Bradford Children and Families Trust intends to directly award a contract for the provision of an 18+ Care Leavers Step-Down Accommodation and Support Service. The service will provide suitable accommodation alongside flexible, person-centred housing-related support for care-experienced young people aged 18 and over. It is intended for young people who no longer require higher-intensity specialist supported accommodation but who still require planned support before moving into fully independent living. The provider will be responsible for sourcing, managing and maintaining suitable accommodation within the agreed geographical area. The provider will also deliver support tailored to each young person’s assessed needs, including tenancy sustainment, budgeting, education, training and employment, health and wellbeing, community integration and preparation for independent living. The service will be delivered through a phased mobilisation model, providing capacity for up to 20 accommodation units during the first year, increasing to 30 units in year two, 35 units in year three and 40 units in year four, subject to demand and individual placement requirements. The proposed initial contract term is four years, with an option to extend for a further two years, subject to satisfactory performance, continued demand, available funding and the relevant Trust approvals. The Trust intends to award this contract directly under section 43 of the Procurement Act 2023, following an unsuccessful competitive procurement in which no suitable tender was received. The proposed direct award remains for the same service requirement, with clarification that the required accommodation capacity will be delivered through phased mobilisation.

Procurement Act 2023

Direct award Bradford Council previously conducted a competitive procurement for this requirement. The relevant lot was formally discontinued after no suitable tender was received, as the sole bidder did not meet the capacity requirement at the PSQ stage. The contracting authority has determined that an award through the original competitive procedure is not possible and is therefore switching to a direct award under section 43 of the Procurement Act 2023. The proposed direct award is for the same service requirement. The accommodation capacity requirement has been clarified as phased mobilisation of up to 20 units during the first year, rather than all 20 units being available at contract commencement. The proposed supplier has demonstrated its ability to deliver the requirement on this basis and has passed the required due diligence and exclusion checks.

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