Source: https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a13cfd-22e7-722d-b50e-6038a7cc3979/dhsc-national-breastfeeding-helpline awarded GB negotiated without publication procedure Suitable for SMEs # DHSC: National Breastfeeding Helpline [Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)](https://tendernation.io/buyers/department-of-health-and-social-care-dhsc) Estimated value £786,363 Published 25 Apr 2025 Deadline Closed 10 Feb 2025 ## Who can bid - Buyer says suitable for SMEs The buyer ticked “suitable for SMEs” on the notice. Anyone can still bid. - Buyer says suitable for VCSEs The buyer ticked “suitable for voluntary, community and social enterprises” on the notice. [More contracts for small businesses and VCSEs](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/for-small-businesses) ## About this tender DHSC have made a direct award to the Breastfeeding Network (BfN) for a 12-month period to provide a continuity of service for the 24-hour National Breastfeeding Helpline (NBH). This direct award has been made in accordance with Regulation 32(2)(b)(ii) competition is absent for technical reasons. In 2024/25, the NBH was expanded to pilot a night service so that services are available to members of the public 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The current NBH service includes a 24-hour telephone helpline and voicemail service, social media, webchat and links to the BfN's drugs in breastmilk advice service. DHSC have deemed that BfN are currently the only supplier who are positioned to run the 24-hour service without helpline users facing a gap or reduction in service provision, based upon BfN's capacity to manage service demand and them additionally having the means to increase capacity of the night service in early 2025/26. BfN also previously commissioned an independent evaluation for the 2024/25 pilot and are uniquely positioned to put arrangements in place for an independent evaluation of the full night service pilot which is required by DHSC. For these reasons, BfN are currently the only provider who could deliver the full scope of service requirements at the required scale. DHSC are exploring longer term solutions in respect to the ongoing provision of the NBH, and intend to conduct an open procedure in late Q2 or early Q3 of 2025/26 to source a replacement contract. To support this, DHSC intend to conduct market engagement at the end of Q1 or beginning of Q2 2025/26. A UK2 preliminary market engagement notice will be published to advertise any upcoming engagement. Read full description ## CPV classification Call centre Source Contracts Finder (UK) [View official notice](https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/notice/1212ad05-f673-42c5-99f9-25e72c773c0c) Never miss a tender like this again Get AI summaries, deadline alerts and a bid pipeline for tenders matched to your business. Free to start. [Track tenders free](https://tendernation.io/register) [Buyer profile Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC): past awards and live tenders](https://tendernation.io/buyers/department-of-health-and-social-care-dhsc) [Sector More Business services tenders](https://tendernation.io/sectors/business-services) ## More tenders like this [Social Housing Emerging Disrupters 6 · Procurement for Housing · 29 days left · 17 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a154e4-4909-7303-a67f-9c3bff3eb4d8/social-housing-emerging-disrupters-6) [Business travel services – Rahmenvertrag Bearbeitung von Reisekostenabrechnungen nach BRKG · GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH · 29 days left · 17 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a15183-cd6e-73e4-b6e8-3954e5689021/germany-business-travel-services-rahmenvertrag-bearbeitung-von-reisekostenab) [Photocopying services – Externe printdiensten · VZW Sint-Paulusschool · 36 days left · 24 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a15183-34d8-71be-840d-38bf2a8bcc92/belgium-photocopying-services-externe-printdiensten) [Supply services of personnel including temporary staff – Diák- és nyugdíjas munkaerő biztosítása NTH (376) · NTH Nemzeti Tőkeholding Zrt. · 11 days left · 30 Oct 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a15183-76f6-70c4-823e-7b614dada7b3/hungary-supply-services-of-personnel-including-temporary-staff-diak-es-nyug) [Interpretation services – Tolktjänster · Stockholms läns sjukvårdsområde · 31 days left · 18 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a15183-4e9a-70dc-8b27-e3d274e53dc5/sweden-interpretation-services-tolktjanster) [Printing and distribution services – SGCD53\_MARCHE\_ELECTIONS\_BRGE · Préfecture de la Mayenne · 28 days left · 16 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a15183-7726-73f4-bb67-b3121363d6bf/france-printing-and-distribution-services-sgcd53-marche-elections-brge)