Purpose

Following a multi-year funding settlement between 2022-2025, the Home Office provided a single-year funding settlement for 25/26. In January 2026, the Home Office confirmed a further single-year funding settlement for financial year 2026/27.

Due to tight timeframes between the confirmation of the 26/27 funding settlement in January 2026 and the start of the financial year in April, subsequent Home Office sign off of the VRU’s delivery plan, and the nature of a single-year funding settlement, it is not possible to run a re-procurement exercise on the open market. This decision is therefore based on a procurement exemption to enable the direct award of a new standalone contract to JMU Services Ltd (Liverpool John Moores University), for the provision of TIIG (Trauma Injury & Intelligence Gathering) data, for financial year 2026/27. A procurement exemption has been sought as, following legal advice, it is not possible to vary JMU Services Ltd current contract any further. This approach enables GM VRU to maintain continuity of provision, and mitigates the risk of experienced staff leaving both providers and GMCA VRU positions, which would have a detrimental effect on evaluation delivery.

Home Office guidance identifies data and intelligence as a core pillar of VRU delivery, and stipulates that well-evidenced data sharing models should be embedded as part of VRU activity. The Violence Reduction Unit commissioned JMU Services Ltd (Liverpool John Moores University) in 2022 to deliver TIIG (Trauma Injury & Intelligence Gathering) data via a multi-year contract to assist wider programme evaluation.

Liverpool John Moores University receive, process, clean and securely store anonymised trauma-related injury data collected by Greater Manchester Emergency Departments. This data is used on a regular basis by a range of VRU staff and partners to support the targeting of services and interventions, strategic planning around need, and problem profiling.
TIIG has been providing services in Greater Manchester for around 15 years, provided throughout that time by Liverpool John Moores University (JMU Services Ltd). TIIG provide a key link with health services and non-police data around violence that cannot be accessed through other means.

This data is used in monitoring core VRU outcomes, evaluating VRU interventions, supporting partner services and local authorities’ analytical capacity, and strategic planning.

The charge for delivery in 26/27 is reflective of the agreed workplan to be delivered by TIIG in 26/27. This is the ‘expanded’ workplan agreed upon in 23/24 and 24/25, following a smaller workplan in 22/23. These include contuning an intensive work programme with A&Es to improve the quality of ISTV data. This will also further fund TIIG’s dedicated Data Quality Lead who is experienced in working with organisations to improve data collected. The final workplan will be included within the contract.

Use of this data is embedded in a wide range of VRU work, and discontinuation of the contract would result in significant disruption to the VRU’s ability to deliver interventions, monitor outcomes, and report to the Home Office.

Decision

GMCA Safer & Stronger Communities (Violence Reduction Unit) wish to directly award a standalone contract for the provision of the VRU’s Trauma Injury & Intelligence Gathering (TIIG) Data, to JMU Services Ltd (Liverpool John Moores University), for a period of 12 months from 1st April 2026 – 31st March 2027. The value of this contract will be £49,122. JMU Services Ltd (Liverpool John Moores University) are the current provider, and have delivered TIIG (Trauma Injury & Intelligence Gathering) data since 2022.