DRIVE Project for Bedfordshire

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire is seeking a specialist provider to deliver the DRIVE Project, an evidence-based intervention designed to address high-harm domestic abuse perpetrators. The service aims to reduce repeat domestic abuse, improve victim safety and strengthen multi-agency responses to perpetrators who pose the greatest risk.

The contract has an estimated value of £992,314 excluding VAT, with an initial one-year term and the possibility of two further 12-month extensions, subject to funding and approval.

Service Requirements

Lot 1 – DRIVE Project: The appointed provider will deliver intensive, one-to-one case management and tailored behaviour change interventions for up to 125 high-risk domestic abuse perpetrators in Central Bedfordshire.

Key requirements include:

• Case management: Provide targeted interventions for high-risk perpetrators, addressing behaviours associated with serious domestic abuse.
• Victim safety: Ensure victim and child safety remains paramount, with interventions proportionate to risk and aligned with national best practice.
• Multi-agency working: Coordinate with statutory and voluntary sector agencies and existing safeguarding and offender management arrangements, including MARAC, DA Perpetrator and Integrated Offender Management structures.
• Model fidelity: Deliver the DRIVE model in line with the national DRIVE Service Specification, with local adaptations where required.
• Quality assurance: Work under oversight and quality assurance provided by a DRIVE Fellow to maintain adherence to the model.

Lot 2 – IDVA Support: This lot has been cancelled, and no contract will be awarded under it.

Contract Information

• Buyer: The Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire
• Enquiry Deadline: 9 November 2026, 4:00pm
• Tender Submission Deadline: 16 November 2026, 1:00pm
• Contract Value: £992,314 excluding VAT (£1,190,776.80 including VAT)
• Delivery Length: 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2028, with two possible 12-month extensions to 31 March 2030. Extensions are subject to external funding availability and approval and are not guaranteed.
• Contract Start: 1 April 2027
• Tender Reference: 7F-2026-C027
• Tender Link: Access the 7 Force Commercial Tendering Portal
• Contract Location: Central Bedfordshire
• Award Decision Date: 9 December 2026

Evaluation Criteria

The published award criteria for Lot 1 are weighted as follows:

• Quality: 80%
• Price: 10%
• Social Value: 10% (5% price and 5% quality)

Supplier Requirements

The opportunity is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs).

• Relevant experience: Providers must demonstrate experience in domestic abuse perpetrator interventions.
• Partnership capability: Suppliers must show the ability to work effectively with statutory and voluntary sector agencies.
• Delivery capability: The successful provider must have the capacity to deliver the DRIVE model consistently while responding to local needs, risks and priorities.
• National specification: Service delivery must align with the national DRIVE Service Specification, with appropriate local adaptations.
• Tender submission: Bids must be submitted electronically through the 7 Force Commercial Tendering Portal in English.

Further eligibility and technical requirements should be checked in the tender documentation.

This opportunity may suit specialist domestic abuse services and organisations with established perpetrator intervention expertise and strong multi-agency partnerships. With quality accounting for 80% of the evaluation, bidders should focus on demonstrating their ability to deliver the DRIVE model effectively, safeguard victims and achieve meaningful outcomes.

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