Provision of Tenancy Sustainment Services/Housing Support Services

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1. At a glance

2. Scope of Work

This tender seeks providers for Tenancy Sustainment Services/Housing Support Services to assist households that are homeless or at risk of homelessness within Cork County Council's Northern and Southern Divisions. The primary objective is to enable individuals and families to secure and maintain accommodation, progressing towards independent living. The service will involve home visits by Project Workers who will support clients, signpost them to mainstream services, and facilitate access to necessary supports. The services are designed not to duplicate existing provisions but to act as a bridge to them.

Key activities and responsibilities include:

• Client Support and Case Management:
• Implementing and reviewing client housing care/support plans, ensuring they align with current needs.
• Conducting a visitation programme with intensity tailored to individual client needs.
• Ensuring client compliance with and understanding of rental payment arrangements.
• Maintaining contact with the Housing Authority and facilitating access to its services, managed via the PASS on-line Homeless system.
• Providing general, non-specialist housing information and advice, and referring clients to specialist providers.
• Contributing to pre-tenancy preparation for successful transitions from temporary to long-term accommodation.
• Establishing links with accommodation providers to foster positive client interactions and assist with estate/housing management, maintenance, and repairs.
• Daily Living Skills Support:
• Advising on food preparation, storage, general household cleanliness, hygiene, storage, and safety.
• Assisting with security measures.
• Supporting clients with arranging and attending meetings, appointments, shopping, and errands.
• Social Integration and Rights:
• Advising and assisting clients in building positive relationships with neighbours, including dispute resolution.
• Helping clients understand their rights, roles, and responsibilities.
• Access to Mainstream Services:
• Facilitating access to social welfare payments and other financial support.
• Assisting with access to training, education, and employment schemes, including volunteering.
• Connecting clients with advice services such as Money Advice and Budgeting and Citizens’ Information.
• Facilitating access to health and care facilities, including GP practices, outpatient services, mental health, addiction services, physical health, immunisation, family support, social work/child protection, counselling/psychology, and childcare/education services.
• Fostering access to befriending services, social networks, and community facilities to aid settling into new homes.
• Brokering on behalf of clients for specialist or mainstream services where appropriate.
• Reporting and Meetings:
• Nominated representatives must attend Cork County Council’s Homeless Action Team meetings in Mallow (Northern Division) and County Hall, Cork (Southern Division).
• Client cases will be reviewed at these meetings.
• Service Intensity and Duration:
• Support intensity and duration will be determined by a comprehensive assessment of need, recorded in a client's support plan.
• The service aims to reduce support over time as clients progress towards independent living, with targets for achieving this objective.
• Cases requiring continued support beyond a target period will be reviewed.
• Tenancies will be allocated on a rolling basis by the Housing Authority.
• Continuous assessment and review of client needs are critical.
• Personnel Requirements:
• The contract requires two full-time personnel.
• Cover for absences of these personnel must be provided.
• Personnel must be Garda vetted and any replacements require pre-approval by Cork County Council.
• Nominated representatives must have a minimum of 5 years’ experience in providing Tenancy Sustainment Services/Housing Support Services.
• Personnel must be able to take up post within 2 months of contract award.
• Geographical Coverage:
• Services will initially cover the Northern and Southern Divisions of Cork County Council. Extension to the Western Division is possible.
• Case Load:
• Each caseworker is expected to handle approximately 60-70 cases over a 12-month period, with an expected caseload of 20-25 cases at any given time.

3. Background & buyer context

Cork County Council is procuring Tenancy Sustainment Services/Housing Support Services to address homelessness and the risk of homelessness within its administrative area. This procurement aligns with national housing policy objectives and aims to provide essential support to vulnerable households. The service is intended to facilitate a transition towards independent living for individuals and families. The contract is for an initial two-year period, with an option to extend for a further year, indicating a strategic, medium-term approach to service provision. The services will be delivered across the Northern and Southern Divisions of the county, with potential future expansion.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

• Turnover requirement: Tenderers must confirm that their turnover exceeded €300,000 in each of the last 3 financial years, or pro-rata if more recently established. Evidence of turnover and financial information must be provided on request.
• Insurance: Confirmation of the following insurances being in place is required:
• Public Liability: €6.5 million
• Employer’s Liability: €13.7 million
• Professional Indemnity: €6.5 million
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Tenderers must submit details of at least 3 similar type contracts in nature and scale. Details required include contract description, value, delivery date, precise service supplied, and management approach. Contact details for 3 customers for confidential reference checks are mandatory.
• Personnel: Nominated representatives must have a minimum of 5 years’ experience in providing Tenancy Sustainment Services/Housing Support Services. Personnel must be able to take up the post within 2 months of contract award. Garda vetting is mandatory for nominated representatives.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Services are to be delivered within the Northern and Southern Divisions of Cork County Council.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The contract will be awarded based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT), with a split between quality and cost.

