Official UK procurement notice
WSCC Supported Accommodation and Housing Pathway (16-25yo)
Authority: West Sussex County Council (Local council)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionWest Sussex County Council is utilising a Competitive Flexible Procedure procurement under the Procurement Act 2023 to award multiple contracts (Light Touch) to successful Suppliers to deliver Contracts for countywide Supported Accommodation and Housing Pathway services for young people aged 16-25.
The Service will provide safe accommodation and tailored support for young people in care, leaving care, or at risk of homelessness, helping them build independence, stability and positive life outcomes.
Provision includes 24/7 fully staffed supported accommodation in key towns and flexible Transitional Housing across West Sussex.
The current contract provision expires on the 30th of September 2026.
The services have been redesigned to best suit the needs of West Sussex young people.
The commissioning of these services is a collaboration between WSCC and the District and Boroughs.
In order to provide these services, the supplier is required to be registered as a Social Landlord and, in addition to that, where the service is provided to young people under 18 years of age, OFSTED registration will be mandatory.
Contracts will run for five years with options to extend up to a total Contract length of 9 years.
- How the procedure runs: The procurement will be conducted using a Competitive Flexible Procedure comprising four stages. - Stage 1: Suppliers will submit a Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ), Conditions of Participation, and a full Tender response. - Stage 2: Validation, including presentations and site visits, will be undertaken to verify and substantiate tender submissions. - Stage 3: Negotiation, negotiations may be conducted with one or more Suppliers to refine and clarify tender submissions, in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023. - Stage 4: Remaining Suppliers will be invited to submit a Best and Final Offer (BAFO). The Council reserves the right to award the contract following Stage 2 without proceeding to negotiation or BAFO where a tender constitutes the Most Advantageous Tender once validated. The Council may issue updated or refined procurement documents at any point before the relevant submission deadlines to reflect the current stage of the Competitive Flexible Procedure, any modifications to requirements, or new information arising during the process. Following contract award, and in accordance with Schedule 8 of the Procurement Act 2023, the Council may introduce modifications to the contract where permissible, including unforeseen modifications arising over the contract term. The proposed services are based on current funding allocations and may be subject to adjustment during the lifetime of the contract in response to changes in local or central government funding. The Contracting Authority is West Sussex County Council (WSCC), or any successor body that may assume WSCC's functions as a result of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) or Devolution. Successor bodies may include (but are not limited to) a Local Authority, Combined Authority, Combined County Authority, Strategic Authority, or any entity established under relevant legislation. The Parties acknowledge that organisational structures or responsibilities may change during the contract term, including through merger, reorganisation or abolition. In such cases: - WSCC may assign, novate or otherwise transfer its rights and obligations under the contract to a successor body. - The Provider must cooperate fully with any such transfer, including executing required documentation. - No compensation will be payable solely due to such reorganisation, and no adjustment to the Contract Price will be made unless expressly agreed by both parties. To view the full Tender Documentation and submit a response please see the following link to Atamis, our e-tendering Portal and either Register or Login) - https://atamis-7669.my.site.com/s/Welcome
CPV: Social work and related services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1RenewalPublished value£25,000,000
- Economic & financial standing
Financial Capacity and Legal Capacity will be assessed on PASS/FAIL basis.
For details please check the Associated Procurement Document pack. Both will be assessed as self-certification as part of the Conditions of Participation. (The Council will not ask for any proof of insurance or audited accounts before contract award).
- Technical & professional ability
Technical Ability will be assessed as part of the Conditions of Participation.
What it takes to wini
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 morei
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).
- Technical Quality: Q1 - Organisation and Service level, 28% Q2 - Community of Practice, 5% Q3 - Mobilisation, 15% Q4 - Voice and Participation, 21% Q5 - Service Delivery, 21% Q6a - Social Value, 5% Q6b - Social Value, Climate Impacts and Carbon Reduction, 5% Total - 100%
- Commercial Price: Price per Quality Point. The Price element of the Commercial Evaluation will be scored using the Price per Quality Point commercial scoring methodology. The Tenderers Weekly Total Cost Per Bed (from Appendix M - Pricing Schedule) be divided by the Tenderers Total Technical Quality Score (out of 100%), which will produce a Price per Quality Point score.
- Economic & financial standing
Financial Capacity and Legal Capacity will be assessed on PASS/FAIL basis.
For details please check the Associated Procurement Document pack. Both will be assessed as self-certification as part of the Conditions of Participation. (The Council will not ask for any proof of insurance or audited accounts before contract award).
- Technical & professional ability
Technical Ability will be assessed as part of the Conditions of Participation.
