Decision

To instruct Legal to prepare and execute a deed of variation of the original Contract for the provision of Multi-Disciplinary Consultancy Services relating to the project at The Arcade, Bognor Regis, made between Arun District Council and Ridge and Partners LLP by deed of professional appointment dated 15 September 2025, being a call-off contract awarded by direct award under the Fusion21 Consultants Framework, Lot 1 (Fusion21 Project Reference 18972)

Reasons for the decision

As discussed with Deputy Chief Executive, the deed of variation, which is to be drafted by Legal Services, instructs Ridge and Partners LLP to continue the works to:
(a) Develop the design proposals and costings for:
a. East Wing Option 3 to RIBA Stage 4 (including ground floor elements);
b. East Wing Option 4 to RIBA Stage 2; and
c. the Ground Floor design to RIBA Stage 2, as detailed in Ridge and Partners LLP’s fee proposal reference 5021103 dated 10 July 2026; and
(b) increases the contract sum by £180,050.00 exclusive of VAT, from £364,260.00 to £544,310.00 exclusive of VAT

In accordance with Contract Standing Order 8.12, approval for this contract modification for the purposes of Regulation 72 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 will first be obtained. Approval of this variation is conditional upon that approval being granted.

Alternative options considered

A new call-off under the Construction Consultancy Services Framework (CCCF) 2025-2029. This could be a direct award but is expected to take longer.

Re-tender exercise - A change of contractor (a change of the multi-disciplinary consultants) cannot practicably be made for technical/economic reasons. Ridge is the incumbent multi-disciplinary designer and has developed and coordinated the existing RIBA 0-4 information for this complex existing building. The additional work directly revises and develops Ridge's existing Stage 4 architectural, structural/civil, MEP, project management, cost and design-coordination outputs. A replacement consultant would first have to review, verify and adopt the existing design information, surveys, calculations, cost information and interfaces before safely developing the revised options, creating technical interface and split-responsibility risks. A change of contractor would cause significant inconvenience and substantial duplication of cost. A new consultant would require mobilisation and re-familiarisation with the building and existing design, review/verification and adoption of existing outputs, and duplicated multi-disciplinary coordination and cost work. It would also introduce procurement/mobilisation delay into the existing design/tender programme.