Decision details

Agree to Gloucester City Council awarding a contract to People, Potential, Possibilities (P3) for delivery of the Somewhere Safe to Stay Hubs following a procurement process through the countywide Community and Accommodation Based Support (CABS) framework.

The Gloucestershire Strategic Housing Partnership has been awarded funding through the Ministry of Housing, Community and Local Government’s (MHCLG) Rough Sleeping Initiative for the delivery of “Somewhere Safe to Stay Hubs” in Gloucester and Cheltenham until 31 March 2022. Since February 2021 Gloucester City Council has been the host organisation for the countywide Housing Partnership Programme Team, and acts as lead contractor on behalf of the Partnership for countywide rough sleeping interventions.

This decision follows an invitation to tender issued to the County Council’s Community and Accommodation Based Services (CABS) framework, which is available for use by all Gloucestershire local authorities and public agencies. A total of four suppliers had an opportunity to respond to this tender having previously been accepted to the framework. An evaluation panel including representatives from Gloucester City Council and the wider Partnership has concluded that the preferred bid was submitted by P3 and has recommended that an award be made to that supplier. The total value of the contract is £1,826,738 from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2027. Thisincludes a break clause after 6 months and then every 12 months thereafter, which is subject to confirmation of continued funding from the MHCLG; ongoing evidence of the need for and suitability of the service; and demonstration of satisfactory performance.

Somewhere Safe to Stay Hubs are open 24/7 and provide a safe environment for individuals who are rough sleeping in Gloucestershire to access needs-assessment and referral to wider Housing and support services, with the intention of enabling individuals to make and sustain decisions to move away from life on the streets. The provider will be required to provide appropriate premises in Gloucester and Cheltenham to deliver this service in addition to providing suitably qualified staff who have experience of working with and supporting vulnerable adults. The service specification has been prepared by officers from Gloucester City Council and other partners and was scrutinised and endorsed by the countywide Partnership’s Oversight Board, which includes representation from all Partner organisations.

The Hubs were first opened in December 2018 using RSI funding and the contract for these services has been managed by Gloucestershire County Council since that time. The existing contracts expire on 30 September 2021 and the Housing Partnership have agreed that successor contracts should be held by the Partnership Programme Team hosted by Gloucester City. 

A tender process has been completed according to procurement regulations and P3 have been identified as the preferred bidder following evaluation and moderation.

We could issue a contract for 6-months only based on funding already confirmed by MHCLG: however, we considered that given the requirement to identify premises that this would generate significant risks and uncertainty for any potential supplier that would be reflected in costs and represent poor value for money. Given the strong likelihood of sustained funding for the Hubs into next financial year and beyond the Housing Partnership considered and agreed that a longer contract with break clauses was more appropriate.

We could not deliver Somewhere Safe to Stay Hubs in Gloucestershire, however this would be likely to negatively impact our ability to access MHCLG funding through the Rough Sleeping Initiative. MHCLG have been clear that they consider the Hubs to be a critical aspect in our countywide response to rough sleeping, and the Hubs have provided and continue to provide a route away from the streets for a significant number of individuals who would otherwise be very likely to be sleeping on the streets in Gloucestershire. The funding awarded is made available for the SSTS Hubs specifically and is non-fungible.

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