Scope
Reference
PRJ_30525
Description
Housing first support and accommodation WCC Housing Need.
Housing First is a widely renowned homelessness intervention strategy that prioritises providing permanent housing with high intensity wraparound support. Its aims are for service users to retain their tenancies and graduate from intensive floating support to independence, therefore ending recurrent cycles of homelessness.
Housing First for rough sleepers has been an established commissioned service in Westminster since 2017. This procurement aims to continue delivering this service primarily for clients who are currently in social tenancies through Housing First and to allow flexibility to accommodate new service users where new tenancies become available.
Suppliers of the Housing First model, as well as providers, investors, and developers, are invited to participate in an online procurement market engagement consultation event. This event will take place on Monday 23rd June 2025 1-2.30pm.
The overarching aim of this tender is to commission an intensive floating support model, known as Housing First, structured into two distinct lots: one providing a specialist service for women affected by Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), and the other delivering a generic Housing First service for men, with a commitment to trans inclusivity.
The engagement is part of Westminster City Council's plan to procure a range of accommodation-based support for homeless vulnerable individuals, in alignment with its forthcoming homelessness strategy and commissioning plan. The procurement process will be conducted under the "Light Touch Regime" as outlined in section 9 Procurement Act 2023.
The purpose of this procurement is to commission Housing First, with the goal of helping homeless and vulnerable individuals rebuild their lives and transition to sustainable long-term housing.
The newly commissioned Service Providers shall keep the following priorities at the heart of service delivery:
1. An organisational culture which is supportive and empowering to service users and staff.
2. Services that value their staff and encourage professional development.
3. Improving the lives of vulnerable people in accommodation-based support that is recovery focused, safe, effective and promotes prevention of future homelessness.
4. Accommodation which is high-quality and conducive to promoting recovery and personal development using psychologically driven interventions.
5. Support that is resilient, skilled and collaborative in managing the complexity of support need.
6. Innovative approach to sourcing and supporting access to longer-term accommodation opportunities for service users based on assessed need.
7. Support providers who place co-production with their residents at the heart of accommodation-based support delivery and development.
This prior information notice is not the start of a procurement process and interested provider organisations should note it is neither the intention nor purpose of the engagement events or consultation questionnaire to confer any advantage to participants regarding any future procurement process.
Total value (estimated)
- £5,963,635 excluding VAT
- £7,156,362 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2028
- Possible extension to 31 December 2030
- 5 years
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
Engagement
Engagement deadline
22 June 2025
Engagement process description
The date of the online consultation workshop event will be Monday 23rd June at 1pm to 2.30pm. The workshop will explore the commissioning of Housing First support and accommodation WCC Housing Need and is primarily aimed at existing and potential suppliers of these services and suppliers of associated accommodation. It will also explore the timescales for procurement, the implementation of the recently adapted Responsible Procurement policy and its impact on tenders.
We can also hold one-to-one meetings with providers following the market engagement, please let us know if you would like a meeting arranged by contacting the email address below.
To request your attendance please register by emailing sedwards@westminster.gov.uk - by end of 22 June 2025.
Participation
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
4 August 2025
Procedure
Special regime
Light touch
Contracting authority
Westminster City Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PJVD-6261-BPPJ
64 Victoria Street
London
SW1E 6QP
United Kingdom
Contact name: sonya edwards
Email: sedwards@westminster.gov.uk
Website: https://www.westminster.gov.uk/
Region: UKI32 - Westminster
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government