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
- Closed
- 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
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 22 May 2025, 16:51 BST
- Last source update
- 13 Feb 2026, 16:47 GMT
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 1 Jul 2026
- Authority reference
C22739- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-013504- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-051f35Find a Tender- Contract terms summary
30 days in arrears
- How it runs
The procurement will be conducted using a Competitive Flexible Procedure comprising four stages.
- Stage 1: Suppliers will submit a Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ), Conditions of Participation, and a full Tender response.
- Stage 2: Validation, including presentations and site visits, will be undertaken to verify and substantiate tender submissions.
- Stage 3: Negotiation, negotiations may be conducted with one or more Suppliers to refine and clarify tender submissions, in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023.
- Stage 4: Remaining Suppliers will be invited to submit a Best and Final Offer (BAFO).
The Council reserves the right to award the contract following Stage 2 without proceeding to negotiation or BAFO where a tender constitutes the Most Advantageous Tender once validated.
The Council may issue updated or refined procurement documents at any point before the relevant submission deadlines to reflect the current stage of the Competitive Flexible Procedure, any modifications to requirements, or new information arising during the process.
Following contract award, and in accordance with Schedule 8 of the Procurement Act 2023, the Council may introduce modifications to the contract where permissible, including unforeseen modifications arising over the contract term.
The proposed services are based on current funding allocations and may be subject to adjustment during the lifetime of the contract in response to changes in local or central government funding.
The Contracting Authority is West Sussex County Council (WSCC), or any successor body that may assume WSCC's functions as a result of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) or Devolution. Successor bodies may include (but are not limited to) a Local Authority, Combined Authority, Combined County Authority, Strategic Authority, or any entity established under relevant legislation.
The Parties acknowledge that organisational structures or responsibilities may change during the contract term, including through merger, reorganisation or abolition. In such cases:
- WSCC may assign, novate or otherwise transfer its rights and obligations under the contract to a successor body.
- The Provider must cooperate fully with any such transfer, including executing required documentation.
- No compensation will be payable solely due to such reorganisation, and no adjustment to the Contract Price will be made unless expressly agreed by both parties.
To view the full Tender Documentation and submit a response please see the following link to Atamis, our e-tendering Portal and either Register or Login) - atamis-7669.my.site.com/s/Welcome ↗
- Risks
The following potential risks have been identified:
- Mobilisation risk due to time constraints.
- Legislative changes, the Competitive Flexible Procedure is still relatively new to both the Council and the Tenderers.
- Full Service coverage across West Sussex, the Services offered through this tender may not evenly distribute Services across key towns/areas/locations as required.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 23 Mar 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 13 Mar 2026, 17:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
To view the tender documentation and submit a response please click on the following link to our e-tendering Portal and either Register or Login). atamis-7669.my.site.com/s/Welcome ↗
Timeline
22 May 2025 → 1 Oct 2026 · 8 dates- Planning notice published22 May 2025, 16:51 BST
- Market engagement366 days ago29 Oct 2025, 23:59 GMT
Supplier Engagement Event (virtual, via Microsoft Teams) on 29 October 2025 at 2.00- 3.00pm, please email strategic.housingCYPL@westsussex.gov.uk with ‘SA Supplier Event’ in the subject line, and in the email tell us your name, your organisation and your email address, and we will send you an invitation.
- Next notice expected276 days ago27 Jan 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Tender notice published259 days ago13 Feb 2026, 14:55 GMT
- Clarification questions by231 days ago13 Mar 2026, 17:00 GMT
- Submission deadline221 days ago23 Mar 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Award decision expected by121 days ago1 Jul 2026, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts30 days ago1 Oct 2026, 00:00 BST
Notice history
8 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 22 May 2025- Pipeline notice published22 May 2025, 16:51 BSTUK1
- Preliminary market engagement notice published6 Oct 2025, 16:38 BSTUK2
- Tender notice published13 Feb 2026, 14:55 GMTUK4
- Published value updated to £25,000,00013 Feb 2026, 14:55 GMTwas £18,000,000
- Status changed to active13 Feb 2026, 14:55 GMT
- Procurement method changed13 Feb 2026, 14:55 GMT
- Deadline published: 23 Mar 2026, 12:00 GMT13 Feb 2026, 14:55 GMT
- Tender notice published13 Feb 2026, 16:47 GMTUK4
Published amendments (1)
Correction of spelling error.
Routine re-releases (4)
- 2025-05: 1 release · 22 May 2025
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (4)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- Pipeline notice Pipeline notice on Find a Tender