Supported Accommodation "Hostel

Concepts

• oxford
• miscellaneous services
• non-institutional accommodation
• hostel
• accommodation
• rough sleeping strategy
• single homeless persons
• homelessness
• homeless or rough sleeping
• single persons

Location

Oxford

Description

Non-institutional accommodation for single persons who are homeless or rough sleeping or who may be at risk of becoming homeless. To provide an essential part of the provision of services for single homeless persons in Oxford, and key to the delivery of the City Council's Housing, Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2023-28, as well as the Oxfordshire Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy.

Total Quantity or Scope

9 units of move-on beds. 22 units of short-term beds. 6 units of progression beds

Award Detail

CPV Codes

• 98300000 - Miscellaneous services

Indicators

• Award on basis of price and quality.

Legal Justification

This provision sits under the Light Touch Regime under Section 7 of the PCRs, however the proposed value for the 3 year contract falls just above the threshold. Regulation 32 is being used to award the proposed contract without competition where the services can be supplied by only a particular supplier due to technical reasons i.e. that A2Dominion own the building "Matilda House" and have exclusive rights at their property. The building Matilda House is a unique development that provides the opportunity to accommodate and provide support for a range of different support needs. The layout provides flexibility to adapt and meet the needs of individuals as need change over time. A2Dominion owns this building. They are also commissioned by the Council to deliver the support from this building at present under an existing contract which is due to end in August 2024. A2Dominion have stated that they would not allow another provider to deliver support from this building, should we go to open tender and another organisation be the successful bidder. The other possibility is that we the Council go out to competitive tender for a support provision to be delivered from another, similar building. It would then be up to prospective providers to find such a building in the city, from which they could deliver the service from 1st September 2024. Based on recent exercises where Council officers conducted extensive searches for similar buildings, we do not believe that there are currently any buildings in the city that could host the service that is needed. Throughout 2023, the Rough Sleeping team have worked with internal and external colleagues to find a building to deliver 20+ self-contained rooms to provide accommodation for persons experiencing rough sleeping. Working with colleagues in the Council's Property team to examine the Council's property portfolio, alongside the County Council's and other public services like the NHS, as well as St Mungo's regional property lead seeking suitable property, all efforts have been fruitless. Where any buildings have been found that could potentially be made suitable (such as old office buildings), potential capital investment would be needed in order to redevelop these to provide good quality and adaptable accommodation similar to that provided at Matilda House. Furthermore, during the process of seeking a smaller building to redevelop into a ~12 unit 24 hours supported accommodation provision in the city, that we would have been able to bid for capital funding for, this search exercise was also fruitless. Council Officers therefore believe that a service provider wishing to provide a support service, and potentially bidding for a support contract under an open tender, would not be able to find a suitable property in the city to provide this support from. Therefore, Council officers are seeking a direct award under the procurement rules on the grounds that there is only one provider that is able to deliver the support provision we are after, from the only suitable building that is available to meet the needs from 1st September and onwards.

Other Information

The value stated at 11.1.7 represents the total value of the contract for a 3 year period. This provision sits under the Light Touch Regime under Section 7 of the PCRs, however the proposed value for the 3 year contract falls just above the threshold. Regulation 32 is being used to award the proposed contract without competition where the services can be supplied by only a particular supplier due to technical reasons i.e. that A2Dominion own the building "Matilda House" and have exclusive rights at their property. The building Matilda House is a unique development that provides the opportunity to accommodate and provide support for a range of different support needs. The layout provides flexibility to adapt and meet the needs of individuals as need change over time. A2Dominion owns this building. They are also commissioned by the Council to deliver the support from this building at present under an existing contract which is due to end in August 2024. A2Dominion have stated that they would not allow another provider to deliver support from this building, should we go to open tender and another organisation be the successful bidder. The other possibility is that we the Council go out to competitive tender for a support provision to be delivered from another, similar building. It would then be up to prospective providers to find such a building in the city, from which they could deliver the service from 1st September 2024. Based on recent exercises where Council officers conducted extensive searches for similar buildings, we do not believe that there are currently any buildings in the city that could host the service that is needed. Throughout 2023, the Rough Sleeping team have worked with internal and external colleagues to find a building to deliver 20+ self-contained rooms to provide accommodation for persons experiencing rough sleeping. Working with colleagues in the Council's Property team to examine the Council's property portfolio, alongside the County Council's and other public services like the NHS, as well as St Mungo's regional property lead seeking suitable property, all efforts have been fruitless. Where any buildings have been found that could potentially be made suitable (such as old office buildings), potential capital investment would be needed in order to redevelop these to provide good quality and adaptable accommodation similar to that provided at Matilda House. Furthermore, during the process of seeking a smaller building to redevelop into a ~12 unit 24 hours supported accommodation provision in the city, that we would have been able to bid for capital funding for, this search exercise was also fruitless. Council Officers therefore believe that a service provider wishing to provide a support service, and potentially bidding for a support contract under an open tender, would not be able to find a suitable property in the city to provide this support from. Therefore, Council officers are seeking a direct award under the procurement rules on the grounds that there is only one provider that is able to deliver the support provision we are after, from the only suitable building that is available to meet the needs from 1st September and onwards.