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| Source: | Find a Tender Service (FTS) |
| Notice Type: | Award notice |
| Buyer: | East Suffolk Council |
| Main Category: | Services |
| Procurement Method: | Direct award |
| Method Rationale: | Due to the immediate insolvency of Access Community trust who previously awarded Lots 1, 2 and 5, this has created an absence of competition for technical and operational reasons. The requirement relates to the continued provision of accommodation and associated services to vulnerable individuals and households already placed within the service. This includes continuity of occupation, property management arrangements, safeguarding provisions, and established support mechanisms. Only Orwell Housing Association is currently able to deliver the requirement because: They have immediate operational capacity to take over and manage the existing accommodation portfolio at short notice; They are able to mobilise without disruption to residents places in the Lots 1, 2 and 5 , ensuring continuity of housing and support arrangements; They possess the necessary infrastructure, and management capability to absorb the service seamlessly. There are no reasonable alternative suppliers who could assume delivery within the required timeframe without significant disruption; A new procurement exercise would result in unavoidable delays, during which accommodation provision could not be guaranteed; Transitioning to a new supplier without continuity would create significant operational and safeguarding risks, including loss of placements and breakdown of support arrangements. Critically, any delay or failure to secure immediate provision would lead to: Eviction of individuals and households currently housed under the contract, and A direct and immediate risk of homelessness, in breach of the Council's statutory duties under the Housing Act 1996 (as amended), including duties to prevent and relieve homelessness. Insolvency The direct award arises directly from the insolvency of Access Community Trust in February 2026. This constitutes a qualifying circumstance under Schedule 5, as the previous provider became subject to insolvency proceedings, resulting in the loss of commissioned supported accommodation bedspaces. This created an immediate requirement to secure alternative provision to maintain service delivery and protect vulnerable residents. The award of the contract to Orwell Housing ensures continued provision of services on terms advantageous to the Council, as it enables continuity within the existing East Suffolk Housing Pathway model without the disruption, delay, or additional cost of re-procuring services in a destabilised market. Extreme and unavoidable urgency The circumstances also meet the test of extreme and unavoidable urgency: The services are strictly necessary, as they relate to the provision of supported accommodation for individuals at risk of homelessness. The urgency was not attributable to the Council, as it resulted from the unforeseen collapse of an external provider. The situation could not reasonably have been foreseen, despite appropriate procurement and contract management arrangements being in place. There is insufficient time to undertake a competitive procurement process without creating a significant risk to service continuity and resident welfare. The direct award to Orwell Housing is therefore justified under Schedule 5 as a special case, as it is both necessary due to supplier insolvency and required to address extreme and unavoidable urgency. The approach is proportionate and ensures continuity of critical services while maintaining compliance with the Procurement Act 2023. |
All 3 notices for this procurement, oldest first.
East Suffolk Housing Pathway Lot 1, 2 and 5
East Suffolk Housing Pathway ;Lots 1, 2 and 5
East Suffolk Housing Pathway
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Awarded to
| Award value: | £660,434.87 |
| Award status: | Pending |
East Suffolk Housing Pathway Lot 1, 2 and 5 Commissioning bed spaces in East Suffolk that will provide supported accommodation to people with identified housing and support needs but not ready to live independently.
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Book a free consultation →| Tender Status: | Closed |
| Estimated Value (ex. VAT): | Not specified |
| Release Date: | 1 June 2026 |
| Application Deadline: | — |
| Contract Start Date: | — |
| Contract End Date: | 10 March 2028 |
| Contract Duration: | NaN years |
| Procurement ID (OCID): | ocds-h6vhtk-06a9fa |
| Notice Reference: | 051247-2026 |