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Bedford Refuge for Women Fleeing Domestic Violence (2026 - 2029)

Bedford Borough Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

17 Aug 2026 at 15:56

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

22 Apr 2026 at 10:15

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Bedford Borough Council procured accommodation-based support and the operation of one refuge for women fleeing domestic violence in Bedford Borough. The service combines refuge accommodation with guidance and social work support for people affected by domestic abuse. It is a public-sector social care and housing-support requirement, delivered within the borough of Bedford. The council is the buyer and the requirement covers a single service lot. The selected provider is Stonewater Ltd, a large organisation with a public service mission. The service is intended for women who need safe accommodation and support because of domestic violence, so relevant providers need to understand both refuge management and specialist domestic abuse support. The procurement falls under the light-touch regime for social and related services.

The procurement has been awarded following an open procedure. The award decision was made on 13 August 2026, with Stonewater Ltd selected for the single lot at a gross awarded value of £447,642. The planned contract period is 6 November 2026 to 5 November 2029, with renewal available for two 12-month periods, potentially extending the arrangement to 5 November 2031. The tender closed on 20 May 2026 at 12:00, and the standstill period ends on 26 August 2026. Evaluation weighted quality at 60% and price at 40%. Three bids reached the final stage, including one from an SME and two from voluntary, community or social enterprises. The procurement’s estimated gross value was £792,203.27, excluding any distinction between the estimate and the awarded amount.

This award demonstrates an established requirement for a specialist provider to run a domestic abuse refuge while delivering accommodation-based support, guidance and social work services in Bedford Borough. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need operational capability to manage safe refuge accommodation, experience supporting women fleeing domestic violence, and the staffing and safeguarding arrangements needed for sustained specialist support. The quality weighting shows that service approach and delivery capability were more important than price in the evaluation, so evidence of effective support models, outcomes, partnership working and risk management would be commercially important. The competition attracted three final-stage bidders, including an SME and two voluntary, community or social enterprises, indicating that the requirement can be approached by organisations of different types and sizes with relevant specialist capacity.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Bedford Refuge for Women Fleeing Domestic Violence (2026 - 2029)

Notice Description

Bedford Borough Council invites applications to tender for a contract to provide accommodation-based support and operation of one domestic abuse refuge in Bedford Borough

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: 24 months, taken in two periods of 12 months

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06882a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078229-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85310000 - Social work services

85312310 - Guidance services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£660,169 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
£660,169 £500K-£1M
Awards Value
£447,642 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
20 May 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
13 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
6 Nov 2026 - 5 Nov 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Bedford Borough 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
BEDFORD
Postcode
MK42 9AP
Postcode Area
Milton Keynes
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH24 Bedford
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Bedford
Electoral Ward
Cauldwell
Westminster Constituency
Bedford

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Stonewater Ltd

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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