Decision

The Assistant Director – Housing has decided to directly award a contract commencing on 1 July 2025 and expiring on 31 December 2025 for refuge provision for women fleeing domestic abuse to Wirral Women & Children’s Aid with a contract value of £110,448

Reasons for the decision

Supported Homeless Accommodation Services, including visiting of ‘floating’ support assist people to develop the skills they need to live independently and forms a crucial pathway for people, preventing homelessness and promoting independence. It significantly reduces levels of repeat homelessness and tenancy failure, thereby generating financial savings across several budget streams.

Wirral Women & Children’s Aid (WWACA) was the incumbent supplier of refuge provision for women fleeing domestic abuse.

Arising from the coming into force of the Procurement Act 2023 in February 2025, and the need to await the findings of the 5-year Homeless Review, the decision has been made to directly award an interim contract to WWACA to ensure continuity of essential services for people fleeing domestic abuse before undertaking a full re-procurement exercise.

The period covered by this interim arrangement allows for the implications of the new procurement regulations to be fully understood, and the findings of the review used to shape commissioning activity over the mid-term.

The interim direct award contract began on the 1st of July 2025 and is due to expire on the 31st of December 2025. The value of the contract for this period is £110,448 which will be met through Safe Accommodation Programme grant.

The direct award of this contract has been sanctioned by the Head of Procurement as an exception to the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules as set out in the Council’s constitution at Part 4, Section 6 Contract Procedure Rules sections 12.4.1 b) a waiver of the rules would be in the interests of the Council, be lawful, and provide value for money.

Alternative options considered

The alternative options were

1. To have allowed the previous contract to naturally expire and not recommission. This was discounted as this would leave the council without a key contributing resource to meet its obligations under Housing Law.

1. To have begun a competitive procurement exercise prior to the expiration of the previous contract, without concluding the Homeless Review. This was discounted as the conclusion of the Review will ensure that all future commissioning activity is strategically relevant and based on a robust assessment of future need.