Request for Tender (RFT)
What program is being tendered?
The NSW Government is investing $130 million Building Crisis Housing Plan (BCHP) to expand crisis accommodation (CA) capacity across the state, with a commitment to deliver at least 200 additional CA rooms by 2029. This represents a 20 per cent increase to crisis accommodation in NSW.
The funding contributes to the NSW Government’s record $6.6 billion investment to reduce homelessness and increase and improve social housing, building 8,400 new social homes and repairing 33,500 mainstream and Aboriginal social homes.
Approximately $30 million is available for tender in 2026/27.
BCHP is a property focussed program for crisis accommodation only that aims to provide safer, supported, more appropriate and cost-effective housing options for people in urgent need where they can recover and rebuild their lives. It seeks to reduce reliance on the use of Supported Temporary Accommodation and Temporary Accommodation (TA) through commercial motels and hotels. Its key objectives are
- Increase the number of crisis accommodation beds through leveraging more properties that are owned or managed by NGOs to provide more bedrooms
- Reduce reliance on temporary accommodation through commercial motels and hotels and Supported Temporary Accommodation by supporting tenant/client focused initiatives that facilitate reduced temporary accommodation, flexible supportive housing and sustained tenancies
- Increase the availability of accessible crisis accommodation by providing more properties that are accessible to people with a disability
- Strengthen cultural safety and inclusion through the promotion of culturally safe housing responses, particularly through partnerships with Aboriginal-led organisations and services, and by improving cultural safety in mainstream homelessness services and within accommodation models. A minimum of 10% of proposals will be set aside to be led by or in a partnership with Aboriginal Controlled Community Organisation (ACCOs)
- Encourage sector collaboration and co-contributions by leveraging resources through co-contributions from providers, partners, or philanthropic sources to maximise the impact and sustainability of funded initiatives
How does BCHP work?
The BCHP tender is based on a co-contribution model where Government funds are combined with NGO contributions of financial resources (equity, debt, land) and non-financial resources (concession values, and donations) to increase housing supply project. NGOs also bring their community networks, partnerships and local connections that can support tenants who will eventually live in these properties. (See Funding and Finance section).
What can the funding be used for?
Funding can be used for the purchase, redevelopment, reconfiguration or additions to a property for use as crisis accommodation.
Property works must commence within 12 months of allocation and can include lodgement of a Development Application.
Any interest earned must be identified and used for the purposes of the funding. The following activities are excluded.
- Recurrent worker / service delivery/ support provision costs.
- The use of TA funds to pay for properties funded by BCHP. The properties need to be an alternative to high cost TA models.
- Any activity of a commercial nature that is for profit.
- Servicing non-property debt or budget deficits.
- Costs associated with obtaining accreditation or registration.
Clients and services
Who is the target group?
Funding is for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and in need of short-to-medium-term housing.
How do we provide accommodation management?
As a capital funding program, BCHP includes accommodation that shortens and/or prevents stays in supported and commercial temporary accommodation and facilitates rapid rehousing and sustainable exit strategies. Reducing reliance on TA is a key objective. Providers will make BCHP funded properties available through Specialist Homelessness Service tools and systems, including vacancy management processes.
Eligibility
Who can apply for funding through the RFT?
The program is open to accredited Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS), registered Community Housing Providers (CHPs), Aboriginal Community Housing Providers (ACHPs) through both National or Local Schemes, and providers pending accreditation or registration.
Your organisation must be accredited with one of the four DCJ approved accreditation standards under the Homelessness Accreditation Framework to sign a contract to receive funding.
Alternately, if your organisation is not yet accredited/registered it may still apply to the BCHP RFT. However, accreditation/registration must be achieved before receiving funding. The time it takes to become accredited will vary between organisations and is based on your previous experience with accreditation. As a guide, achieving accreditation typically takes 12-18 months.
Unregistered and non-accredited organisations may form a partnership with organisations which are accredited/registered to submit a bid but will not directly receive funding.
