Provision of A Bed Every Night (ABEN) Manchester

Manchester City Council is seeking providers to deliver A Bed Every Night (ABEN) Supported Accommodation Services for adults aged 18 and over who are sleeping rough, have recently slept rough, or are at imminent risk of rough sleeping.

The procurement, reference P-1477, forms part of Manchester’s wider response to homelessness and rough sleeping and has an estimated total value of £12,302,208 including VAT.

The services will provide safe, short-term accommodation alongside tailored support designed to help individuals address their support needs, improve health and wellbeing, maximise independence and progress towards sustainable move-on accommodation.

Lots Available

The opportunity has been divided into four lots:

• Lot 1 – ABEN Core Accommodation and Support Services: Supported accommodation and associated support for adults sleeping rough or at immediate risk of rough sleeping. The estimated lot value is £7,745,088 including VAT.
• Lot 2 – Women’s ABEN Supported Accommodation Services: Accommodation and support specifically designed for women experiencing, or at risk of, rough sleeping. The estimated lot value is £1,809,600 including VAT.
• Lot 3 – LGBTQ+ ABEN Supported Accommodation Services: Specialist accommodation and support for LGBTQ+ individuals experiencing, or at risk of, rough sleeping. The estimated lot value is £576,000 including VAT.
• Lot 4 – No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) / Restricted Eligibility ABEN Supported Accommodation Services: Specialist accommodation and support for individuals who have restricted eligibility for public funds or housing assistance. The estimated lot value is £2,171,520 including VAT.

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

Contract Information

• Buyer: Manchester City Council
• Deadline: 2nd Oct 2026 11:00
• Enquiry Deadline: 17th Sep 2026 11:00
• Contract Value: £12,302,208 including VAT
• Delivery Length: 1st Apr 2027 to 31st Mar 2029, with the option to extend for up to 24 months to 31st Mar 2031
• Tender Link: https://procontract.due-north.com/RFx/RFxSummary?rfxId=452280d7-9ca7-f111-813c-005056b64545

Evaluation Criteria

Tenders will be evaluated using the following award criteria:

• Quality – 45%
• Price – 25%
• Social Value – 20%
• Environment – 10%

The procurement is being conducted through an open procedure.

Submission Requirements

Manchester City Council is managing the procurement electronically through The Chest e-business portal.

Applicants must register on the portal to access the relevant procurement documentation. Completed tender documents, including the procurement-specific questionnaire, must be submitted electronically through the portal by 11:00am on 2 October 2026.

Clarification questions must also be submitted through The Chest by the stated enquiry deadline.

The estimated award decision date is 13 January 2027.

The opportunity represents a substantial supported accommodation commissioning programme for organisations working with people experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping in Manchester. The inclusion of dedicated provision for women, LGBTQ+ individuals and people with restricted eligibility or No Recourse to Public Funds creates distinct opportunities for providers with relevant specialist experience.

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