Interactive Housing Options Tool and a Housing Options Case Management System

Description

The provision of housing options is a statutory requirement with regards to providing advice under section 2 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001. This provision states that Local Authorities must ensure that advice and information regarding: (a) homelessness and the prevention of homelessness, and (b) any services which may assist a homeless person or assist in the prevention of homelessness, is available free of charge to any person in the authority’s area. Lot 1: The procurement of this contract was via the negotiated tendering procedure under Standing Order 9 of the Council's Standing Orders on Contracts. The software service has been included in the Council's Integrated Housing & Property Management system (IHPMS) procured in June 2023 and the provision of Housing Options will be implemented under this contract. Phase 1 of the IHPMS is currently being implemented, the Housing Options module will be implemented under Phase 2 which is estimated to be completed by December 2026. There is therefore a requirement for the current Housing Options system to continue to be able to fulfil statutory requirements until the integration with IHPMS is complete. This contract runs until 31 March 2027 which should allow for full implementation of the Housing Option solution to the IHPMS system. The services can be supplied by only one suitable contractor because competition is absent for technical reasons and no alternative or substitute exists. The absence of competition is not the result of an artificial narrowing down of the parameters of the procurement.