DRIVE Project for Bedfordshire

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire, is seeking to commission a specialist provider to deliver the DRIVE Project model, a nationally recognised, evidence based intervention for high harm domestic abuse perpetrators. The project forms part of a government funded national approach to reducing serious harm by addressing the behaviours of perpetrators who pose the greatest risk to victims, children, and communities.

The commissioned service will deliver intensive, one to one case management and tailored behaviour change interventions for up to 125 high risk perpetrators, working in close partnership with statutory and voluntary sector agencies. The DRIVE Project model will operate as an integral component of existing multi agency safeguarding and offender management arrangements, including MARAC, DA Perpetrator, and Integrated Offender Management structures.

The primary objectives of the DRIVE Project model are to reduce repeat and serial domestic abuse, lower risk to victims, improve safety outcomes, and strengthen system wide responses to high harm perpetration. Delivery must ensure that victim safety remains paramount and that interventions are proportionate, risk led, and aligned to national best practice.

This tender seeks a provider with demonstrable experience in domestic abuse perpetrator interventions, strong partnership capability, and the capacity to deliver the DRIVE model with fidelity while responding effectively to local needs, risks, and priorities.

The service will be commissioned in line with the national DRIVE Service Specification. Local adaptations will be permitted and required where necessary to reflect local need, partnerships, and system arrangements. Oversight and quality assurance will be provided by a ‘DRIVE Fellow’ to ensure adherence to the DRIVE model.

This procurement will be divided into two lots –

Lot 1 DRIVE high-risk perpetrator intervention programme

Lot 2 IDVA service

This proposed lot structure has been developed to secure specialist expertise in the high-risk perpetrator intervention service, maximise market engagement, maintain flexibility in contract award and ensure an integrated domestic abuse service pathway.

The structure will provide the choice to appoint either a single provider across both lots or separate specialist providers if this represents a more advantageous outcome.