Core and cluster procurement process

The Core and Cluster Program’s procurement process has been designed to enable service delivery for women and children to commence as soon as possible.

Construction of the new Core and Cluster refuges commenced in late 2022 and will continue over four years, up to 2025-26. Delivery will occur over three tranches.

Each tranche of the procurement process will commence with an Expression of Interest (EOI) to identify proposals and providers for new or additional facilities (asset and/or service delivery).  A Request for Tender process will follow each EOI, consistent with the NSW Government Procurement Policy Framework.

A Probity Advisor has been engaged to ensure procurement is undertaken in an impartial and fair manner, with no party given advantage over another or unfairly discriminated against.

Information about procurement activity will be published on the NSW e-tendering site. Interested parties should monitor this site for the latest information.

Tranches 1 and 2

Tranches 1 and Tranche 2 have now closed. On 21 November 2022, the NSW Government announced 39 proposals for new women’s refuges that have been successful under Tranche 1 and 2 of the Core and Cluster Program.

The selected sites will be the first new refuges delivered under the NSW Government’s record $484.3 million investment for housing and specialist supports for women experiencing domestic and family violence and their children. 

Tranche 3

Tranche 3 is aimed at projects suitable for implementation or further development from December 2023. 

Expression of Interests for Tranche 3 opened on 27 April 2023 (indicatively) and close 25 July 2023.

Please note that 25 July 2023 is the extended close date (original closed date was previously published as 13 June 2023)

Aboriginal procurement

Aboriginal women are at greater risk of domestic and family violence and homelessness. The Core and Cluster Program aims to improve access to culturally safe services and supports for Aboriginal women and children.

A targeted EOI for Aboriginal-led projects was run concurrently alongside the Tranche 2 EOI. The EOI sought to identify Aboriginal-led Core and Cluster projects suitable for implementation or further development, from July 2023.

The EOI was open to registered Aboriginal organisations including Aboriginal Community Housing Providers and Local Aboriginal Land Councils or Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations. Applications received were assessed by DCJ, with shortlisted applicants invited to participate in the following Request for Tender process. 

There will be another targeted procurement process for Aboriginal-led delivery for Tranche 3.

Briefing sessions for the Tranche 3 process

DCJ held briefing sessions for the Tranche 3 Expression of Interest (EOI) process for parties interested in submitting a proposal in response to the Core and Cluster Tranche 3 EOI.

These were held on the Tuesday 9 May and Wednesday 10 May 2023.

Please find links below to the recordings of these sessions:

Tranche 3.2 (Aboriginal led):  10am – 11am Tuesday 09 May

Tranche 3.1 (General):  11am – 12pm Wednesday 10 May

For probity reasons, questions from the session will be taken on notice and answers provided in addendums on the e-tendering website .

If you have any questions, please email coreandclusterprogram@facs.nsw.gov.au or if they relate to the procurement for Tranche 3 you can submit questions through e-tendering website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Further information is provided in the Core & Cluster Sector Capacity and Capacity Building Program Frequently Asked Questions (PDF, 298.9 KB)