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Rough Sleeping Rapid Assessment Hub & Outreach / InReach Service

Southend-on-Sea City Council

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

11 Sep 2026 at 11:14

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

08 Jul 2026 at 14:49

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

07 Jul 2026 at 17:03

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Southend-on-Sea City Council procured a rough sleeping rapid assessment hub and outreach/in-reach service, funded through the Government’s Rough Sleeping Initiative. The service provides at least 12 supported beds for people sleeping rough or at risk of rough sleeping, alongside outreach and in-reach work to identify, engage and support people into accommodation and appropriate services. Its scope includes assessment, housing-related support, partnership working, safeguarding, referral management and coordination of move-on pathways, helping to prevent a return to rough sleeping and reduce homelessness across Southend-on-Sea. This is a social care service with accommodation, delivered for rough sleepers and vulnerable residents in the city.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded through a direct award. Southend-on-Sea City Council awarded the contract to Homeless Action Resource Project (HARP) on 8 July 2026 for £423,252.29 gross. The contract was signed on 9 September 2026 and runs from 9 September 2026 to 31 March 2027. The award followed a transparency notice and the council cited urgency, continuity of a critical service and late confirmation of ongoing funding as the reasons for using a direct award. The stated procurement value excluding VAT was £352,710.24. There was one lot, marked as suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises. The arrangement covers retrospective services from 31 March 2026 as well as future delivery.

This award indicates demand for an integrated homelessness service provider able to operate supported accommodation alongside street outreach and in-reach support. A credible future competitor would need the capacity to provide and manage a minimum 12-bed rapid assessment hub, engage people sleeping rough or at risk, complete assessments, provide housing-related support, manage referrals and safeguarding, and coordinate effective move-on into longer-term accommodation and services. The requirement also favours organisations able to work closely with the council and partner agencies, maintain continuity for vulnerable residents, prevent repeat rough sleeping and demonstrate reliable service management. HARP is an SME and voluntary, community or social enterprise, showing that this type of service can be delivered by a mission-led specialist rather than only a large commercial provider.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Rough Sleeping Rapid Assessment Hub & Outreach / InReach Service

Notice Description

Southend-on-Sea City Council has awarded a contract for the provision of a Rough Sleeping Rapid Assessment Hub and Outreach/Inreach Service, funded through the Government's Rough Sleeping Initiative (RSI). The service will provide a minimum 12-bed supported Rapid Assessment Hub for individuals sleeping rough or at risk of rough sleeping, together with an outreach and in reach function to identify, engage and support rough sleepers into accommodation and appropriate services. The service includes assessment, housing-related support, partnership working, safeguarding, referral management, and the coordination of move-on pathways to help prevent a return to rough sleeping and contribute to the Council's objectives of reducing homelessness and rough sleeping across the city

Procurement Information

Southend-on-Sea City Council proposes a direct award to HARP (Homeless Action Resource Project) for the continued provision of the Rough Sleeping Rapid Assessment Hub and Outreach /Inreach Service, valued at PS352,710.24 excluding VAT. The existing contract, originally awarded through a compliant competitive procurement process in 2022, expired on 31 March 2026 following the exercise of the available extension. Due to the late confirmation of ongoing funding, there was insufficient time to undertake and complete a new procurement before contract expiry. HARP has continued to deliver the service to prevent disruption to critical homelessness and rough sleeping support. The proposed award will regularise the current position and provide an interim arrangement until 31 March 2027, allowing sufficient time to undertake a compliant procurement for the long-term service. The direct award is necessary to ensure continuity of a critical service for vulnerable residents, maintain the Council's homelessness responsibilities, and avoid disruption to accommodation, outreach, safeguarding and support provision. The arrangement represents value for money as services will continue on the same terms and pricing established through the 2022 competitive tender process. Without this award, there is a significant risk of service interruption and the Council being unable to maintain essential rough sleeping and homelessness support services. The contract value associated with this transparency notice accounts for the retrospective services provided by HARP from 31 March 2026 to date, as well as the future contract value up to the expiry date of 31 March 2027.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06c5ac
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086297-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details 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

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85311000 - Social work services with accommodation

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£423,252 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£423,252 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
11 Sep 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
8 Jul 20262 months ago
Contract Period
9 Sep 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Southend-on-Sea City 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
SOUTHEND-ON-SEA
Postcode
SS2 6FA
Postcode Area
Southend-on-Sea
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH3 Essex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH31 Southend-on-Sea
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Southend-on-Sea
Electoral Ward
Victoria
Westminster Constituency
Southend East and Rochford

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

HOMELESS ACTION RESOURCE PROJECT

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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