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Learning Disabilities Short Breaks and Emergency Support

Westminster City Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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11 Sep 2026 at 15:23

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Westminster City Council has commissioned adult learning disability short breaks and emergency support services. The requirement is a supported accommodation service providing bed-based short breaks, with shared capacity across Kingsbridge Road and Alison House as part of an integrated bi-borough model with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The service is intended to maintain access to suitable accommodation and support for adults with learning disabilities while Kingsbridge Road is redeveloped and longer-term service plans are developed. The work is classified as social work services with accommodation (CPV 85311000). Delivery is in London, from the Kingsbridge Road and Alison House premises. The requirement is a light-touch social care service and is identified as suitable for voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations.

The procurement has reached the awarded stage: Learning Disability Network has been selected by Westminster City Council. It was made by direct award under the Procurement Act 2023, relying on the supplier’s exclusive rights to the required premises and the absence of reasonable alternatives. The award value is £5,974,320 including VAT. The structured award period runs from 14 September 2026 to 31 March 2029, with an optional two-year extension to 31 March 2031. The underlying arrangement is described as backdated to 1 April 2026 to cover services delivered after the previous contract ended. The intended contract-entry date is 14 September 2026. The single lot is complete. Evaluation was not competitive: the rationale was exclusive property rights and service continuity during redevelopment. The selected supplier is Learning Disability Network.

This procurement shows demand for specialist adult learning disability short breaks and emergency support delivered through supported or residential accommodation. A credible future competitor would need to provide safe, suitable bed-based accommodation, operate short-break services for adults with learning disabilities, and maintain reliable emergency support. Capacity planning is important because the requirement uses two premises as an integrated service and must remain stable while one site undergoes significant development. Relevant organisations should be able to work across a shared-capacity model and coordinate with public bodies operating across borough boundaries. Strong property capability is particularly important: the selected arrangement depended on access to both required premises, including the ability to secure suitable accommodation and provide continuity when capacity is reduced. VCSE organisations are identified as suitable participants.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Learning Disabilities Short Breaks and Emergency Support

Notice Description

The direct award of a contract for Learning Disability Short Breaks and Emergency Support provision for Adults to Learning Disability Network London for a period of up to 60 months (3 years + 2 year optional extension) from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031. This is to provide service continuity whilst building plans are being developed and implemented to re-design the Kingsbridge Road site. Once building works are completed a full competitive tender process will follow. The Council's previous contract with the supplier ended on 31 March 2026. The supplier has continued to deliver the short breaks services for the Council since that date. It is intended that the contract will be formerly awarded to the supplier following publication of the Contract Award Notice. In order to regularise the position, the start date of the contract will be backdated to 1 April 2026 to encompass services provided since the expiry of the previous contract. This notice is intended to provide visibility of the Council's intention to formally award the contracts and regulate the arrangements with the supplier by entering into the contracts on or around 14 September 2026 with retrospective effect. Note that this is an indicative date for signing/entering into the contract and is subject to change. The contract between Westminster City Council and LDN London is PS4,978,600 (excl. VAT) PS5,974,320 (inc. VAT) for the full term including extension.

Procurement Information

The Council has statutory duties under the Health and Social Care Act 2008, the Care Act 2014 and other legislation, relating to the health, wellbeing and care of certain individuals. The Council is required to maintain access to supported and residential accommodation for adults with a learning disability. Paragraph 5 of Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 provides a justification for the direct award of public contracts where a particular supplier has exclusive rights which means that only that supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or work. RBKC and WCC work together to commission bed-based short breaks from two different premises - Kingsbridge Road and Alision House. The services operate as an integrated bi-borough model, with shared capacity across both premises The supplier has exclusive property rights to both Kingsbridge Road and Alision House: - The Kingsbridge Road premises were purchased by RBKC in March 2024, the supplier was the existing tenant at the point of acquisition. RBKC is regularising that lease arrangement with the supplier to align with the proposed contracts. - The supplier owns Alison House. The supplier has confirmed it will not make these premises available to another supplier to deliver the services. Market engagement and a supplier property survey have been undertaken by the Council which has confirmed that no alternative, suitable premises are currently available. Accordingly, there is no reasonable alternative to the services being provided by the supplier from the existing premises. Additionally, the premises at Kingsbridge Road needs significant development work. Capacity at Kingsbridge Road will be significantly reduced during redevelopment works. Having one supplier operating from both premises will provide flexibility enabling the Council to manage capacity and maintain stability and service continuity during the redevelopment period. This further supports that there is no reasonable alternative. The proposed three-year contract, with an optional two-year extension, will maintain service continuity and enable the Council to meet its statutory duties while the refurbishment works are completed at Kingsbridge Road; as well as providing time for the Council to further explore alternative premises. Further information can be found in the Council's decision paper https://committees.westminster.gov.uk/documents/s73612/AH26-06%20Direct%20Award%20-%20Short%20Breaks.pdf

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f862
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086549-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large

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
£5,974,320 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
11 Sep 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
14 Sep 2026 - 31 Mar 2029 2-3 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
Westminster 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
LONDON
Postcode
SW1E 6QP
Postcode Area
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Learning Disability Network

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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