Tender Details
Cairns Youth Foyer - Property Tenancy Management and Specialist Homelessness Services
Business Name
Department of Housing and Public Works
VP Reference #
VP499020
Buyers Reference #
DoH2024039-A
Opens
Thursday 19 February 2026 (E. Australia Standard Time)
Closes
Thursday 16 April 2026 12:00 PM (E. Australia Standard Time) CLOSED
Supplier query cut-off
Thursday 09 April 2026 12:00 PM (E. Australia Standard Time)
Expected decision
Sunday 20 December 2026 (E. Australia Standard Time)
Buyer Details
Business Name
Department of Housing and Public Works
Location
111 George St
Brisbane City, Queensland 4000
Australia
WebSite:
https://www.housing.qld.gov.au/
Business Info
Our commitment is to providing safe, stable and affordable housing for all Queenslanders through working with industry partners to develop new housing delivery models. We are working to increase the supply of affordability whilst improving the quality of social housing and reducing homelessness within Queensland.
Contact Details
The buyer has elected to have their personal and contact details hidden. These details will be revealed at the buyers discretion.
What the buyer is requesting
Details
INVITATION TO OFFER: CAIRNS YOUTH FOYER INITIATIVE

The Queensland Government is committed to addressing housing insecurity among young people as part of its 20-year Housing Plan. A key initiative under this plan is the development of eight new Youth Foyers across Queensland, with the first being established in Cairns.

The Cairns Youth Foyer is currently under construction at 1 Patience Street, Manoora, and is expected to be ready to house its first young tenants in 2026–27.

Youth foyers provide safe and stable housing for vulnerable young people aged 16 to 25, alongside comprehensive support services to help them pursue education, secure employment, and transition to independent living.

The Cairns Youth Foyer will feature 40 self-contained accommodation units and shared facilities, including a communal kitchen, indoor common area, flexible outdoor space, office and reception areas, interview and training rooms, and off-street parking.

The Department of Housing and Public Works is seeking to engage service providers for the following roles at the Cairns Youth Foyer:

• Registered Community Housing Provider: Responsible for property and tenancy management services in line with the Social Housing Program Specifications, the Supportive Housing Policy, and other relevant guidelines. This includes tenancy sustainment, early intervention strategies, and compliance with the National Regulatory System for Community Housing Providers.

• Specialist Homelessness Service Provider: Responsible for delivering on-site support and case management services. Service delivery must adhere to the Homelessness Program Guidelines, Specifications, and Requirements, with a focus on trauma-informed, person-centred case management to build resilience, independence, and sustainable outcomes for young people.

If your organisation is passionate about empowering young people to reach their full potential and is committed to working collaboratively with the Queensland Government and other stakeholders to deliver this exciting new service, we encourage you to apply for this opportunity.

Tender Process:

Closing Date: 12pm Thursday 11 April 2026.
Background information / Compatibility requirements
Details
For further details, please refer to the attached tender documentation.
Desired Outcomes ('Nice to haves', Conditions & Warranties, SLA's, Project benefits)
Details
For further details, please refer to the attached tender documentation.
Supplier lists selected
Lists
  • Community & Social Services
Categories selected
Categories
  • Community & Social Services
    1: Accommodation & Homelessness Support Services
    2: Community & Social Services (other)
    3: Indigenous & Aboriginal Support Services & Program
    4: Youth Services
Regions of Service
Locations
  • Queensland
    1: Far North

All Regions of Service locations are within Australia.
Information requested by others
11/Mar/2026 12:05 PM
Question:
Good Afternoon,

In regard to the Innovative Offer definition, we feel that all desirable criteria requirements are relevant for a successful Foyer provider. Can you please provide an example of where a provider may not meet the desirable criteria requirements but remain eligible for consideration.

Most appreciated

Answered on 13/Mar/2026 02:07 PM:


Refer to Addendum No.2 issued as an attachment to the documents.
12/Mar/2026 10:57 AM
Question:
Good Morning,

Does the Department anticipate there will be an establishment period as this will impact reporting obligations which currently commence on the contract Start Date?

Service Agreement Clause 8.8 – Services targeting young people under 16 years of age: States that SHS provider must not target young people under 16 years of age, however, it also states that this clause is ‘not in use’ which would indicate that the provider can target young people under 16 years.

Can we please seek clarification on whether the SHS provider can target people under 16 years of age?

Answered on 13/Mar/2026 02:07 PM:


Refer to Addendum No.2 & 3 issued as an attachment to the documents.
16/Mar/2026 10:25 AM
Question:
Could the DoH provide feedback and information regarding the design of the Youth Foyer building and site to enable forecasting of rent and maintenance planning and assumptions. We request information as to design specifications that will help understand the facility (e.g. lifts, layout etc).

