Award

Homeless Services

CHESHIRE WEST AND CHESTER COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

28 Oct 2025 at 12:24

Award

25 Sep 2025 at 15:17

Planning

03 Apr 2025 at 07:58

Summary of the contracting process

Cheshire West and Chester Council have awarded a contract to Birkenhead Forum Housing Association Limited for the provision of homeless services. This procurement process falls under the public authority sub-central government category and was completed via a direct award method citing urgency due to the current service provider's cessation. The awarded contract, valued at £13 million, is scheduled to commence on 1 April 2026 and will run until 31 March 2029, with an option for a one-year extension. This contract addresses the housing services sector across the UK, specifically targeting regions like Ellesmere Port and Wirral in the United Kingdom.

This tender presents a significant opportunity for growth within the housing services industry. SMEs and organisations involved in social and community services are well-positioned to align their operations with such government initiatives. As the procurement was conducted via direct award due to the emergent need, businesses with the ability to provide essential statutory services swiftly and reliably will benefit most. Such contracts not only aid in fostering organisational growth through sustainable partnerships but also contribute to community welfare by addressing critical social issues like homelessness.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Homeless Services

Notice Description

To direct award a Homeless Support contract to Birkenhead Forum Housing Association Limited (Forum) for a period of three years plus a one-year extension. Start Date: 1 April 2026 End date: 31 March 2029. Plus, a one-year extension.

Procurement Information

The current service provider has indicated their intention to unilaterally end the current arrangement by 31 March. Failure to agree a planned withdrawal of services will put those services at significant risk. The urgency of the situation is unavoidable, nor is it of the Council's making. The services to be procured are statutory and could not be competitively procured and mobilised in the period available.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04fc5c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068925-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

70 - Real estate services

98 - Other community, social and personal services


CPV Codes

70333000 - Housing services

98000000 - Other community, social and personal services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£13,000,000 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 Oct 20251 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
15 Mar 20264 months to go
Award Date
25 Sep 20252 months ago
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
CHESHIRE WEST AND CHESTER COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
centralprocurement@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
ELLESMERE PORT
Postcode
CH65 0BA
Post Town
Chester
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD6 Cheshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD63 Cheshire West and Chester
Delivery Location
TLD6 Cheshire

Local Authority
Cheshire West and Chester
Electoral Ward
Central & Grange
Westminster Constituency
Ellesmere Port and Bromborough

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

BIRKENHEAD FORUM HOUSING ASSOCIATION

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-04fc5c-2025-10-28T12:24:09Z",
    "date": "2025-10-28T12:24:09Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-04fc5c",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "planning": {
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "012663-2025",
                "documentType": "plannedProcurementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK1",
                "description": "Pipeline notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/012663-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-04-03T08:58:43+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PCJB-2814-BHZP",
            "name": "Cheshire West and Chester Council",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PCJB-2814-BHZP"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "The Portal, Wellington Road",
                "locality": "Ellesmere Port",
                "postalCode": "CH65 0BA",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKD63"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "centralprocurement@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-COH-IP19269R",
            "name": "BIRKENHEAD FORUM HOUSING ASSOCIATION LIMITED",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-COH",
                "id": "IP19269R"
            },
            "additionalIdentifiers": [
                {
                    "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                    "id": "PJNW-2595-QJGT"
                }
            ],
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "24-28 Hamilton Street",
                "locality": "Birkenhead",
                "postalCode": "CH41 1AL",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKD74"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "lisa.leece@forumhousing.co.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "http://www.forumhousing.co.uk",
                "scale": "sme",
                "vcse": false,
                "publicServiceMissionOrganization": false,
                "shelteredWorkshop": false
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PCJB-2814-BHZP",
        "name": "Cheshire West and Chester Council"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-04fc5c",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Homeless Services",
        "description": "To direct award a Homeless Support contract to Birkenhead Forum Housing Association Limited (Forum) for a period of three years plus a one-year extension. Start Date: 1 April 2026 End date: 31 March 2029. Plus, a one-year extension.",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "98000000",
                        "description": "Other community, social and personal services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKD6",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2027-07-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2032-06-30T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "status": "complete",
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true,
                    "vcse": true
                }
            }
        ],
        "communication": {
            "futureNoticeDate": "2026-03-15T23:59:59Z"
        },
        "status": "complete",
        "procurementMethod": "direct",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Direct award",
        "procurementMethodRationale": "The current service provider has indicated their intention to unilaterally end the current arrangement by 31 March. Failure to agree a planned withdrawal of services will put those services at significant risk. The urgency of the situation is unavoidable, nor is it of the Council's making. The services to be procured are statutory and could not be competitively procured and mobilised in the period available.",
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "conflictOfInterest",
                "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
                "description": "Not published"
            }
        ],
        "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [
            {
                "id": "urgency"
            }
        ]
    },
    "language": "en",
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "status": "active",
            "value": {
                "amountGross": 13000000,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
            "aboveThreshold": true,
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-COH-IP19269R",
                    "name": "BIRKENHEAD FORUM HOUSING ASSOCIATION LIMITED"
                }
            ],
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "additionalClassifications": [
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "70333000",
                            "description": "Housing services"
                        }
                    ],
                    "deliveryAddresses": [
                        {
                            "region": "UKD6",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKD6",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        }
                    ],
                    "relatedLot": "1"
                }
            ],
            "contractPeriod": {
                "startDate": "2026-04-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                "endDate": "2029-03-31T23:59:59+01:00",
                "maxExtentDate": "2030-03-31T23:59:59+01:00"
            },
            "hasRenewal": true,
            "renewal": {
                "description": "one year extension possible"
            },
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ],
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "059842-2025",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK5",
                    "description": "Transparency notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/059842-2025",
                    "datePublished": "2025-09-25T16:17:00+01:00",
                    "format": "text/html"
                },
                {
                    "id": "068925-2025",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK6",
                    "description": "Contract award notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068925-2025",
                    "datePublished": "2025-10-28T12:24:09Z",
                    "format": "text/html"
                }
            ],
            "milestones": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "type": "futureSignatureDate",
                    "dueDate": "2025-11-14T23:59:59Z",
                    "status": "scheduled"
                }
            ],
            "date": "2025-10-27T00:00:00Z"
        }
    ]
}