Planning

Refuge Provision

LEICESTER CITY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

20 Feb 2026 at 15:24

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Leicester City Council is exploring the commissioning of a Refuge Provision Service within Leicester, classified under the Social work services with accommodation category. The procurement process is currently in the planning stage, with an anticipated tender invitation set for July 2026. The service is expected to commence from 1st April 2027 and continue until 31st March 2032, with a potential extension up to 31st March 2034. As part of the preliminary planning efforts, a soft market test is being conducted to gauge interest and gather insights from potential providers and stakeholders. The deadline for this engagement is scheduled for 16th March 2026.

This tender presents significant opportunities for growth, particularly for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprises (VCSEs) with expertise in providing social work services tied to accommodation. Businesses familiar with the light-touch procurement regime and those offering innovative solutions in domestic abuse services may find this engagement beneficial. Participation allows companies to influence service specifications before the formal tendering process begins, potentially positioning themselves favourably for future bidding opportunities.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Refuge Provision

Notice Description

THIS IS NOT A CALL FOR COMPETITION: Leicester City Council is considering commissioning a Refuge Provision Service for Leicester. It is anticipated, dependent upon an engagement exercise, that tenders for this service would be sought in 07, 2026, to enable a new contract to begin from 01/04/2027 to 31/03/2032 with a possible extension to 31/03/2034, 01/04/2027, immediately after the end of our current contract providing Domestic Abuse Locality services to Leicester. As part of the commissioning process, the authority is undertaking a soft market test. This gives potential providers and other stakeholders the opportunity to express their interests and feed in their views about the potential service model and specification principles. The commissioners will use the information to appraise options and further develop the specification. This process does not constitute a formal tender or other competitive bidding process and will not result in the letting of a Contract. The authority is using this process solely to test the market to gather information and ascertain the level of interest in this particular service. There are therefore no formal criteria which we will use to judge your responses and it is not our intention to provide any feedback.

Planning Information

THIS IS NOT A CALL FOR COMPETITION : Leicester City Council is considering commissioning a Refuge Provision Service for Leicester. It is anticipated, dependent upon an engagement exercise, that tenders for this service would be sought in 07, 2026, to enable a new contract to begin from 01/04/2027 to 31/03/2032 with a possible extension to 31/03/2034, 01/04/2027, immediately after the end of our current contract providing Domestic Abuse Locality services to Leicester. As part of the commissioning process, the authority is undertaking a soft market test. This gives potential providers and other stakeholders the opportunity to express their interests and feed in their views about the potential service model and specification principles. The commissioners will use the information to appraise options and further develop the specification. This process does not constitute a formal tender or other competitive bidding process and will not result in the letting of a Contract. The authority is using this process solely to test the market to gather information and ascertain the level of interest in this particular service. There are therefore no formal criteria which we will use to judge your responses and it is not our intention to provide any feedback.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-065982
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015779-2026
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

CPV Codes

85311000 - Social work services with accommodation

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£3,955,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Feb 20262 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
15 Jul 20265 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2027 - 31 Mar 2032 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
LEICESTER CITY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Robert Ingram
Contact Email
robbie.ingram@leicester.gov.uk
Contact Phone
+44 0

Buyer Location

Locality
LEICESTER
Postcode
LE1 1FZ
Post Town
Leicester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF2 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF21 Leicester
Delivery Location
TLF21 Leicester
Local Authority
Leicester
Electoral Ward
Castle
Westminster Constituency
Leicester South

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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