Answered on 18/Mar/2026 07:37 AM:


Suppliers are to refer to Addendum No.4 and the Attachment to Addendum No.4.

Thanks.
17/Mar/2026 12:38 PM
Question:
Addendum 2 states that the PTM service period will commence upon execution of the lease, prior to building handover, and that the PTM provider will participate in defect identification at handover to support transition to full-service delivery.

To ensure our financial model appropriately reflects the required scope of services, we seek confirmation as to whether the PTM provider is expected to include the costs associated with:

• the period from lease commencement to building handover

• participation in the defect identification and handover process

• mobilisation and establishment activities prior to full-service delivery

within the PTM pricing, noting that no rental income will be received until the building is fully operational.

Answered on 19/Mar/2026 10:38 AM:


All suppliers should refer to Addendum No.5 for the response. Now issued as an attachment to the ITO.

Thanks.
18/Mar/2026 02:46 PM
Question:
Hello - we have received email to advise addendum 4 is now released however it's still not available on portal. When will this be available?

Answered on 18/Mar/2026 03:37 PM:


Dear suppliers - apologies, the Addendum No.4 upload has now been completed.

Please advise if you do not receive.
20/Mar/2026 08:29 AM
Question:
Good morning,

I refer to Criteria 5 - Local economic benefits:

Demonstrate your organisation’s investment in supporting local providers and local workforces, including within the supply chain.

*A local provider is defined as a Queensland-based provider that maintains a local workforce, with employees residing within a 250 km radius of the provider’s permanent place of business or established presence.”

Your response should include:

the proportion of your workforce that resides within a 250 km radius of the service delivery location....

My question relates to eligibility. As we do not currently operate in Cairns, nor have a physical office or staff located within 250km of Cairns, could you please confirm whether this would exclude us from submitting a bid?

Further to this, could this requirement be met through the submission of a consortium proposal, where one of our consortium partners is based in Cairns?

Thank you.

Answered on 23/Mar/2026 10:18 AM:


Dear Suppliers,

Please refer to Addendum No.6 newly uploaded.

Thanks.
20/Mar/2026 03:24 PM
Question:
Dear Ms Dineen,

I am seeking clarification regarding the Invitation to Offer for the Cairns Youth Foyer.

YAL proposes to partner with YouthLink Cairns for this initiative, with YAL undertaking the Property Management role and YouthLink providing service delivery. During our review of the tender documentation, we noted the requirement for both organisations to hold NRSCH registration. YAL does not currently hold NRSCH accreditation.

While we are not yet registered, YAL has substantial property management experience, including the management of a subleased property in partnership with the Department of Housing for the past six years. We are preparing our NRSCH registration application and anticipate that accreditation will be in place prior to the opening of the Foyer. However, it will not be secured before the closing date of the Invitation to Offer.

Could you please advise whether the absence of current NRSCH registration will preclude us from submitting an offer?


Kind Regards

Tammy-Rae Schaper (She, Her)

Chief Executive Officer

Answered on 23/Mar/2026 10:19 AM:


Dear Suppliers,

Please refer to Addendum No.6 newly uploaded.

Thanks.
Updates made to this Request
10/Mar/2026 01:50 PM
Please note: The following addendum has been recently added.

1. Added: (Addendum) Addendum No. 1 - DoH2024039-A Cairns Youth Foyer.docx

Please consider this addendum when responding.

13/Mar/2026 02:11 PM
Please note: The following addenda have been recently added.

1. Added: (Addendum) Addendum No. 2 - DoH2024039-A Cairns Youth Foyer.docx

2. Added: (Addendum) Addendum No. 3 - DoH2024039-A Cairns Youth Foyer.docx

Please consider these addenda when responding.

18/Mar/2026 03:34 PM
Please note: The following addenda have been recently added.

1. Added: (Addendum) Addendum No. 4 - DoH2024039-A Cairns Youth Foyer.docx

2. Added: (Addendum) Attachment to Addendum No.4.pdf

Please consider these addenda when responding.

19/Mar/2026 10:38 AM
Please note: The following addendum has been recently added.

1. Added: (Addendum) Addendum No. 5 - DoH2024039-A Cairns Youth Foyer.docx

Please consider this addendum when responding.

23/Mar/2026 10:17 AM
Please note: The following addendum has been recently added.

1. Added: (Addendum) Addendum No. 6 - DoH2024039-A Cairns Youth Foyer.docx

Please consider this addendum when responding.

07/Apr/2026 12:59 PM
Please note: The following addendum has been recently added.

1. Added: (Addendum) Addendum No. 7 - DoH2024039-A Cairns Youth Foyer.docx

Please consider this addendum when responding.