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Provision of Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation - Soft Market Testing

Trafford Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

26 Aug 2026 at 09:27

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Trafford Council is planning a service to provide safe accommodation for people fleeing domestic abuse in Trafford. The service is intended to support women, families and male survivors through refuge accommodation, alongside dispersed accommodation for some survivors moving on from refuges. This is a specialist health and social care service, classified under CPV 85000000. The council is seeking to understand how providers would approach delivering the service and respond to circumstances affecting its operation. The work will be delivered in Trafford, within the North West of England. It relates to the council’s statutory duty under Part IV of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 to provide safe accommodation for survivors of domestic abuse.

The process is at the planning stage and is currently a soft market testing exercise, not an invitation to tender or call for competition. Trafford Council expects to use the market’s feedback to assess the feasibility of a future tender and understand the challenges of procuring and setting up the service. The council anticipates a maximum annual value of about £357,559, with an estimated total value of £1,787,795 excluding VAT, or £2,145,354 including VAT. The anticipated contract duration is five years: an initial 12-month period with extensions of up to 48 months, potentially running from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2032. Questions are expected by 3 September 2026 at noon, with market-testing responses by 11 September 2026 at noon.

This will suit organisations with established expertise in domestic abuse support and the operation of safe accommodation. Relevant providers are likely to include refuge operators, supported-housing organisations, charities and social care specialists able to support women, families and men with differing needs. Experience of delivering both communal refuge and dispersed accommodation would be particularly relevant, including helping survivors move on safely. Providers should be prepared to explain their delivery model, capacity, workforce arrangements and approach to risks or circumstances that could affect service establishment and performance. Experience of working with local authorities and meeting statutory domestic abuse accommodation duties would strengthen a future response. The market exercise gives suitable organisations an opportunity to shape the council’s understanding before any tender is considered.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation - Soft Market Testing

Notice Description

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

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/081075-2026
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
26 Aug 2026Today
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
11 Sep 20263 weeks to go
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

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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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