Original Tender Description
Swindon Borough Council invites prospective bidders from suitably qualified and experienced service providers to bid for the provision of Supported Lodgings Services: Semi-independent Accommodation and Support. Project Description: Supported Lodgings is a provision for young people aged 16 and over, offering them the opportunity to live in the home of a host. This could be an individual, a couple or a family. It's a unique provision designed to help young people prepare for adulthood with the right balance of guidance and autonomy. It's often used for care leavers, separated and migrant children, or young people at risk of homelessness. As corporate parents, Swindon Borough Council is committed to providing sufficient, appropriate, high-quality accommodation and support for the children we care for (CWCF, 16-18) and care experienced young people (CEYP, 18-21). We also have a duty to provide accommodation and support to young people who are, or are at risk of, homelessness. The supplier will be responsible for recruiting, managing and funding hosts. This is then for the supplier to match referrals, place children and manage the placements alongside the hosts. The supplier shall also manage the hosts. The supplier must also be registered with Ofsted for this type of provision. Hosts are responsible for; offering the accommodation and support to the young person placed. The Supplier is to oversee and manage both the host and child placed. Please see the Specification for more information. The Council is seeking to award a single supplier, with a contract to provide Supported Lodgings, accommodation and support services, which will provide 9 standard beds and 2 emergency beds. This requirement will not be divided into 'Lots'. TUPE does apply to this contract. The initial contract term will be for 36 months with an option to extend for a further 24 months in 12-month increments (2 periods of 12 months) for a potential total contract term of 5 years as stated in the ITT documents. Estimated contract spend is between £400,000 and £450,000 across the initial 3-year contract term and between £700,000 and £730,158.20 across the potential total 5-year contract term (if extensions are used). Full details relating to the Services are provided in the tender documents. To participate, Suppliers will need to Register as a Supplier with ProContract, www.supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk, then Register an Interest before obtaining access to the tender documents. In the event of difficulties registering as a supplier, please refer to the System Administrator Proactis support team ProContractSuppliers@proactis.com. Tender clarifications to be submitted in writing via Messaging in ProContract tender portal by 06/02/2026 (12:00 midday) UK Local time. The Council's responses to these clarification questions will be issued periodically on the ProContract tender portal. Tender Responses are required to be submitted no later than 13/02/2026 (12:00 midday) UK Local time via ProContract tender portal - https://www.supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk/. Please note that this project has been advertised on Find a Tender Service (FTS) and Supplying the South West Portal, https://www.supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk/. Suppliers will be required to register their interest on the South West Portal and access the tender documents which are provided free of charge and bearing project ID DN801486.