Provision of Community Accommodation Services

This notice invites suppliers to submit tenders for the establishment of an open framework for the provision of Community Accommodation Services (CAS). The framework will be established in accordance with section 49 of the Procurement Act 2023 and will operate as an open framework, allowing suppliers to be admitted at initial establishment and at planned reopening points. CAS comprises the provision of temporary accommodation and associated support for individuals leaving custody or serving sentences in the community. The services support public protection, offender management and resettlement outcomes, including the prevention of homelessness on release. CAS is not intended to provide settled accommodation or replace the statutory duties of local authorities. It operates as a bridge back into the community, proportionate to the level of risk presented. Accommodation is the core service, with varying levels of support depending on service type. The light touch open framework agreement is the first in a series of light touch open framework agreements that the Authority intends to award as part of an open framework scheme established pursuant to section 49 of the PA 23. The open framework scheme will have a maximum overall term of up to 8 years. The indicative term of each light touch open framework within the open framework scheme will therefore be as follows: 1. Light touch open framework one – 2 years with an option to extend up to 1 year (i.e. up to a maximum term of 3 years); 2. Light touch open framework two – 1 year with options to extend in increments of up to 1 year up to a further 3 years (i.e. up to a maximum term of 4 years); 3. Light touch open framework three – 1 year with options to extend in increments of up to 1 year, providing the overall term of the series of light touch open framework agreements does not exceed 8 years. The Authority will re-open the light touch open framework to the market at fixed points throughout the maximum eight-year term. Wh