Decision details
Direct Award of contract for Housing First Service for Rough Sleepers (Officer Non-Key Recordable Decision)
Decision Maker: Corporate Director of Partnerships, Housing & Residents Services
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
Purpose:
This decision concerns the procurement of a Housing First Service for rough sleepers funded by the Department of Levelling Up, Homes and Communities (DLUHC) under its Rough Sleeper Initiatives (RSI) Grant, and the Greater London Authority (GLA) under its Rough Sleepers Accommodation Programme (RSAP).
Decision:
(1) To note the Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness & Renters Security has granted an exemption from the requirement to tender for a Medium Value Contract for a Housing First Service for Rough Sleepers.
(2) To note the pre-tender considerations relating to award of the contract.
(3) To approve the direct award of the contract for a Housing First Service for rough sleepers for a period of thirteen (13) months from 1 April 2024 to 30 April 2025 in the sum of £231,672 including VAT to St Mungo Community Housing Association (the Contract).
(4) To confirm that there is sufficient budgetary provision for the proposed contract in (3) above.
Reasons for the decision:
Rough sleepers are one of the most vulnerable groups in society, and many have high levels of complex and interrelated needs such as mental health problems and drug and alcohol dependencies. The longer someone sleeps rough, the more likely these conditions are to get worse.
A number of government led initiatives have also been introduced nationally such as Rough Sleeping Initiative, Single Homeless accommodation Programme, Housing First and Rough Sleeping Drug and Alcohol Treatment grant.
The current Government has also committed to ending rough sleeping by 2024 and is working with boroughs and charities with a commitment to maintaining investment in services.
Despite these efforts however, rough sleeper counts have been rising. Government statistics for 2023 recorded a 22.7% increase in the number of people sleeping rough in England since 2022.
The contract award for this Housing First service is designed to assist up to 18 entrenched rough sleepers with a chance to rebuild their lives.
Alternative options considered:
The Council has secured RSI & RSAP funding to support entrenched rough sleepers until 31 March 2025.
As there are no further options to extend the existing contract with St Mungo’s an exemption has been obtained to the general requirement under the Council’s Contract Standing Order to seek quotes so the Corporate Director, Resident Services can direct award a contract for the provision of a Housing First service for rough sleepers for a period of thirteen (13) months to St Mungo’s so that this service can be aligned with the current funding and allow officers to go out to tender in September 2024 to reprocure this service subject, to the new RSI and GLA Grant determination. An additional month (1 April – 30 April 25) has been added to the extension to allow the Council to receive the RSI and RSAP funding which is expected in May 2025.
Officers consider that starting a contract in May 2025 is the most sensible decision to ensure value for money by securing a good number of bids. In the interim, to ensure continuity of existing Housing First services, a direct award is recommended.
Wards Affected: (All Wards);
Cabinet/Committee Decision or Scheme of Delegation: Officer Scheme of Delegation (Part 3 - Constitution) & Contract Standing Orders
Parties Consulted: Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Renters Security
Contact: Laurence Coaker, Director - Housing Needs & Support Email: laurence.coaker@brent.gov.uk Tel: 020 8937 2788.
Publication date: 12/03/2024
Date of decision: 11/03/2024
Accompanying Documents:
- Restricted enclosure