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Domestic Abuse Refuge and Refuge Based Support Services for Women and Children

Durham County Council

This public procurement record has 5 releases in its history.

Award

03 Feb 2026 at 09:44

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

17 Dec 2025 at 13:33

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

15 Sep 2025 at 12:34

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

06 Aug 2025 at 14:47

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Planning

13 Jun 2025 at 14:24

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Durham County Council is leading a comprehensive procurement initiative for "Domestic Abuse Refuge and Refuge Based Support Services for Women and Children". This tender is categorised under the healthcare and social work services industry. It entails commissioning services aimed at providing temporary, safe accommodation in four geographical locations within County Durham: North, South, East, and Central areas. The procurement process is conducted under an open and competitive flexible procedure, with a focus on a light-touch regime. The tender involves multiple lots, allowing suppliers to bid for up to two geographical locations, with each lot specifying the number of units required. Key dates include the planning phase initiated on 6th August 2025, followed by the tender period closing on 3rd November 2025, and awards finalised by 10th December 2025. Contracts for awarded services are effective from 1st April 2026 for an initial three-year period, with options for a 24-month extension, subject to available funding.

This tender presents significant growth opportunities for service providers, especially those experienced in delivering trauma-informed domestic abuse support. Businesses with expertise in multi-agency collaboration and a survivor-led approach will be well-suited to the requirements of this contract. Moreover, the emphasis on community engagement and continuous improvement favours organisations that can innovatively contribute to the wellbeing and recovery of victim-survivors. Ideal candidates include large-scale providers accustomed to handling complex service delivery and organisations dedicated to the provision of social welfare services. The flexible procurement procedure opens doors for both SMEs and larger entities, making this an attractive opportunity for various scales of operations capable of meeting tender demands.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Domestic Abuse Refuge and Refuge Based Support Services for Women and Children

Notice Description

Durham County Council is seeking to commission a comprehensive and trauma-informed domestic abuse refuges and refuge support service that meets the diverse needs of women (and their dependent children if applicable) affected by domestic abuse and who are seeking safe accommodation from high-risk domestic abuse situations. The aim of the service is to provide temporary safe accommodation within a refuge setting to victim-survivors of domestic abuse (and any dependent children/young people that are accommodated) that improves the safety, harm reduction, recovery and wellbeing of the victim-survivors. The commissioned service(s) should have a strong focus on partnership working and community engagement. We welcome proposals from experienced providers who can demonstrate a commitment to survivor-led approaches, multi-agency collaboration, and continuous improvement. The successful provider will play a vital role in helping us create a safe and supportive environment for those impacted by domestic abuse. The opportunity is issued as multiple Lot contract based on geographical locations. Suppliers can bid for a maximum of two geographical areas/lots. Geographical Area Number of Units Lot 1 North Durham 9 Lot 2 South Durham 8 Lot 3 East Durham 6 Lot 4 Central Durham 9 It should be noted that whilst premises that exceed the minimum required number of units detailed above may bid/be successful in contract award, the total annual settlement (the annual contract value) will remain as specified in the Tender documents. Permitted Changes to Contract: Funding for these services is reliant upon the continued availability of funds from both the Council's core budget and Domestic Abuse Act Part 4 funding received from the MHCLG. Funding amounts and sources are uncertain over the contract term and therefore DCC may need to invoke either contract modifications or termination as permitted under the relevant sections of the contract terms and conditions. At the Council's discretion, should the Council acquire further funding, including from different sources, additional services may be required and may slightly differ to that detailed above but will fall under the remit of domestic abuse refuges and/or refuge-based support services. The Council reserves the right to apply inflationary uplifts to the contract value at its sole discretion and will be based upon the availability of funding and commissioning priorities. The Council reserves the right to modify the service specification if new legislation and/or guidance re. domestic abuse refuges and/or refuge-based support services is published by the Government. If a successful bidder's contract is terminated, either at the Council's or the provider's discretion, the council has the discretion to approach one or all of the other successful bidders to offer them the opportunity to deliver refuge and refuge-based support services in this geographical area OR go to market for a new supplier.

Lot Information

North Durham

Durham County Council is seeking to commission a comprehensive and trauma-informed domestic abuse refuges and refuge support service in North Durham that meets the diverse needs of women (and their dependent children if applicable) affected by domestic abuse and who are seeking safe accommodation from high-risk domestic abuse situations. The number of units required in North Durham is 9.

Renewal: The contract is being let with the options to extend for one period of up to 24 months each, from the contract end date, subject to Commissioner and budget approval.

South Durham

Durham County Council is seeking to commission a comprehensive and trauma-informed domestic abuse refuges and refuge support service in South Durham that meets the diverse needs of women (and their dependent children if applicable) affected by domestic abuse and who are seeking safe accommodation from high-risk domestic abuse situations. The number of units required in South Durham is 8.

Renewal: The contract is being let with the options to extend for one period of up to 24 months each, from the contract end date, subject to Commissioner and budget approval.

East Durham

Durham County Council is seeking to commission a comprehensive and trauma-informed domestic abuse refuges and refuge support service in East Durham that meets the diverse needs of women (and their dependent children if applicable) affected by domestic abuse and who are seeking safe accommodation from high-risk domestic abuse situations. The number of units required in East Durham is 6.

Renewal: The contract is being let with the options to extend for one period of up to 24 months each, from the contract end date, subject to Commissioner and budget approval.

Central Durham

Durham County Council is seeking to commission a comprehensive and trauma-informed domestic abuse refuges and refuge support service in Central Durham that meets the diverse needs of women (and their dependent children if applicable) affected by domestic abuse and who are seeking safe accommodation from high-risk domestic abuse situations. The number of units required in Central Durham is 9.

Renewal: The contract is being let with the options to extend for one period of up to 24 months each, from the contract end date, subject to Commissioner and budget approval.

Planning Information

Seeking opinions from providers of this service to understand gaps in service. Teams discussions are available for discussion to remove barriers for SMEs. Questionnaires should be returned via the OPEN portal.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-054893
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/009288-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85000000 - Health and social work services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£4,115,875 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£4,115,875 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£4,013,856 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£4,013,856 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
3 Feb 20266 months ago
Submission Deadline
3 Nov 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
8 Sep 2025Expired
Award Date
17 Dec 20258 months ago
Contract Period
1 Apr 2026 - 31 Mar 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
2030-04-01

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Durham County Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
DURHAM
Postcode
DH1 5WB
Postcode Area
Durham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC41 Durham
Delivery Location
TLC14 Durham
Local Authority
County Durham
Electoral Ward
Framwellgate & Newton Hall
Westminster Constituency
City of Durham

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
3
Supplier Names

HARBOUR SUPPORT SERVICES

Thirteen Housing Group Limited

WEAR VALLEY WOMEN'S AID LIMITED

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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