Scope
Description
Community Accommodation Service Tier 3 (CAS3) is a provision funded by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and overseen in Greater Manchester by the Greater Manchester Probation Service and Manchester City Council, to provide short-term accommodation and support for people who are threatened with homelessness upon their release from prison or approved premises, for up to 84 days. The CAS3 provision emphasises the prevention of homelessness and the reduction in reoffending.
Manchester City Council is seeking to engage with existing and potential providers of support and accommodation services to understand the market's capabilities in providing short-term support and accommodation for people who have recently left custody.
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 July 2026 to 31 December 2027
- 1 year, 6 months
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
Contract locations
- UKD33 - Manchester
Engagement
Engagement deadline
12 December 2025
Engagement process description
Manchester City Council invites existing and prospective providers of support and accommodation services to submit a brief outlining their capacity to deliver the specified provision. Submissions should be sent to Shealah Garvey and Tonia Murphy at commissioning.consultation@manchester.gov.uk by 12th December 2025.
In the brief, Manchester City Council seeks to understand the market's capacity to deliver the following services and requests providers to include indicative financial costs for each element for the full financial period.
For proposals relating to accommodation services, providers should explain how costs are calculated and include a detailed breakdown of these figures. The Council is particularly interested in exploring fixed-term pricing models while assessing provider viability. Alternative approaches to pricing scheduling will also be considered to understand the market's overall capacity.
Providers may submit proposals for accommodation services, support services, or both. When submitting your proposal, please detail your integrated approach to delivering the CAS3 provision, whether that be in full, or in part.
Accommodation-
Background
The accommodation criteria for CAS3 includes lettable units that will be made available from the landlord for a maximum of 84 nights per individual CAS3 resident. The accommodation must be:
Suitable for individuals with low to high risk assessments, including those with sex offender and arson convictions or behaviours.
Able to accommodate individuals of any gender and those with disabilities.
Single-gendered.
Fully self-contained or compliant with HMO licensing.
Compliant with Decent Homes Standard.
Approved/licensed by Manchester City Council's Regulatory Services.
Furnished and equipped as per the list below-
One towel
Set of toiletries
Kitchen utensils
Non-perishable food and refreshments
Flame retardant Bedding and curtains /blinds
Wardrobe, drawers, bedside cabinet
Single bed
Cooker
Fridge
Cutlery
Cooking items; saucepan, frying pan
Cleaning materials and equipment
Tea towel and cloths
Seating and table in kitchen/living area
TV in communal area
The landlord is expected to adhere to the following property management requirements-
All routine repairs and maintenance including out of hours service.
Weekly cleaning of communal areas,
Weekly inspection to assess the property's condition and usage.
Utilities costs.
Council tax payment.
Gardening (Schedule to be agreed).
Window cleaning (internal and external schedule to be agreed).
Repair of any and all damages incurred, be they intentional or accidental.
Attendance at all accommodation sign ups.
Requirements
Providers are asked to detail their ability to meet the following requirements:
The provision of a minimum of 63 units of accommodation within Manchester, used within the term exclusively for CAS3, and the ability to provide more than the minimum required units if required
If a minimum of 63 units of accommodation cannot be provided, the number of units which could be provided
Please specify the type of accommodation available (e.g., HMO or self-contained). If the accommodation is an HMO, include the total number of units within the building, as well as the number of bathroom and kitchen facilities.
The number of units which would be suitable for people with disabilities, included but not limited to hearing or visual impairment, physical disabilities, including wheelchair users.
The capacity to turn around voids and the timeframe in which this could be achieved
Access to maintenance and repair services, and the timeframe in which any repairs could be carried out; capacity to carry out routine maintenance
Experience with working in partnership with statutory agencies for the purposes of risk management
Experience of partnership working
Areas of Manchester in which the accommodation will be made available
Capacity to adhere to ICT security requirements and cyber security essentials, as outlined in the National Cyber Security Centre guidance (https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance)
Support
Background
The purpose of the support service is to ensure that the residents across a minimum of 63 units of CAS3 accommodation are supported during their 84-night stay within the provision. The primary aims of CAS3 is to prevent homelessness and reoffending. All activities of the Support Provider will focus on the principal aim of CAS3 provision to prevent reoffending and establish stability/ resilience long term.
The preferred staffing structure for the support service is outlined below:
Project coordinator/manager (full time) - working across all the accommodation .
Support workers (support workers should maintain a maximum caseload of 9 clients each; staffing will be provided by someone of the same sex, except in circumstances such as where this would pose a risk or harm to the client or member of staff).
Requirements
Providers are asked to detail their ability to meet the following requirements:
The preferred staffing structure outlined above, and if not, outline the staffing structure which could be provided.
Offer person-centred, trauma informed and strengths-based support.
Work with individuals with varying levels of risk and requiring varying levels of support.
Safeguard residents.
Experience with working in partnership with statutory agencies for the purposes of risk management.
Provide regular, flexible in-person support across Manchester. This may include support to individuals at their CAS3 accommodation site, locally, or at a support office. This may also involve partnerships with local groups and organisations.
Provide personalised support in which the individual is an active participant and inclusive of a variety of support areas, including but not limited to:
Motivation
Accountability
Self-care & living skills,
Financial management & budgeting (including applying for benefits, where applicable and knowledge of how to maximise income).
Social networks & relationships,
Substance misuse,
Health (including GP registration and access to medication)
Time management
Tenancy readiness,
Reducing reoffending,
Overcoming trauma,
Mentorship,
Community integration,
Work & skills
Proactively support residents to move on in collaboration with CAS3 statutory partners (including referrals to alternative temporary and permanent accommodation, relevant to individual's circumstances).
Experience with working in partnership with statutory agencies for the purposes of risk management.
Experience of partnership working .
Capacity to adhere to ICT security requirements and cyber security essentials, as outlined in the National Cyber Security Centre guidance (https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance).
Case note recording and data management .
Involvement of individuals with lived experience within support work.
Participation
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Contracting authority
Manchester City Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PLNV-8798-LDMP
Town Hall Extension
Manchester
M60 2LA
United Kingdom
Email: procurement@manchester.gov.uk
Website: https://www.manchester.gov.uk/
Region: UKD33 - Manchester
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government