submit your bid before the deadline.
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