The requirement is for continued domestic abuse accommodation-related support services, specifically women’s refuge accommodation for Leicester. The service will be delivered in two lots: General Refuge and BME Refuge. For General Refuge, the requirement includes an optimal of 25 units, support for women and children impacted by domestic abuse, children’s support, counselling, an increase of 2 additional units, alignment of support across Council-held safe accommodation contracts, delivery of domestic abuse training and a reduced training commitment of 2 days. The financial change is approximately £77,000 per annum. For BME Refuge, the requirement includes an optimal of 18 units for women from Black and other minoritised ethnicity communities, community outreach, immigration support, children’s support, an increase of 3 additional units, alignment of support across Council-held safe accommodation contracts, delivery of domestic abuse training and a reduced training commitment of 2 days. The financial change is approximately £90,000 per annum. The direct award is justified in line with Schedule 5, Paragraph 7 of the Procurement Act (additional or repeat goods, services or works). This justification applies where the services are to be provided by the existing supplier and a change in supplier would result in services that are different from or incompatible with those currently being provided, giving rise to disproportionate operational difficulties. The Council considers that introducing a new provider during this period would create disproportionate operational difficulties and increase the risk of disruption to established safeguarding arrangements and continuity of support for service users. A strictly time-limited direct award of 24 months is therefore considered necessary to maintain continuity of service And to allow the relevant time for future commissioning arrangements to be designed and procured in collaboration with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (or equivalent body), Leicestershire County Council and Rutland District and County Council.

Procurement Act 2023

Direct award Because of the uncertainty around Local Government Reorganisation and the wider service position involving local authorities and the Police commissioner. A direct award for a limited period of 12 months with a possible extension of 12 months is necessary to ensure the continued provision of our essential domestic abuse services and maintain consistent pathways for the residents of Leicester City accessing this service. This will also allow the relevant time to allow future commissioning arrangements to be designed and procured in collaboration with Leicester County and in line with the implications of the recent LGR announcement. The proposed direct award will be undertaken in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023. Under direct award justification contained in Schedule 5, Paragraph 7 (additional or repeat goods, services or works). This justification may apply where the services are to be provided by the existing supplier and a change in supplier would result in services that are different from or incompatible with those currently being provided, giving rise to disproportionate operational difficulties. The Council considers that introducing a new provider during this period would create disproportionate operational difficulties and increase the risk of disruption to established safeguarding arrangements and continuity of support for service users. A strictly time-limited direct award of 12 months with a possible extension of 12 months is therefore considered necessary to maintain continuity of service provision whilst future commissioning arrangements are developed collaboratively across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and aligned with the implementation of the new unitary authority arrangements.

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