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Provision of Rough Sleeping Rapid Assessment Outreach / In reach Services

Southend-on-Sea City Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

23 Oct 2026 at 12:35

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Southend-on-Sea City Council is exploring a future rough sleeping rapid assessment and support service in Southend-on-Sea. The intended service combines assertive outreach and in-reach, an emergency rapid assessment hub, rough sleeping coordination and navigators, personal budgets, and extra accommodation during periods of higher demand. It also includes housing solutions and private-sector housing support. The aim is to prevent and reduce rough sleeping, help people access and sustain suitable accommodation, and coordinate support for people with complex needs. Delivery would involve working with housing, health, social care and voluntary-sector partners. The service is planned around people sleeping rough or at risk of rough sleeping, including people with restricted eligibility and those facing multiple disadvantage.

This process is at planning and is currently preliminary market engagement, not an invitation to tender. The Council is seeking market feedback on supplier interest, capacity, delivery models, innovation and good practice to shape the eventual specification and procurement approach. Its indicative plan is to publish a tender in late November to early December 2026, evaluate in January 2026, notify the award in late January 2026, mobilise during February to March 2027 and start service in late March 2027; the Council says this timeline may change. The planned service period is 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2029, with a possible extension to 31 March 2030. The stated gross value is £846,504. The work is presented as a single lot, with suitability identified for SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises.

The Council is looking to hear from organisations with credible experience delivering rough sleeping outreach and in-reach, rapid assessment and support, and services for people with complex needs, including substance misuse, mental health needs and multiple disadvantage. Providers should be able to make at least 12 self-contained supported bedspaces available in Southend-on-Sea from service commencement; the bathrooms must not be shared. Strong partnership working with housing, health, social care and voluntary-sector organisations will be central, alongside the ability to mobilise locally and deliver measurable outcomes and performance improvements. This engagement may suit specialist homelessness charities, social enterprises and established support providers, including SMEs, able to combine accommodation with flexible, responsive casework. The Council is inviting practical ideas and examples that could improve delivery or help shape a proportionate future service.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Rough Sleeping Rapid Assessment Outreach / In reach Services

Notice Description

Southend-on-Sea City Council (SCC) is seeking expressions of interest through this Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) Notice in advance of a potential procurement opportunity for the provision of a Rough Sleeping Rapid Assessment Hub, Outreach and In-Reach Service. The purpose of this engagement is to: * Assess market interest in the opportunity and understand capability / capacity * Gather feedback to help inform the future service specification and procurement approach. * Understand innovative approaches to supporting rough sleepers and people at risk of rough sleeping. * Ensure any future procurement is proportionate, transparent and reflective of market capability. Background In Spring 2018, Southend-on-Sea City Council worked with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to secure funding through the Rough Sleeping Initiative. Since the initial funding award, the Council has secured ongoing investment via the Homelessness, Rough Sleeping and Domestic Abuse Grant to support initiatives aimed at reducing rough sleeping and improving accommodation and support pathways for vulnerable residents. The Council is now exploring future service delivery arrangements for the period 2027-2029 in line with future funding arrangements. The current service model includes: * Assertive Outreach and In-Reach Officers. * A Rapid Assessment Hub providing emergency accommodation and support. * Rough Sleeping Coordination. * Rough Sleeper Navigators, including support for individuals with restricted eligibility. * Personal Budgets to support engagement and access to accommodation and services. * Additional accommodation provision during periods of increased demand. * Housing Solutions and Private Sector Housing support. Service Aims The future service is expected to contribute towards the following objectives: * Reducing rough sleeping within Southend-on-Sea through a flexible and responsive service. * Supporting individuals into suitable accommodation through prevention and relief interventions. * Delivering effective multi-agency interventions for individuals with complex needs. * Supporting individuals to sustain accommodation and reduce repeat rough sleeping. * Working in partnership with statutory and voluntary sector organisations to improve outcomes. The Council is particularly interested in understanding suppliers' credible experience and ability to provide: * Deliver rough sleeping outreach and in-reach services. * Be able to provide at least 12 self-contained (no shared bathrooms) supported bedspaces within Southend-on-Sea from Service Commencement. * Deliver rapid assessment and support interventions. * Work collaboratively with housing, health, social care and voluntary sector partners. * Support individuals with complex needs, including substance misuse, mental health and multiple disadvantage. * Mobilise services within Southend-on-Sea. * Deliver measurable outcomes and performance improvements. Further detail can be found further below in this notice regarding Preliminary Market Engagement activity.

Planning Information

Suppliers are encouraged to provide information on any alternative delivery models, innovations or examples of good practice that may assist the Council in refining the future service specification. Interested organisations are invited to complete and submit the accompanying PME Questionnaire via the ProContract link within this notice. Link to PME Questionnaire: https://procontract.due-north.com Project Name: Preliminary Market Engagement: Provision of Rough Sleeping Rapid Assessment Outreach / In reach Services Project Reference: DN828059 Procurement Timeline: In addition to the above, please see below SCC’s indicative procurement timeline (subject to further amendment): • Tender published: Late November – Early December 2026 • Tender Evaluation: January 2026 • Notification of Award: Late January 2026 • Mobilisation: February – March 2027 • Service Commencement: Late March 2027 Legal Disclosures: Respondents are advised that the purpose of this notice is to engage in dialogue with the market. The scope of service, date of publication or potential contract value should not be taken as a final "version" of requirement. This notice is not a call for competition to procure any services and is not published to reduce time limited for the receipt of tenders. Interested parties will not be prejudiced by any response or (lack) to this notice. Nor shall a response to this notice guarantee an invitation to participate in this market consultation exercise or any future procurement process that Southend-on-Sea City Council may conduct.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078ee8
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/100441-2026
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
SME, VCSE
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
£846,504 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Oct 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 1 Apr 2029 2-3 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
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
TLH31 Southend-on-Sea
Local Authority
Southend-on-Sea
Electoral Ward
Victoria
Westminster Constituency
Southend East and Rochford

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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