Tenderers must achieve a minimum of 50% of the maximum marks for each of the three criteria (Project Methodology, Resources, Innovation) to be considered for award.

6. Submission requirements

• Method statement / response document: Tenderers must complete the Tender Response Document (TRD). Specific templates are provided.
• CVs: Not explicitly mentioned with page limits, but comprehensive information on the proposed team is required, detailing each member's contribution, roles, and responsibilities.
• Pricing schedule: The cost for the contract, fully inclusive of all costs including VAT, must be provided in the TRD.
• Case studies: Details of at least 3 similar type contracts are required as part of the selection criteria.
• Declarations:
• Declaration of Bona Fides (Art. 57 of Directive 2014/24/EU).
• Declaration of compliance with relevant statutory obligations.
• Confirmation of tax compliance.
• Confirmation of insurance being in place.
• Declaration of Garda Vetting willingness for nominated representatives.
• Declaration regarding pre-approval for replacement personnel.
• Mandatory site visit: A visit to the tenderer's premises may be required for clarification.
• Submission portal: Tenders must be submitted electronically via the e-Tenders postbox facility on www.etenders.gov.ie only.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

• Contract length: 2 years, with an option to extend by one year.
• Payment terms: Not specified in the provided extract.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Not explicitly detailed, but the contract will establish targets for achieving objectives in the shortest period and include provisions for progress reviews.
• Liquidated damages or penalty regimes: Not specified in the provided extract.
• Termination clauses: The Contracting Authority reserves the right to terminate the contract if commercial arrangements become uncompetitive due to external factors (e.g., changes in the Customs Union).
• IP ownership: Not specified in the provided extract.
• Sub-contracting rules: Tenderers may rely on the resources of other entities. If a consortium is successful, they must establish legal personality and appoint a single point of contact responsible for delivery.
• Parent-company guarantee or bond requirements: Not specified in the provided extract.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Turnover Requirement vs. Contract Value: The turnover requirement of €300,000 per year for the last 3 years is a standard selection criterion. However, the contract value is not disclosed, making it difficult to assess the proportionality of this requirement.
• Personnel Availability: The requirement for nominated personnel to be available within 2 months of award, coupled with the 6-month tender validity period, creates a tight window for mobilisation.
• Consortium Requirements: While consortia are permitted, the requirement for them to establish legal personality upon award adds an administrative step.
• Geographic Scope: The initial focus on Northern and Southern Divisions with a potential extension to the Western Division suggests a phased approach to service expansion, which bidders should consider in their long-term planning.
• Reporting and Meetings: The mandatory attendance at Homeless Action Team meetings in specific locations implies a need for local presence or efficient travel arrangements for the nominated personnel.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured as an Open Procedure, indicating it is open to all eligible entities. However, the selection criteria, particularly the turnover requirement of €300,000 annually over three years and the need for at least three similar past contracts, suggest that smaller, newer businesses may find it challenging to meet these thresholds without forming partnerships.

• Credibly bid: A viable bidder would likely be an established organisation with a proven track record in housing support or social services, possessing the financial stability to meet insurance requirements and demonstrate consistent turnover. Organisations with experience in case management, client support, and navigating public sector services would be well-positioned.
• Consortium or sub-contracting: Consortiums and joint ventures are explicitly permitted. SMEs are encouraged to explore relationships with other SMEs or larger enterprises to meet capacity requirements. Sub-contracting is not explicitly detailed but implied through the reliance on other entities' resources.
• Indicative bid-prep effort: Preparing a compliant bid will require significant effort. This includes gathering evidence for past experience (3 contracts), detailing the project methodology and resources, and completing the Tender Response Document. A realistic estimate for bid preparation, assuming readily available information, would be in the range of 10-20 working days for a dedicated team.
• Pwin signal: The tender does not explicitly name an incumbent. The open procedure suggests a competitive process. The emphasis on specific experience and the structured award criteria indicate that a well-prepared, compliant bid addressing all requirements will be competitive. The potential for consortia suggests that collaboration may be a strategic approach for smaller firms.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: Request for Tender Contract Open Procedure 2026.docx
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in the provided extract.
• Contact for queries: Questions and Answers facility on www.etenders.gov.ie
• Most important attachments:
• Section 3.1 Specification (Details of the service required)
• Tender Response Document (TRD)
• Selection Criteria Schedule (Implicitly part of the TRD)