We are not a registered CHP or accredited SHS. How can we participate?
Your organisation must be a registered Community Housing Provider or an accredited Homelessness Service (it does not need to be SHS funded) or a provider pending accreditation to be able to sign a contract to receive funding.
Becoming an accredited provider under the Homelessness Accreditation Framework takes an average of 12 - 18 months and depends on your experience with accreditation processes.
If you are not accredited or registered, you could form a partnership with a registered CHP or homelessness service to submit a bid.
Any CHP or ACHP seeking to directly deliver homelessness support under the BCHP will need to also hold or achieve accreditation under the Homelessness Accreditation Framework.
We are thinking about or are in the process of community housing registration. Can we still apply?
Yes, and you will need to provide the following information:
- any registration or compliance assessment reports from other related regulatory systems (e.g., Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, PARS Aboriginal CHP registration);
- a Registration Plan on the proposed approach to obtain registration as a CHP under the NRSCH prior to the date the last party signs the Community Housing Assistance Agreement; and
- A timeline as part of the Registration Plan nominating any steps already taken towards CHP registration.
Funds will only be released to registered CHP or an accredited Homelessness Service at the time of signing a Community Housing Assistance Agreement.
Partnerships
Can we form a partnership or consortium with other organisations?
Yes. Partnerships are strongly encouraged with their details to be included in the tender and in the funding contract. If you are partnering with non-accredited providers, they must agree to achieve accreditation within the contract term to be able to be subcontracted by your organisation. Depending on the organisation, accreditation can take between 12-18 months.
We are an Aboriginal Controlled Community Organisation (ACCO) but not a registered CHP or accredited SHS. How can we participate?
BCHP is aiming to fund as many suitable ACCO led proposals as possible. Your organisation can take the lead and establish a partnership / consortium with a registered CHP or accredited SHS to bid for funding. See Eligibility above.
Contracting
What types of contracts are used?
A Community Housing Assistance Agreement (CHAA) is a funding agreement used when providing financial assistance for the purchase, redevelopment, or reconfiguration of a property by a registered CHP.
Community Welfare Assistance Agreement (CWAA) is a funding agreement used when providing financial assistance for the purchase, redevelopment, or reconfiguration of a property by an accredited Specialist Homelessness Service.
These Assistance Agreements are not subject to amendment unless there are specific and valid reasons.
The Assistance Agreement templates will be loaded into the BCHP (Stream 3) Data Room with the Tender documents.
Properties and land
Who owns the property?
If the funding is used to purchase, redevelop or reconfigure a property the successful applicant will own the property and be responsible for all expenses, including, but not limited to responsive and planned maintenance, structural works, insurance, rates, and other property expenses. DCJ will register an interest on title to ensure the intended use of the property.
The CHAA and CWAA says ‘DCJ will register an interest on the title of Funded Property”. What does this mean?
To protect the Government’s investment in the property, a reference is made in the contract to DCJ’s interest being recorded on the title of the property. This means that the NGO must consult with DCJ if it wants to deal in the property. A dealing could be selling it, taking out a mortgage or redeveloping it. This operates as a gateway consent provision, that is, it is neither a mortgage nor a caveat, and the Housing Agency cannot unreasonably withhold consent – as set out in section 18.2 of the Community Housing Providers (Adoption of National Law) Act 2012.
Effectively this means a notation is put on the relevant title, which simply states:
“Land is held subject to the provisions of section 18 Community Housing Providers (Adoption of National Law) Act 2012. Consent of the Secretary of the Department of Communities and Justice is required for plans and dealings inconsistent with the interests of the Secretary of the Department of Communities and Justice."
Tenderers are strongly encouraged to seek their own legal advice to check if there are any impediments to DCJ registering an interest on land your organisation owns.
Can we buy a portable home and put it on our land?
