---
title: "Soft Market Testing - Provision of Support for Complex Needs Rough Sleepers via Supported Accommodation"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-04ea1c"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04ea1c"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04ea1c.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04ea1c.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL"
published: "2025-03-06"
---

# Soft Market Testing - Provision of Support for Complex Needs Rough Sleepers via Supported Accommodation

Buyer: DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-04ea1c

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## Summary

Durham County Council is conducting a market engagement process to explore the provision of support for complex needs rough sleepers via supported accommodation. This procurement process is in the planning stage and aims to gather input from the market through a soft market testing questionnaire, with feedback due by 31 March 2025. The contract will fall under the health and social work services category and is to be performed in Durham, UK. The prospective contract period begins on 1 October 2025 and could extend until 31 August 2028, with SMEs and VCSEs being particularly encouraged to participate.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses involved in providing health and social work services, particularly those specialised in supporting vulnerable populations such as rough sleepers with complex needs. Companies with expertise in these areas can influence the procurement specifications by participating in this preliminary phase. The process is designed to ensure that the eventual procurement is well-defined and effectively addresses market capabilities, making it an ideal opportunity for service providers looking to expand their footprint in the public sector with Durham County Council.

## Notice

Durham County Council (DCC) is looking to explore the market to understand what provision is available to provide accommodation and support for rough sleepers who present with complex needs. To support this, we would like to gain information from the market regarding a number of issues related to the potential procurement exercise. You are therefore invited to consider the inquiries detailed in the attached briefing document, and complete the attached questionnaire. This notice is not an invitation for formal expressions of interest. Durham County Council is issuing this request for information only, in order to assess the reaction of support and housing providers and the broader market and thus make any potential procurement process more focused and efficient.

### Planning Information

This market testing is taking place through responses to a soft market testing questionnaire. Soft market testing document can be accessed at www.open-uk.org. The reference is OPEN2025328 which can be found by searching for "001840 Soft market testing - Provision of Support for Complex Needs Rough Sleepers via Supported Accommodation"

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008205-2025 |
| 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 |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 6 Mar 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 31 Mar 2025 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 30 Sep 2025 - 30 Sep 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planning |
| Lots status | Planning |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL |
| Locality | DURHAM |
| Post town | Durham |
| Postcode | DH1 5WB |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLC North East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear |
| ITL 3 | TLC41 Durham |
| Local authority | County Durham |
| Electoral ward | Framwellgate and Newton Hall |
| Westminster constituency | City of Durham |
| Delivery location | TLC14 Durham |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85000000 - Health and social work services

## Release History

- 6 Mar 2025 at 14:01 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008205-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008205-2025
  6th March 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04ea1c. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04ea1c.json.