housing contracts

The Service to be provided by the Provider is the provision of a Housing Support Service, primarily for single people or childless couples who are homeless and may have complex needs, residing in supported, interim accommodation. The Provider will also provide or make partnering arrangements with another organisation to provide a Housing Management Service for the accommodation at specific Premises and where applicable will enter into such associated lease arrangements with the owner landlord of the Premises as may be necessary for this purpose. The Housing Management Service does not form part of this Contract but is required to be delivered in conjunction with the Service. Tenderers can determine whether they will provide this service, or whether they will contract with another organisation to provide this service. How this related Housing Management Service is provided will directly impact upon Council budgets for the provision of homeless services and the amount of government funding available to support these services. The Council looks to maximise the monies available to better assist more Service Users. The specific Premises to support the Housing Support Service must be Specified Accommodation as defined by Law. The manner in which the Provider makes formal arrangements for the lease of the Premises will directly impact upon the Council and may result in higher costs to the Council. In respect of any subsidy shortfall however, while the Council cannot mandate how a Provider arranges their commercial business, the Council seeks to maximise the funds available to it to provide appropriate services and to allow maximum recovery, by the Council from the UK Government, of Housing Benefit paid for Service Users assessed as needing Housing Support Services. To assist the Council to maximise recovery of funds Tenderers would require to arrange that they are either (1) a Housing Association, a relevant body in accordance with Regulation 75H of the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 as amended and enter into the occupancy arrangement (lease between themselves and the Service Users) or alternatively (2) contract with a third party who is a Housing Association and they would enter into lease arrangements with the Service Users and make separate contractual arrangements directly with the Tenderer. Tenderers should be aware that Charities are also relevant bodies for the purpose of the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006, however arrangements made with a Charity would require to be referred to the Rent Officer who would set the amount recoverable, whereas Housing Association arrangements are not subject to this form of review which allows for greater recovery by the Council.

Renfrewshire Council has an existing Flexible Framework ("framework") for the provision of Care at Home and Housing Support Services under the direction of Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (RHSCP). The framework allows RHSCP to purchase services to support (predominantly older) people to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible with the care and support they need being tailored to them, provided in a tailored and responsive manner. There may also be the occasional requirement for a Renfrewshire Council Children’s Services to arrange support services for a child. The Service is delivered 24 hours per day, 52 weeks per year including public holidays. The size of each individual package of care varies and is dependent on the individual’s assessed needs and outcomes. As the services provided by this framework fall within the ‘Social and Other Specific Services’ category, and it is subject to the procurement regimes set out in section 7, Social and Other Specific Services, both of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, a flexible approach was designed which allows “new entrants” to apply to be on the framework throughout the duration, as and when determined by RHSCP. RHSCP have indicated intent to reopen the framework to new entrants, to ensure capacity to deliver services across Renfrewshire. The process followed will be the same process used to appoint the original providers. Any tenderer bidding for appointment to the framework will be required to satisfy the same minimum criteria as those awarded a place under the original tender process. INTERESTED PARTIES MUST READ THE ATTACHED DOCUMENT (CAH-PIN Minimum Requirements) FOR FULL DETAILS OF THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS FRAMEWORK. - Technical and Professional Ability (2 examples of previous experience of delivering similar services. These MUST be within the last 3 years and demonstrate relevant experience and capacity); - Care Inspectorate Requirements (Registered to deliver a Combined Support Service - Care at Home and a Housing Support Service AND must have minimum Quality Grade of 3 for all key questions); - SSSC Registration and PVG Checks; - Insurance Requirements; - Financial Standing Requirements; - Health and Safety Requirements; - Cyber Security Requirements. TENDERERS MUST MEET THE MINIMUM CRITERIA, OTHERWISE THEIR SUBMISSION WILL BE EXCLUDED FROM EVALUATION AND THEY WILL NOT BE APPOINTED TO THE FLEXIBLE FRAMEWORK. Any Tenderer who does not meet the minimum requirements will not be eligible for appointment to the Flexible Framework but may participate in any future reopening of the Flexible Framework when these requirements have been met.