Yes. You should ensure that the zoning permits this use and the building is compliant with the National Construction Code and local planning controls. DCJ will register its interest on the title.
Can we sell or redevelop the properties in the future?
Yes. This is called a ‘dealing’. If your organisation decides to sell or re-develop, it must advise DCJ and seek written approval. DCJ cannot unreasonably withhold consent. DCJ’s interest will be reapplied to an agreed alternative property.
Is a long-term lease possible?
It is preferable that the property is owned by the NGO. Longer term leases, of at least 15 years or more, may be considered on a case-by-case basis, however, these projects may not be preferred in the assessment.
Can we reconfigure a property we lease from Homes NSW?
Written in-principle endorsement of Homes NSW is required and must be attached to your application. If a Homes NSW owned property is proposed, it may be assessed for inclusion in Stream 2 of the BCHP.
Funding and finance
How much funding is being tendered?
Approximately $30 million is available for tender with the BCHP in 2026/27.
How much funding and how many proposals can we apply for?
You can apply for a maximum of two project proposals. Your proposals must have a maximum combined limit of $5,000,000 (excluding GST) per application. There is no minimum funding limit.
DCJ reserves the right to vary the limits up or down on a case-by-case basis.
How will funding be paid?
Funding will be paid in a lump sum following an agreed timeline.
How are the respective contributions to the projects reflected in the contract?
The contributions to the project value are reflected as a percentage in the contract:
- DCJ Contribution: The funding at X% (% of the total project value)
- NGO Contribution: Including land, debit, equity, tax concessions and other financial resources at Y% (% of the total project value).
How are NGOs' contributions defined?
The following items contribute to the NGOs' ownership percentage of the project.
| Equity | Cash |
|---|---|
| Land Value | The land must be owned by the NGO at the time of submitting a response to RTF |
| Debt | Actual or potential loan |
| Tax concessions | If the NGO is a charity, it may be eligible for tax concessions, reductions in council fees, etc. |
| Philanthropic resources donations | Includes pro-bono legal, architect, developer fees that the NGO would have paid for but have been donated. Accurate and realistic costings are required. |
Tenderers are strongly encouraged to investigate their eligibility for tax concessions / fee reductions or waivers and include these in their contributions calculation.
Can we add a property to a previously DCJ funded capital project?
Funds can be used to add extra properties / bedrooms to an existing funded site. Funds cannot be used to fund additional costs for an existing project. The tender will ask the NGO to explain how the additional funds will work to provide additional housing on an existing capital project site.
Responding to Requests for Tender (RFT)
When does the RFT start?
The BCHP (Stream 3) RFT will commence with an Industry Briefing on the 11 June 2026. The tender will be opened on 18 June 2026 or about and run for 30 business days or 6 weeks.
What is an Industry Briefing?
An Industry Briefing provides information about the tender and allows participants to ask general questions. Specific questions about a particular project idea will not be answered. These types of questions can be lodged via the BCHP Data Room for a response from DCJ.
Do we have to register for the Industry Briefing?
Yes. Please RSVP to join the online MS Teams session by 10 June 2026.
If you did not receive an invitation or did not attend the Industry Briefing session and you are interested in submitting a project proposal under the BCHP that’s okay. Please email the DCJ BCHP Team on BCHP@homes.nsw.gov.au to access relevant documentation.
The Industry Briefing presentation will be uploaded to the Data Room.
Can I ask DCJ any questions before the industry briefing?
DCJ will only respond to administrative matters about registering for the Industry Briefing. Due to probity limitations, DCJ will only respond to RFT questions uploaded to the Data Room from 18 June 2026 or about.
This FAQ is intended to answer as many questions as possible and will be updated as required during the application process. Updated FAQs will be accessible via the BCHP (Stream 3) Data Room.
What is a Data Room?
A Data Room is an online secure location where tender documentation will be placed, questions of a general or specific nature can be asked and answered, and where all final tenders are lodged. You will be given access via a registration process after the industry briefing.