Find a TenderCancelledProcurement termination notice

Published 21 Aug 2025, 11:19 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Provision of Security Services to Designated Accommodation Sites

Official notice

Authority: Cornwall Council (Local council)

ServicesCompetitive flexible procedureAbove thresholdLight touch regimeSME suitableVCSE suitableAccelerated

Sectors: Business Services & Consultancy (79) Delivery: South West (UKK3)

Published estimate£4,092,869≈ £1.4m / year · £4,911,443 inc. VAT

Submissions closed 11 Sept 2025

Next notice expected 22 Aug 2025

Contract term 3 yrsends 31 Mar 2029 · up to 31 Mar 2032 with extensions · starts 1 Apr 2026

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Cornwall Council is seeking a qualified and trauma-informed security provider to deliver professional security services across designated supported accommodation schemes for individuals experiencing homelessness or at risk of rough sleeping. The successful supplier will provide static and mobile patrols, incident response, and emergency management across multiple sites in Cornwall. Services will be delivered by SIA-licensed personnel with enhanced DBS checks, working in collaboration with housing support teams and site managers to ensure the safety of service users, staff, and the wider community. This procurement is being conducted under the Light Touch Regime in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023, allowing procedural flexibility while maintaining transparency and equal treatment. The contract will run for an initial term of three (3) years, with an option to extend for a further three (3) years, offering a maximum potential duration of six (6) years.

How the procedure runs: This procurement is being conducted by Cornwall Council under the Competitive Flexible Procedure in accordance with Section 20 of the Procurement Act 2023 and the flexibilities afforded to Light Touch Contracts under Section 9 and Schedule 1 of the Procurement Regulations 2024. The contract concerns the provision of professional, trauma-informed security services to designated supported accommodation sites across Cornwall. The Authority has opted for a two-stage multistage process to ensure proportionality, manage bidder volume, and maintain high service standards. This approach is informed by prior market engagement and the volume of responses received in a previously abandoned procurement for similar services. Stage 1 invites all interested suppliers to submit a Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ), which includes pass/fail criteria and scored sections assessing technical and professional capability, local operational presence, and TUPE transition planning. Up to five (5) suppliers will be shortlisted based on moderated scores and invited to participate in Stage 2. Stage 2 comprises the Invitation to Tender (ITT), where shortlisted suppliers submit final tenders. These will be evaluated using a Price per Quality Point (PQP) methodology to identify the Most Advantageous Tender. Quality criteria include service delivery, workforce capability, risk management, value for money, technology use, and social value. Price submissions must meet minimum hourly rate and cost ratio requirements. The procedure is designed to be transparent, competitive, and tailored to the complexity and sensitivity of the service, which involves safeguarding vulnerable individuals in high-risk environments. The Authority reserves the right to invite the next highest-ranked supplier(s) from Stage 1 if any shortlisted supplier withdraws or fails to submit a compliant tender. Modifications to the procurement and contract are permitted under Section 74(2) of the Act, reflecting the dynamic nature of the service and the need for operational flexibility via Task Order Forms. The contract will not be divided into Lots, as a single-provider model is deemed proportionate and necessary to ensure consistency, safeguarding compliance, and rapid mobilisation across multiple sites. This procedure aligns with PA2023 principles of equal treatment, transparency, and proportionality, and supports Cornwall Council’s strategic objectives for community safety, public protection, and inclusive service delivery.

CPV: Guard services · Patrol services · Security services

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · value published

Lot #1CancelledRenewal 3 yrsSMEVCSEPublished value£4,092,869

Contract period: 1 Apr 2026 – 31 Mar 2029 (3 yrs) · up to 31 Mar 2032 with extensionsValue: £4,092,869 exc. VAT · £4,911,443 inc. VAT

