Decision to award the Housing First Support Service contract to a supplier following a competitive and compliant tender process.

The Director of Housing decides as follows:

Award the Housing First Support Service to Homeless Oxfordshire following a competitive and compliant tender process. The value of the contract for the initial 12-month period is £386,064.00.

The decision is recommended on the basis that the bid is the most advantageous bid and the successful bidder provided the panel with the most confidence in their ability to deliver a Housing First service that is aligned with the principles of the model. The panel is confident that the supplier would be able to ensure the continuity of support required for the Housing First cohort and is pleased with their implementation plan (including how TUPE will work for existing staff).

If the decision is not taken we risk losing the support of the incumbent suppliers, A2Dominion and St Mungo’s, who have agreed to continuing support the existing cohort until the new contract is sealed. In a worst case scenario, we could be left in a position where some of our most vulnerable residents are without support and may struggle to sustain their tenancy as a result.

Other options considered were as follows:

·       Extension of current contracts to enable continuation of the current service delivered by A2Dominion and St Mungo’s. This was not an option as the current contracts do not allow for any further extensions;

·       Discontinue the Housing First service when the contracts with A2Dominion and St Mungo’s end – this option was not advised for the following reasons:

·       The Council is fully committed to the Housing First programme, as it is a key element of both the Council’s Housing, Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2023-28, and Oxfordshire’s Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2021-26.

·       A total of 33 persons are currently accommodated in Council and A2Dominion properties under the support contracts held by St Mungo’s and A2Dominion. These individuals are in need of the Housing First support service in order to maintain their accommodation. There would be a high risk of homelessness and rough sleeping if this support was not in place. At present there is no alterative support service that could replace the Housing First support service. A further 7 individuals are currently being supported to obtain housing under these contracts.