Planning

WSCC - Housing Related Support Services in West Sussex - Early Market Engagement

WEST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

11 Jun 2025 at 14:12

Planning

06 Jun 2025 at 11:11

Summary of the contracting process

West Sussex County Council is in the planning stage of a public procurement process titled "WSCC - Housing Related Support Services in West Sussex - Early Market Engagement". This process falls under the industry category of health and social work services with a focus on accommodation services. Based in Chichester, the council is specifically targeting services within the region of West Sussex, United Kingdom. As part of the procurement strategy, the council has scheduled milestones in anticipation of commencing new arrangements by April 2026. Notably, stakeholders are invited to engage through a Market Engagement event and an Early Market Engagement Questionnaire, with responses due by 30th June 2025, and a virtual meeting planned for 2nd July 2025. The council looks to determine the interest and capacity of service providers to offer both accommodation-based and floating support services to meet the growing complexity of client needs.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses capable of delivering housing-related support services, particularly those experienced in handling complex social needs and preventing homelessness. SMEs and VCSEs are deemed suitable for participation, hinting at a procurement process that supports inclusivity and innovation. The estimated contract value of £6 million (grossing up to £7.2 million) suggests substantial potential for service providers to expand and diversify their operations. Providers with proficiency in collaboration with local housing authorities and those offering resettlement support for transitioning individuals will likely find this opportunity beneficial to their growth endeavours.

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Notice Title

WSCC - Housing Related Support Services in West Sussex - Early Market Engagement

Notice Description

Market Engagement and Soft Market Testing for Housing Related Support Services in West Sussex. (To view and complete the Early Market Engagement and Soft Market Testing - Questionnaire please click on the following link to our e-tendering Portal and either Register or Login). https://atamis-7669.my.site.com/s/Welcome

Planning Information

WSCC is anticipating that a procurement process will be undertaken in Autumn 2025 with a view to new arrangements commencing in April 2026. WSCC is seeking the views of support Providers to ascertain the level of interest in providing support to customers who would benefit from either an accommodation based service or a floating support service within the county of West Sussex. Please note that this is not the commencement of a procurement process, and Providers are expressing an interest to receive further information on these services and take part in soft market testing. Should any procurement arise from this, a separate notice and information will be provided. Details of the Services in Scope Accommodation Based services: Providers will deliver support to Customers in an accommodation based setting. The accommodation will be sourced by the Provider and can be owned, leased or provided in partnership with a local Housing authority or Social Landlord. The needs of individuals have become more complex in recent years and there will be a requirement for Providers to be able to support those with multiple compound needs and be able to manage the challenges presented by these individuals effectively in the accommodation based setting. Providers will work with Customers towards realistic move on options from the supported accommodation and aim to support Customers to move on within approximately 2 years. Providers will be required to work closely with the local Housing Authorities, who will be co-funding these services to ensure that they have oversight of those within the service and are advised in advance of any Customer who may be at risk of losing their accommodation, in order to prevent further homelessness. Floating Support Services: Providers will support Customers in a wide range of accommodation settings including privately rented and social tenancies, owned accommodation, temporary accommodation and accommodation shared with friends or family. Providers will support Customers to maintain their existing accommodation and prevent homelessness wherever possible. As above there will be a requirement for Providers to be able to support those with multiple compound needs and be able to manage the challenges presented by these individuals effectively. There is likely to be a requirement for Providers to provide Resettlement Support for those moving into independent accommodation. As above, providers will be required to work closely with the local Housing Authorities to ensure that such authorities have oversight of those within the services. The services are intended to be short term with Customers being signed off from support within approximately 2 years. Aims The aim of this Early Market Engagement Questionnaire is to support the re-commissioning of a range of Housing Related Support services, whilst seeking to improve how services are arranged and delivered operationally to provide the most effective service and the best use of any assets. The findings of this exercise will inform our thinking around the opportunities for commissioning and procurement of the services. Any information provided will be treated as 'Commercial-in-Confidence' and will be considered by local authority commissioners in such a way as to ensure that it is non-attributable to any particular provider. Opportunities for group based or individual organisation discussion with Providers who respond may follow this exercise. (To view and complete the Early Market Engagement and Soft Market Testing - Questionnaire please click on the following link to our e-tendering Portal and either Register or Login). https://atamis-7669.my.site.com/s/Welcome Please can you complete the attached document, responding to the four questions within the document by latest, 12pm on the 30th June 2025. Please submit your completed document via email to: Michelle.West@westsussex.gov.uk including "Soft Market Testing" in the subject line. In addition, the Council is holding a Market Engagement event via Microsoft Teams between 9am and 11am on Wednesday the 2nd July 2025. If you wish to attend, please email Michelle.West@westsussex.gov.uk to receive an invitation to the event.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-054458
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/031587-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

98 - Other community, social and personal services


CPV Codes

85000000 - Health and social work services

85311000 - Social work services with accommodation

98341000 - Accommodation services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£6,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
11 Jun 20258 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Oct 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
WEST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Ben Chivers-Gibbs
Contact Email
bsdprocurement@westsussex.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
CHICHESTER
Postcode
PO19 1RG
Post Town
Portsmouth
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ27 West Sussex (South West)
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Chichester
Electoral Ward
Chichester Central
Westminster Constituency
Chichester

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.

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