Delivery: South WestEligibility: SME eligibleVCSE eligible

Extensions: The contract includes an option to extend for a further three (3) years beyond the initial three-year term. Scope flexibility via Task Order Forms is integral to the contract and not considered an optional feature. · The contract will commence on 1 April 2026 for an initial term of three (3) years. The Authority reserves the right to extend the contract for a further period of up to three (3) additional years, resulting in a maximum potential duration of six (6) years (3+3). Any extension will be subject to performance, funding availability, and the Authority’s operational requirements. The extension mechanism is built into the contract terms and may be exercised at the Authority’s sole discretion, in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 and applicable regulations.Second stage: up to 5 candidates invited to tender

79710000 Security services 79713000 Guard services 79715000 Patrol services

Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)3

Economic & financial standing
Suppliers must demonstrate appropriate legal and financial standing to deliver the contract. This includes:
Confirmation of registration on the Central Digital Platform (CDP) with up-to-date core supplier information.
Submission of exclusion information for the supplier and associated persons, including checks against the Cabinet Office debarment list.
Evidence of economic and financial standing, assessed via independent credit rating reports and financial ratios (turnover, liquidity, gearing, and net profit margin).
Minimum turnover requirement of £1,700,000 per annum over the last two financial years.
Minimum liquidity ratio of 1.0 and gearing ratio below 90%.
Suppliers must hold or commit to holding appropriate insurance levels and SSIP accreditation (or equivalent).
Where applicable, parent company guarantees or other securities may be required.
Failure to meet these conditions may result in exclusion from the procurement process.
Technical & professional ability
Suppliers must demonstrate sufficient technical and professional capability to deliver the required security services across multiple supported accommodation sites. This includes:
Proven experience in delivering contracts of similar nature, scale, and complexity, particularly involving vulnerable service users and trauma-informed environments.
Evidence of operational readiness and local presence in Cornwall, including staffing, supervision, and rapid response capabilities.
A clear plan for managing TUPE transitions, onboarding inherited staff, and ensuring compliance with safeguarding, SIA licensing, and training requirements.
Ability to mobilise services by the contract start date, including equipment, personnel, and site-specific arrangements.
Completion of the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ), including scored responses on technical capacity, local infrastructure, and quality assurance mechanisms.
Failure to meet these conditions may result in exclusion from the procurement process.
please refer to the ITT document for details
Condition of participation
Suppliers are selected through a two-stage Competitive Flexible Procedure under the Light Touch Regime of the Procurement Act 2023.
Stage 1 involves completion of a Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ), which assesses:
Compliance with exclusion grounds and registration on the Central Digital Platform.
Legal, financial, and insurance standing.
SIA Approved Contractor Scheme accreditation.
Technical and professional capability, including relevant experience, local operational presence in Cornwall, and TUPE transition planning.
Responses to scored PSQ questions are evaluated and moderated by a panel. The five highest scoring suppliers were shortlisted and invited to submit full tenders in Stage 2.
shortlisting

What it takes to win
i
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).

Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add more

How bids were scored

PQP: The contract will be awarded based on the Most Advantageous Tender using a Price per Quality Point (PQP) methodology. The evaluation comprises both quality and price elements, with the following weightings: Quality (100%): Assessed through responses to eight scored questions covering service delivery, workforce capability, risk management, value for money, innovation, and social value. Each question is weighted individually, with the total quality score contributing to the PQP calculation. Price: Evaluated as part of the PQP formula, where the supplier’s total price is divided by their total quality score to determine value for money. The lowest PQP score identifies the most advantageous tender. Social value is embedded within the quality assessment and includes both quantitative and qualitative components. Suppliers must meet minimum compliance thresholds to be considered.

