Planning

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Provision of Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation - Soft Market Testing

Trafford Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

14 Sep 2026 at 10:22

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

26 Aug 2026 at 09:27

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Trafford Council is exploring the provision of domestic abuse safe accommodation for people fleeing domestic abuse. The service would support women, families and male survivors through refuge accommodation, alongside dispersed accommodation for some survivors moving on from refuges. The requirement is for health and social work services, with delivery in Trafford and the wider Greater Manchester area. The council is carrying out this work to meet its statutory duty under Part IV of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and to understand how the market could deliver and establish the service. Potential providers may include specialist domestic abuse charities, housing and support organisations, refuge operators, and social care or community service providers with suitable accommodation and survivor-support capabilities.

This procurement is at the planning stage and is currently a soft market testing exercise, not a call for competition. Trafford Council is seeking market views on delivery approaches, procurement and mobilisation challenges, and circumstances that could affect the service. The council expects that any future tender could have a maximum annual value of about £357,559, with a five-year term: an initial 12-month period from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2028, with options to extend for periods totalling up to 48 months, potentially ending by 31 March 2032. The published procurement value is £1,787,795 excluding VAT and £2,145,354 including VAT. The council expected soft market testing submissions by 18 September 2026 at 10am.

This exercise is relevant to organisations with established expertise and experience in domestic abuse safe accommodation and survivor support, rather than businesses seeking an immediate tender opportunity. Strongly placed participants are likely to operate refuges or dispersed housing and understand safe, trauma-informed support for women, families and male survivors. Relevant capability may include accommodation management, safeguarding, risk assessment, resettlement and move-on support, partnership working with local authorities and other agencies, and the practical mobilisation of a multi-year service. Providers able to explain how they would respond to differing survivor needs, operational challenges and service risks can help shape the council’s understanding of what the market can offer before any future competition.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation - Soft Market Testing

Notice Description

UPDATE 14 Sept 2026: NEW DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: 10AM on this Friday the 18 Sept 2026. Trafford Council - Provision of Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation - Soft Market Testing. Please note that this is not a call for competition. This is a soft market testing exercise is undertaken on behalf of Trafford Council under the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023. Purpose: Part IV of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 mandates a statutory duty on local authorities to provide safe accommodation for people fleeing domestic abuse. In Trafford we currently provide safe accommodation in the form of refuges for women, families and male survivors of domestic abuse. We also provide dispersed accommodation for some survivors when they move on from refuges. Trafford Council are undertaking this soft market testing exercise to fully understand what the market can offer and the challenges in procuring and setting up this service. It is hoped that this will be an opportunity for us to obtain an insight of how participants might approach delivery of the service, and how they might address circumstances that may impact on the service. It will also help us to further understand the market. We anticipate that should a tender exercise be undertaken, the maximum annual value for the contract might be in the region of PS357,559, and the duration to be 5 years, with an initial period of 12 months with the option to extend for period(s) of up to 48 months. We are therefore seeking expressions of interest from participants with the relevant expertise and experience to assist us in determining the feasibility of this project by answering the questions that are published on the Chest portal - Project Ref DN827443. Please use the following link to access the Chest portal to obtain the soft market tested documentation: The Chest: North West Procurement Portal Note that any contract awarded following any future tender process will be subject solely to Trafford Council's Terms and Condition. Deadline for Questions/Clarifications: 3 Sept 2026 at 12.00 noon. Please note that all questions and/or requests for clarification must be uploaded onto the 'Messages' section of the Chest portal and we will respond using the same method. Deadline for submission of Soft Market Testing documentation: 11 Sept 2026 at 12.00 noon.

Planning Information

UPDATE 14 Sept 2026: NEW DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: 10AM on this Friday the 18 Sept 2026. Trafford Council - Provision of Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation - Soft Market Testing. Please note that this is not a call for competition. This is a soft market testing exercise is undertaken on behalf of Trafford Council under the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023. Purpose: Part IV of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 mandates a statutory duty on local authorities to provide safe accommodation for people fleeing domestic abuse. In Trafford we currently provide safe accommodation in the form of refuges for women, families and male survivors of domestic abuse. We also provide dispersed accommodation for some survivors when they move on from refuges. Trafford Council are undertaking this soft market testing exercise to fully understand what the market can offer and the challenges in procuring and setting up this service. It is hoped that this will be an opportunity for us to obtain an insight of how participants might approach delivery of the service, and how they might address circumstances that may impact on the service. It will also help us to further understand the market. We anticipate that should a tender exercise be undertaken, the maximum annual value for the contract might be in the region of £357,559, and the duration to be 5 years, with an initial period of 12 months with the option to extend for period(s) of up to 48 months. We are therefore seeking expressions of interest from participants with the relevant expertise and experience to assist us in determining the feasibility of this project by answering the questions that are published on the Chest portal - Project Ref DN827443. Please use the following link to access the Chest portal to obtain the soft market tested documentation: The Chest: North West Procurement Portal Note that any contract awarded following any future tender process will be subject solely to Trafford Council's Terms and Condition. Deadline for Questions/Clarifications: 3 Sept 2026 at 12.00 noon. Please note that all questions and/or requests for clarification must be uploaded onto the 'Messages' section of the Chest portal and we will respond using the same method. Deadline for submission of Soft Market Testing documentation: 11 Sept 2026 at 12.00 noon.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06ec06
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086730-2026
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
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

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
£1,787,795 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Sep 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2028 1-2 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
Trafford 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
MANCHESTER
Postcode
M32 0TH
Postcode Area
Manchester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD3 Greater Manchester
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD34 Greater Manchester South West
Delivery Location
TLD North West (England)
Local Authority
Trafford
Electoral Ward
Gorse Hill & Cornbrook
Westminster Constituency
Stretford and Urmston

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

Loading OCDS record...