Purpose

This report seeks approval to extend the
current contract and approval to procure a new contract

Decision

For the reasons set out in this
report, the Corporate Director has decided to:

1)   
Approve the extension to the following contracts for
the period from 8th April 2025 to 31st
January 2026:

a.    
RISE Residential Rehabilitation Service at a cost of
£472,643 (exclusive of
VAT).

b.    
Step Down Abstinent Accommodation Service at a cost
of £234,070.80 (exclusive of VAT).

c.    
Women’s Harm Reduction Service at a cost of
£124,837.60 (exclusive of VAT).

2)   
Approve the commencement of a procurement process in
respect of the following services provisionally intended to be for
a three-year period with the option to extend for a further two
years:

a.    
Residential Rehabilitation Service

b.    
Step Down Abstinent Accommodation Service

c.    
Women’s Harm Reduction Service.  
 

Alternative options considered

Do Nothing – this will lead to the
closure of these services. They are residential provision with a
maximum capacity of service users who require continuity of care.
Therefore, stopping the services will leave service users without
support and at risk of relapse into problematic substance use. They
would also be roofless and at need of immediate support to prevent
risk of rough sleeping. This would require service users to be
placed in Bed and Breakfast accommodation at significant greater
cost; as well as the personal detriment to service users who would
lose the intensive support provided by the service.
 
Utilise the provisions of the Provider
Selection Regime to directly award a contract for the Residential
Rehabilitation Service whose scope falls within this regime (the
other two services do not fall within this regime) – this
option has been dismissed as it doesn’t allow the market to
be tested for quality and value for money. Any contracts directly
awarded under this regime are subject to regulatory constraints on
the duration and value of the contract and would not be able to be
significantly varied.  The services
delivered via these contracts are likely to be eligible for
additional funding from the Office for Health Improvement and
Disparities (OHID), as in current and previous years, and may need
to be varied in the future to maximise the use of this additional
funding. The procurement for the new service will provide for these
variations to be made.