Conditions of participation3

Economic & financial standing
Suppliers must demonstrate appropriate legal and financial standing to deliver the contract. This includes:
Confirmation of registration on the Central Digital Platform (CDP) with up-to-date core supplier information.
Submission of exclusion information for the supplier and associated persons, including checks against the Cabinet Office debarment list.
Evidence of economic and financial standing, assessed via independent credit rating reports and financial ratios (turnover, liquidity, gearing, and net profit margin).
Minimum turnover requirement of £1,700,000 per annum over the last two financial years.
Minimum liquidity ratio of 1.0 and gearing ratio below 90%.
Suppliers must hold or commit to holding appropriate insurance levels and SSIP accreditation (or equivalent).
Where applicable, parent company guarantees or other securities may be required.
Failure to meet these conditions may result in exclusion from the procurement process.
Technical & professional ability
Suppliers must demonstrate sufficient technical and professional capability to deliver the required security services across multiple supported accommodation sites. This includes:
Proven experience in delivering contracts of similar nature, scale, and complexity, particularly involving vulnerable service users and trauma-informed environments.
Evidence of operational readiness and local presence in Cornwall, including staffing, supervision, and rapid response capabilities.
A clear plan for managing TUPE transitions, onboarding inherited staff, and ensuring compliance with safeguarding, SIA licensing, and training requirements.
Ability to mobilise services by the contract start date, including equipment, personnel, and site-specific arrangements.
Completion of the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ), including scored responses on technical capacity, local infrastructure, and quality assurance mechanisms.
Failure to meet these conditions may result in exclusion from the procurement process.
please refer to the ITT document for details
Condition of participation
Suppliers are selected through a two-stage Competitive Flexible Procedure under the Light Touch Regime of the Procurement Act 2023.
Stage 1 involves completion of a Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ), which assesses:
Compliance with exclusion grounds and registration on the Central Digital Platform.
Legal, financial, and insurance standing.
SIA Approved Contractor Scheme accreditation.
Technical and professional capability, including relevant experience, local operational presence in Cornwall, and TUPE transition planning.
Responses to scored PSQ questions are evaluated and moderated by a panel. The five highest scoring suppliers were shortlisted and invited to submit full tenders in Stage 2.
shortlisting

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record

Procedure method: Competitive flexible procedure
Legal basis: UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category: Services
Notice status: Cancelled
Procurement threshold: Above threshold (FTS publication)
Regulatory regime: Light touch regime
Commercial structure: Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type: Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered: Yes (GPA)
Recurring procurement: Unspecified in notice
First published: 21 Aug 2025, 11:19 BST
Last source update: 20 Oct 2025, 10:20 BST
Award evaluation window: Submission end – 15 Dec 2025
Authority reference: DN715931
FTS notice number: 2025/S 000-050558
Accelerated: Light touch contract
Latest notice: Procurement termination notice (UK12)
Classification (CPV): Guard servicesPatrol servicesSecurity services
Delivery area: South West (UKK3)
Official registry OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-058bf4 Find a Tender
Contract terms summary: please refer to the ITT document appendix D with Contract terms and conditions

How it runs: This procurement is being conducted by Cornwall Council under the Competitive Flexible Procedure in accordance with Section 20 of the Procurement Act 2023 and the flexibilities afforded to Light Touch Contracts under Section 9 and Schedule 1 of the Procurement Regulations 2024. The contract concerns the provision of professional, trauma-informed security services to designated supported accommodation sites across Cornwall.
The Authority has opted for a two-stage multistage process to ensure proportionality, manage bidder volume, and maintain high service standards. This approach is informed by prior market engagement and the volume of responses received in a previously abandoned procurement for similar services.
Stage 1 invites all interested suppliers to submit a Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ), which includes pass/fail criteria and scored sections assessing technical and professional capability, local operational presence, and TUPE transition planning. Up to five (5) suppliers will be shortlisted based on moderated scores and invited to participate in Stage 2.
Stage 2 comprises the Invitation to Tender (ITT), where shortlisted suppliers submit final tenders. These will be evaluated using a Price per Quality Point (PQP) methodology to identify the Most Advantageous Tender. Quality criteria include service delivery, workforce capability, risk management, value for money, technology use, and social value. Price submissions must meet minimum hourly rate and cost ratio requirements.
The procedure is designed to be transparent, competitive, and tailored to the complexity and sensitivity of the service, which involves safeguarding vulnerable individuals in high-risk environments. The Authority reserves the right to invite the next highest-ranked supplier(s) from Stage 1 if any shortlisted supplier withdraws or fails to submit a compliant tender.
Modifications to the procurement and contract are permitted under Section 74(2) of the Act, reflecting the dynamic nature of the service and the need for operational flexibility via Task Order Forms. The contract will not be divided into Lots, as a single-provider model is deemed proportionate and necessary to ensure consistency, safeguarding compliance, and rapid mobilisation across multiple sites.
This procedure aligns with PA2023 principles of equal treatment, transparency, and proportionality, and supports Cornwall Council’s strategic objectives for community safety, public protection, and inclusive service delivery.

