HCC02/24- Provision of Countywide Housing Advocacy for Victims of Domestic Abuse

Hertfordshire County Council (the ‘Council’) wishes to establish a contract for the provision of a countywide housing advocacy service for victims of domestic abuse and further information in regard to this opportunity can be found in II.2.4) Description of the procurement field Organisations wishing to take part in this project are invited to "express interest" which will give access to the full procurement documents in the e-tendering system. Please see VI.3) Additional information for further information. Any questions relating to this procurement must be made via the correspondence area in the e-Tendering system, in accordance with the procurement documents and can be addressed to the main contact as shown in the details above.

Hertfordshire County Council (the ‘Council’) acting as lead commissioner on behalf of District funding partners wishes to procure a countywide housing advocacy service to support victims and survivors of domestic abuse who have a housing need, to access safe and suitable accommodation. The service will also provide domestic abuse training to housing teams. The service will be based on the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (D A H A) housing advocacy model and forms part of a Whole Housing Approach. The aim of the service will be to increase housing stability and safety for all victims and survivors of domestic abuse. Housing advocates will be co-located with district and borough housing teams and will be that conduit between victims/survivors who have a housing need and the districts, through providing housing advocacy. The advocates will also be embedded in the local multi-disciplinary teams supporting homeless adults experiencing multiple disadvantages.The current service arrangements, which is running as a pilot, expires on 30 June 2024. The anticipated total annual joint expenditure for this Service is approximately.GBP 200,000.00. Therefore the estimated total value of the Contract could be up to GBP600,000.00The Contract Period for this Contract is an initial period of two years with the option to extend by a further one year. Therefore, the maximum duration of this Contract could be three years. unless terminated in accordance with the provisions of the Contract.Please note that the requirements of the Contract will be subject to available financial resources, supplier performance and flexibility to meet changing demands. The Council will be entitled to enter into other Contracts and arrangements with other Providers for the provision of any, or all, of the requirements which are the same as, or similar to those specified under the established Contract.Organisations should be aware that due to the nature of the Services provided, any contract formed as a result of this procurement process shall be executed as a deed. Organisations should seek independent legal advice on the implications of this prior to submitting their bid, where appropriate.