Scope
Reference
DN771292
Description
Wirral Council wishes to commission a non-accommodation based (floating support) service that will deliver housing-related support to vulnerable people, aimed at preventing homelessness, and supporting households to manage and maintain independent living. The service, which will need to respond innovatively and creatively in supporting people and by working in close partnership with Service Users, their family and/or carers and other professionals, will aim to help people maintain their independence and encourages people to settle back into the community and promotes self-reliance. The support will be solution focussed aimed at resolving issues and preventing crisis.
The service should, at a minimum, support 150 Service Users at any one time
Service Aims and Objectives
To work with the Commissioner to effectively and efficiently achieve the following aims and objectives:
• The reduction and prevention of homelessness, repeat homelessness and the use of Bed and Breakfast accommodation, temporary accommodation or reliance on more institutional forms of care.
• A reduction in the number of crisis presentations and hospital admissions.
• The provision of support to Service Users, to enable a more stable lifestyle and empower them to develop the necessary skills, knowledge and confidence to live independently and sustain accommodation on a long term basis.
• The provision of support to Service Users to acquire the necessary skills and confidence to manage their own affairs and financial wellbeing.
• To effectively engage and empower Service Users to recognise, understand and make changes to challenging behaviours and lifestyle choices.
• To assist in the reduction in incidences of anti-social and offending behaviour.
• To assist in reducing the risk of harm to individuals that may result from alcohol/substance misuse and use of new psychoactive substances.
• To assist Service Users to improve and encourage the development of skills and confidence to negotiate safe healthy relationships.
• To support Service Users to tackle issues affecting their physical, mental and sexual health and wellbeing by promotions of self-care and facilitating engagement with appropriate support services.
• To assist in the reduction of social exclusion and isolation, and to increase involvement and participation in employment, training, education, community activities or other meaningful activity.
• To ensure the quality of life for Service Users is maintained and / or improved and reflects what is important to each individual.
• To provide personal and emotional support to help overcome/address core issues/behaviours which lead to housing difficulty.
• In collaboration with the Housing Options and Homelessness Team and other relevant partner agencies, to assist Service Users to move on to appropriate accommodation including within the Private Rented Sector and ensure they have the skills to sustain their housing in a safe environment.
• To ensure Service Users understand how to self-refer for support should problems arise.
• To ensure all support services are coordinated in their support plan utilising a multi-agency approach.
• To help Service Users develop their own recovery and crisis plans as needed especially when they are not open to secondary services.
Full details are provided within the tender pack.
Total value (estimated)
- £1,128,346.80 excluding VAT
- £1,128,346.80 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 May 2026 to 30 April 2028
- Possible extension to 30 April 2030
- 4 years
Description of possible extension:
Two extension periods of 12 month periods
1st Extension period 01/05/2028 - 30/04/2029
2nd Extension period 01/05/2029 - 30/06/2030
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
Contract locations
- UKD74 - Wirral
Participation
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation
As per tender documentation
Technical ability conditions of participation
As per tender documentation
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
19 January 2026, 12:00pm
Tender submission deadline
29 January 2026, 12:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
The tender document and any additional information are accessible via The Chest portal, https://www.the-chest.org.uk/ to participate in this exercise please register your interest in the opportunity.
Should you have any questions relating to the tender document please raise them via the 'messages' section on the portal.
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
10 March 2026
Recurring procurement
Publication date of next tender notice (estimated): 1 September 2029
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technical / Quality Evaluation | A series of questions designed to assess the service provision proposed and its suitability in relation to the specification provided |
Quality | 60% |
| Commericals | Pricing Schedule designed to assess tenderers commercial proposal |
Price | 30% |
| Social Value | To assess tenderers capacity and capability in relation to their proposed commitment to Social Value |
Quality | 10% |
Other information
Applicable trade agreements
- Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Special regime
Light touch
Justification for not publishing a preliminary market engagement notice
The Council did not publish a separate Market Engagement Notice as the Council has recently concluded it's 5-year review of homelessness in the borough and, as a component of this piece of work, a large-scale consultation exercise was undertaken involving providers of homeless accommodation services. The outcome of this consultation has been considered in the development of the service specification. Additionally, the Council conducts regular engagement with commissioned providers and, wherever feasible, their views have also been incorporated into the specifications
Contracting authority
Wirral Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PBCP-8675-BHWT
Town Hall, Brighton Street
Wallasey
CH44 8ED
United Kingdom
Region: UKD74 - Wirral
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government