Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Wolverhampton City Council
Civic Centre, St Peters Square
Wolverhampton
WV1 1SH
Contact
Emran Salah
emran.salah2@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKG39 - Wolverhampton
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Not on any register
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/
Buyer's address
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Lot 1 - Refuge Service (including advice, information, and advocacy) to Women and Children fleeing domestic violence and abuse
Reference number
PP17045
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85311000 - Social work services with accommodation
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Refuge Service (including advice, information, and advocacy) to Women and Children fleeing domestic violence and abuse
Lot No
1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85311000 - Social work services with accommodation
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKG39 - Wolverhampton
two.2.4) Description of the procurement at the time of conclusion of the contract:
This service is a combination of refuge accommodation with appropriate levels of support, information advice and guidance. The service also manages a 24-hour helpline for women and work in partnership with the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub, Domestic Violence Forum, Police and other agencies to deliver a single referral pathway. A single referral pathway is maintained and coordinated by the Provider, with a view to this being reviewed by partners to ensure referrals are received and managed in the most effective way across all elements of the pathway. This pathway includes existing services in the community and any new or emerging community and wrap around services.
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement, dynamic purchasing system or concession
Duration in months
84
Section four. Procedure
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Contract award notice concerning this contract
Notice number: 2018/S 063-140773
Section five. Award of contract/concession
Contract No
PP17045
Lot No
1
Title
Refuge Service (including advice, information, and advocacy) to Women and Children fleeing domestic violence and abuse.
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract/concession award decision:
2 July 2018
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract/concession has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
The Haven Wolverhampton
18 Waterloo Road
Wolverhampton
WV1 4BL
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKG39 - Wolverhampton
Companies House
03159029
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot/concession (at the time of conclusion of the contract;excluding VAT)
Total value of the procurement: £3,351,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Wolverhampton City Council
Civic Centre
Wolverhampton
WV1 1SH
Corporate.Procurement@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Section seven: Modifications to the contract/concession
seven.1) Description of the procurement after the modifications
seven.1.1) Main CPV code
- 85311000 - Social work services with accommodation
seven.1.3) Place of performance
NUTS code
- UKG39 - Wolverhampton
seven.1.4) Description of the procurement:
An above threshold procurement process under Light Touch Regime was undertaken in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and the Council's Contract Procedure Rules.
seven.1.5) Duration of the contract, framework agreement, dynamic purchasing system or concession
Duration in months
84
seven.1.6) Information on value of the contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession:
£3,351,000
seven.1.7) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
The Haven Wolverhampton
18 Waterloo Road
Wolverhampton
WV1 4BL
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKG39 - Wolverhampton
Companies House
03159029
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
Yes
seven.2) Information about modifications
seven.2.1) Description of the modifications
Nature and extent of the modifications (with indication of possible earlier changes to the contract):
Lot 1 - refuge services (including advice, information, and advocacy) for women and children fleeing domestic abuse pertaining to this contract is extended for a period of 12 months starting from 02 July 2025. Additionally, the price has also been varied to cover the cost of the 12 months in accordance with the Public Contract Regulations 2015 and Council's Contract Procedure Rules.
seven.2.2) Reasons for modification
Need for modification brought about by circumstances which a diligent contracting authority/entity could not foresee.
Description of the circumstances which rendered the modification necessary and explanation of the unforeseen nature of these circumstances:
There have been a number of significant changes in the national landscape regarding domestic abuse since the commencement of this contract, including the introduction of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (hereafter the Act 2021). Part 4 of the Act 2021 introduced statutory duties for Tier One Local Authorities in England through the provision of domestic abuse support in safe accommodation.
The Act 2021 also recognised, for the first time, children as victims of domestic abuse in their own right. The provision through this contract currently offers support to children who are directly linked to an adult victim of domestic abuse receiving support.
In July 2024, the Our Future Council programme introduced a two - three year transformation and cost reduction programme which recognises the need to:
• Create a shared culture of continually thinking differently, which includes challenging existing approaches.
• Accept that the sustainability and scale of some activity and services that may currently be valued will have to be challenged.
• Reprioritise what is delivered and how it is delivered
At the same time, the increase in demand for specialist domestic abuse support seen during COVID-19 has been sustained in the years that have followed, with no indication of subsiding.
The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 will introduce a duty to collaborate for relevant authorities within a Police area to take a collaborative approach to local commissioning of support services for victims (including child victims under 18 years of age) of domestic abuse, sexual abuse and serious violence.
Relevant authorities are identified as Local Authorities, NHS Integrated Care Boards and the local Policing body within each Police area. In November 2024, the Ministry of Justice outlined the broad implementation timeline for the Duty and locally, planning discussions are being led by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner West Midlands. To date, commissioning of support services for victims of domestic abuse has primarily been reflective of geographical boundary responsibilities for each relevant authority with varying levels of partnership consultation.
The significance of the changing landscape requires a different approach to the future commissioning of services for people who are victims of domestic abuse; ensuring that the Local Authority embeds the response to statutory duties introduced during this contract period, considers how the provision should respond to children as victims in their own right, and to the challenges set out by the Our Future Council programme.
Therefore Lot 1 - refuge services (including advice, information, and advocacy) for women and children fleeing domestic abuse and the other two lots pertaining to this contract are extended for a period of 12 months to enable a full review and redesign of services and to ensure that any new specification is fit for purpose having been appropriately informed by service users, key partners and the market.
seven.2.3) Increase in price
Updated total contract value before the modifications (taking into account possible earlier contract modifications, price adaptions and average inflation)
Value excluding VAT: £3,481,193
Total contract value after the modifications
Value excluding VAT: £3,979,924