CPH137 - Provision of Domestic Abuse Support Services

Derbyshire County Council is seeking to appoint a provider (or providers) to deliver high-quality, effective domestic abuse support services for victims and survivors of all ages and genders across assessed levels of risk. Services must be accessible, trauma-informed and focus on improving the safety, wellbeing and long-term of individuals affected by domestic abuse.

The service will include a single point of access available to victims, professionals and families, delivered through a dedicated domestic abuse helpline and supporting online presence. Provision will cover the eight district and boroughs of Derbyshire County, which excludes Derby City.

The Derbyshire Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) works in partnership with the Council to commission support services will provide a financial contribution to this contract. The Council and the OPCC require a cohesive service capable of delivering both emotional and practical support, in community settings and within accommodation based services, including refuge provision.

Support for children and families experiencing or impacted by domestic abuse must be an integral component of the service delivery model. A minimum of 20% of the total contract value is required to be allocated to service supporting children and young people (defined as individuals up to their 18th birthday).

The Council welcomes bids from consortia (with a lead provider) or sole providers who can demonstrate the capability to deliver a coordinated, countywide service model across the full geographic area (excluding Derby City). The contract is expected to commence on 1 April 2027 for an initial period of three (3) years to 31 March 2030, with the option to extend for a further three periods of 12 months (3 + 1 + 1 + 1).

A mobilisation period will apply prior to service commencement. The minimum contract value is £3,545,086 per annum, giving an estimated total value of £21,270,516 over the full term including extensions.

Prospective tenderers should note that this contract may be affected by Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), anticipated to take place in April 2028. In accordance with Schedule 8 of the Procurement Act 2023, this contract may be novated to a successor Council or otherwise modified to reflect the requirements of any new Council arrangements arising from LGR.

The exact nature of any modification or novation cannot be determined at this time, but such changes will be managed under both the Procurement Act 2023 and the contractual provisions. Ahead of these changes, discussions with Derby City and District and Borough representatives are ongoing and there is a shared commitment to work together to align future domestic abuse provision as much as practicable.

The Authority reserves the right to modify the Contract during its term where: • additional funding becomes available to the Authority from any source; • demand for the Services exceeds forecast, anticipated or historic service levels; • the Authority requires additional resources, capacity or service provision to improve outcomes for service users; • the Authority identifies emerging needs, opportunities for service improvement, or wishes to develop, test, pilot, evaluate or implement alternative approaches to the delivery of the Services; • exceptional, unforeseeable and evidenced cost pressures materially affect service delivery and are demonstrated through open-book accounting; or • underspend, unspent grant funding, over-recovery of costs or other surplus funding is identified. Modifications may include increases or decreases in service volumes, capacity, staffing, service delivery models, interventions, activities, locations, reporting requirements or other aspects of service delivery necessary to support the continued provision and improvement of the Services.

The financial value of any such modification cannot be determined at the commencement of the procurement because it is dependent upon future funding allocations, service demand, operational requirements, service development opportunities and other circumstances which are not known to the Authority at the time of publication. Any such modification shall be limited to services that are within the scope of, directly related to, ancillary to, or of the same nature as the Services described in the Specification, shall be supported by appropriate evidence, and shall not alter the overall nature of the Contract.

The Authority also reserves the right to undertake annual reviews of contract rates linked to changes in the All-Items Consumer Prices Index (CPI), subject to the Authority's approval and the terms of the Contract. Total value (estimated)