London Borough of Enfield

Civic Centre

Enfield

EN1 3ES

UK

Contact person: Procurement Services

Telephone: +44 2045342695

E-mail: procurement.support@enfield.gov.uk

NUTS: UK

Internet address(es)

Main address: http://www.enfield.gov.uk/

Address of the buyer profile: http://www.enfield.gov.uk/

II.1.1) Title

Reference number: DN708441

II.1.2) Main CPV code

85000000

II.1.3) Type of contract

Services

II.1.4) Short description

***Note, this is a Contract Award Notice further to the publication of a previous voluntary ex ante transparency notice (VEAT), notice reference: 2024/S 000-040833 (as referred to below in this award notice)***

Contract award for the provision of an accommodation-based support service exclusively for vulnerable Enfield Young People of 18-24 years old. The service provides various levels of support depending on the Young Person’s needs. Supporting them into Education, Employment or Training and providing life skills for them to enable the Young Person to move on into an independent lifestyle.

In the current pathway, all of the remaining properties are owned by the existing provider (Christian Action (Enfield) Housing Association Ltd) apart from one other location. Furthermore, the provider does not want to dispose of or sublet their properties to another supported living provider. Some of the units have covenants upon them which means they can only be occupied by individuals requiring on-site support.

The pathway utilises the best units currently available to the provider. By having schemes of 14+ units, it maximises support resources available. The proposed pathway under the proposed and awarded contract will yield savings against the current contract.

To ensure that the contracting authority continue to benefit from the accommodation, a direct award for a newly remodelled contract has been put in place as there is no reasonable alternative or substitute that exists to deliver the volume, quality and suitability of schemes within Enfield, in the current accommodation marketplace; even after reducing the number of units in the pathway.

The awarded contract is for an initial term of three (3) years with an option to extend for a further period of two (2 years), thus giving a total contract length of up to five (5) years.

As previously noted (in the VEAT Notice), the service advertised in this notice falls under the services listed in Chapter 3 and Schedule 3 (Social and other specific services) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.

II.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

II.1.7) Total value of the procurement

Value excluding VAT: 3 455 949.00  GBP

IV.1.1) Type of procedure

Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition

Justification for selected award procedure:

The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason: protection of exclusive rights, including intellectual property rights

Explanation

As set out in the contracting authority's voluntary ex ante transparency (VEAT) notice, notice reference: 2024/S 000-040833 on 18 December 2024, the key reasoning and justification are:

Firstly, the existing provider’s exclusive ownership and possession of properties used for the service provision and the need to avoid disruption for the residents. This decision to directly award the proposed contract would ensure the continuation of 94 units of purpose-built accommodation for vulnerable Young People (that we may lose if going out to tender). The housing market is very limited in Enfield and the loss of these units would put further pressure on the market and risk significant disruption for the vulnerable Young People currently accessing the service.

Secondly, the absence of competition for technical reasons as there are no other providers that could secure the amount and quality of supported accommodation within a reasonable timeframe. Without the concentration of units currently achieved through the arrangements with Christian Action (Enfield) Housing Association Ltd (which owns the units) the service to vulnerable young people would be fragmented and would lead to either a reduction in support hours per person or an increase in costs, to accommodate staff travel time between sites.

And thirdly, there is the prevention of vulnerable Young People potentially becoming homeless as the contracting authority would be securing a pathway for the future.

Note, the contracting authority observed a 10-day standstill period, commencing the day after the publication of the VEAT Notice and this standstill period ended 30 December 2024.

IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No

IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure

Notice number in the OJ S:

2024/S 000-040833

Christian Action (Enfield) Housing Association Ltd

Benedict House, 61 Island Centre Way

Enfield

EN3 6GS

UK

NUTS: UK

The contractor is an SME: No

VI.4.1) Review body

VI.4.3) Review procedure

Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:

The contracting authority incorporated a minimum 10 calendar days (when using electronic means) standstill period at the point information on the award of the contract was communicated to the tenderer and published a voluntary ex ante transparency (VEAT) notice, notice reference: 2024/S 000-040833. This period allowed economic operators to challenge the decision to award the contract before a contract is executed/signed (as appropriate).

The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (‘Regulations’) provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). Any such action must be brought promptly and within the time limits as defined in the above regulations. Where a contract has not been entered into the court may order the setting aside of the award decision or order the contracting authority to amend any document and may award damages. If the contract has been entered into the court has the options to award damages and/or to shorten or order the contract ineffective.