WPCC30010 – Contract Award – Domestic Abuse Support Service

Decision Title: Contract Award – Domestic Abuse Support Service

Decision Reference Number: WPCC3-0010

Lead Officer: Richard Long, Development and Policy Lead

If force business, date approved by Chief Officer: N/A

Date: 8^th July 2021

Status:  Non confidential

Decision summary:

Following the completion of an open tender process, support is given to the award of the contract for the re-commissioned Domestic Abuse Support Service to the national charity Refuge.

I confirm that my register of interests declaration is up to date and that none of my interests preclude me from making this decision.

Signature: Philip Seccombe

Date: 16 July 2021

Supporting information

1. Background information

The current contract for the provision of Domestic Abuse accommodation and support services was due to end on 31st March 2021, with a tender process commencing in 2020 to select a provider. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the tender process was suspended and the current contract extended until 30th September 2021.

Following the completion of a Needs Assessment and Specification during autumn and winter, an Invitation to Tender was issued in March 2021. Two bids were received, but only one progressed to the Evaluation stage, which took place during May 2021. This bid was from the incumbent service provider – Refuge.

A multiagency evaluation panel has reviewed the Refuge bid and determined that quality and financial requirements have been met.

The Lead Commissioner for this Service is Warwickshire County Council (WCC), with co-commissioners being the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Warwickshire and the Warwickshire NHS Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

WCC have already made recommendations to the Leader of the Council and the Strategic Director of People, to move to contract award. The total cost of the contract across all available 7 years (5+2) of the contract is £7 million. The annual cost to the PCC has been agreed at £125,000.

2. List of additional information attached as appendices

Appendix A: OPCC (2021) DA Support Service Contract Award – July 2021 (PDF)

Appendix B: Previous decision and notification to WCC of PCC contributions:

• WPCC2 0174 – Joint commissioning-funding of DVA support services (PDF)
• Confirmation Letter to WCC (PDF)

3. Expected benefits

The provision of a properly selected and contracted Domestic Abuse Support Service, ensuring effective support at the point of crisis to victims of domestic abuse and violence.

4. Impact of not approving the application

The lack of a properly selected and contracted Domestic Abuse Support Service and the consequential impacts to victims of domestic abuse and violence.

5. Costs (including any identified savings)

A guide bid price was included in the tender of £948,500 to £1,077,000 per annum. The contract offered was for up to 7 years – an initial period of 5 years plus an option to extend for up to a further 2 years.

The Annual Service costs based on the winning bidders price is as follows:

* The % split is not an agreed formula but is included to provide clarity as to the proportion of contributions

** The PCC contribution has been previously agreed and subject to a recorded decision and letter of notification to WCC (see Appendix B)

6. Equality implications

There are no identified equality implications.

7. Legal

There are no identified legal issues.

8. Publication

Information in this form is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI Act) and other legislation.  Unless the information provided is covered by an exemption and stated to be either confidential or partly confidential, the information contained in the form will be published on the OPCC website.

Comments from the Treasurer

The costs contribution for the PCC is outlined with in this decision notice, totalling some £125,000.  This is included within the annual budget for 2021-22 and across the medium term financial plan.

Comments from the Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer

Due process has been followed to carry out a fair and transparent commissioning process.