Young Persons Accommodation and Support Services

Cardiff Council is preparing to recommission Young Persons Accommodation and Support Services and is issuing this notice to update the market on its intentions for the forthcoming procurement. Consultation and engagement activity has already informed the proposed service model, and the purpose of this notice is to provide potential bidders with advance information on the anticipated contract Lots, values, timetable and market event arrangements.

Background and Purpose

The Council is seeking to recommission an integrated model of housing-related support for young people aged 16 to 24 who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or moving on from care. The proposed model is intended to strengthen prevention, improve pathway flow, provide flexible accommodation and support options, and respond to increasing levels of complexity and need among young people.

The future services will support the Council’s statutory duties under relevant housing and social care legislation and will align with Cardiff’s Housing Support Programme Strategy, Corporate Parenting Strategy and wider commitments to preventing homelessness and improving outcomes for vulnerable young people.

Proposed Contract Lots

The Council anticipates tendering three separate contract Lots:

Lot 1 - Advice and Prevention, including early intervention, mediation and family support, and recruitment and management of supported lodgings placements. Approx. £350,000 per annum

(includes payments to those offering supported lodgings placements).

Lot 2 - Supported Accommodation for young people within identified provision, flexible support for young people with varying levels of need and provision of move-on floating support.

Approx. 110 units of accommodation; mix of hostels, smaller houses of multiple occupancy, dispersed provision and housing first. Approx. £2,900,000 per annum

Lot 3 - Supported Accommodation for young people within identified provision, flexible support for young people with varying levels of need and provision of move-on floating support.

Approx. 110 units of accommodation; mix of hostels, smaller houses of multiple occupancy, dispersed provision and housing first. Approx. £2,900,000 per annum

The values stated above are indicative and subject to final approval, confirmation of available funding, affordability within approved budgets and the final procurement documentation.

Management of Accommodation

For Lots 2 and 3, the Council is commissioning the support element only. The Council will provide a property schedule with the tender documentation, setting out the accommodation provision available for use. Successful tenderers will be responsible for entering into the necessary agreements with landlords for those properties and for delivering associated housing management duties. This will include setting rental charges and claiming the appropriate rental income, where applicable, to offset eligible housing management and accommodation-related costs.

Contract Duration

The proposed contracts are expected to commence on 1 April 2027 for an initial term of five years, with the option to extend for up to a further two periods of 12 months each, giving a maximum possible contract term of seven years.