MOJ Housing Possession Mediation Services Pilot

Descriptions

This is a for information notice of a Future Opportunity for an upcoming procurement led by The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) in conjunction with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). In March 2020, in response to the Coronavirus Outbreak, all ongoing housing possession cases were suspended, originally for 90 days. Following agreed extensions, no possession proceedings were continued or commenced between 27 March and 21 September 2020. The suspension affected existing possession cases and cases that would have been commenced in the period. A range of measures have helped manage the volume coming through the system, but this may still be 40,000 or more (perhaps considerably more) over 6 months. Now, with the resumption of cases in the courts, MOJ are looking to procure and pilot a dedicated mediation service to engage with housing possession claims as they progress through court, and facilitate settlement without a substantive hearing where possible. This service aims to help further promote compromise to the benefit of all parties, sustain tenancies and manage capacity in the court system, MOJ require a supplier to administer remote mediation to relevant parties involved in Possession Cases, who will have been referred to the service . The supplier will be responsible for sourcing, training and managing a bank of suitable mediators with the skills and knowledge and experience to be stipulated in the tender documents. We require a supplier who can quickly mobilise and provide a high quality value for money national service able to cope with the anticipated demand and within specified time frames. The supplier will be required to provide regular management information to monitor progress, and to work closely with MOJ, MCHLG and any independent party appointed to evaluate the Pilot, which is planned to be conducted alongside live running of the service. It is anticipated the contract will be for a period of approximately 6 months, at which time the Evaluation of the Pilot will determine next steps. Due to the urgency of this requirement MOJ plan to procure this service through use of the Accelerated Open Procedures. The planned Timetable (subject to change) - ItTender issue 23/11/20 - Bids received deadline 08/12/20 - Contract award letters issued (Standstill starts) 31/12/20 - Contract start date 11/01/21 MOJ will be procuring this service through its BRAVO/JAEGGER system, found via the attached link - https://ministryofjusticecommercial.bravosolution.co.uk If you would like to participate in this procurement, you will need to be registered on BRAVO as no hard copy documents will be issued during the planned competition and all communications with the Authority (including final submission of tenders) will be conducted via Bravo. Should you have any queries with accessing the portal, please contact the MoJ dedicated supplier helpdesk by calling 0845 0100 132 or by emailing: esourcing@justice.gsi.gov.uk