Review and risk notes

Risks: please refer to section 9 of the ITT document

How it was run

Official notice

Run through: ProContract (Due North) · Who buys & how to bid on ProContract

Supplier login requiredElectronic submission allowedLanguage: EN

Access & registration note: Free · short registration with manual review; public opportunity list

Requests to participate (first stage): 11 Sept 2025, 00:00 BST
Submission deadline: 11 Sept 2025, 00:00 BST
Clarification deadline: 27 Aug 2025, 00:00 BST
Submission channel: Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission: Allowed
Accepted languages: en

Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

www.supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk ↗

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Search for Project reference DN715931 Provision of Security Services to Designated Accommodation Sites

Timeline

21 Aug 2025 → 1 Apr 2026 · 8 dates

Planning notice published
21 Aug 2025, 11:19 BST
Tender notice published
21 Aug 2025, 14:34 BST
Next notice expected
22 Aug 2025, 23:59 BST
Clarification questions by
27 Aug 2025, 00:00 BST
Submission deadline
11 Sept 2025, 00:00 BST
Latest notice published372 days ago
20 Oct 2025, 10:20 BST
Award decision expected by316 days ago
15 Dec 2025, 23:59 GMT
Contract starts210 days ago
1 Apr 2026, 00:00 BST

Notice history

6 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 21 Aug 2025

Pipeline notice published
21 Aug 2025, 11:19 BST
UK1
Tender notice published
21 Aug 2025, 14:34 BST
UK4
Status changed to active
21 Aug 2025, 14:34 BST
Procurement method changed
21 Aug 2025, 14:34 BST
Procurement termination notice published
20 Oct 2025, 10:20 BST
UK12
Status changed to cancelled
20 Oct 2025, 10:20 BST

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast

Awards 1

Contracts signed 1

Awarded to	Value	Date	Status
supplier not published	—	17 Oct 2025	CancelledThe decision to terminate was made on 17th October 2025 and reflects a discrepancy identified in the assessment of the Stage 1 procurement process in respect of which the Council has received notice of potential legal challenge. As the Council is no longer able to maintain the integrity of the procurement process it has made the decision to terminate the process and re-tender in order to ensure the preservation of public funds. This re-tender will be scheduled to be published in a few week’s time with an amendment to the PSQ.

Contracts

Contract 1 · supplier not published
Signed
date not published
Value
—
Period
… – 31 Mar 2029
Status
cancelled

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Cornwall Council

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-PPON: PYRH-9827-DWLP County Hall, Truro, South West, TR1 3AYContact name, email, phone

Official documents & specifications (5)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Tender pack and attachments

Bidding documents and specifications tenderBidding documents and specificationsInvitation to Tender (ITT) – Provision of Security Services to Designated Accommodation Sites This document sets out the full details of Cornwall Council’s procurement for professional security services across supported accommodation schemes. It includes the scope of services, co…
Bidding documents and specifications tenderBidding documents and specificationsSpecification – Provision of Security Services to Designated Supported Accommodation Sites This document outlines the detailed service requirements for the delivery of professional security services across Cornwall Council’s supported accommodation schemes. It includes the scope …

Notices published for this procedure

Procurement termination notice tenderProcurement termination noticeUK12Procurement termination notice on Find a Tender20 Oct 2025, 10:20 BST
Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender21 Aug 2025, 14:34 BST
Pipeline notice planningPipeline noticeUK1Pipeline notice on Find a Tender21 Aug 2025, 11:19 BST