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
 

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.

 

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.