Purpose

To request authority to award a professional
services contract for the Post-16 SEND provision at Welsh Harp.

Content

That the Director – Property and
Assets:
 
i)              
Approves the award of the professional services contract for the
Post-16 SEND Provision at Welsh Harp to Morgan Sindall Construction
& Infrastructure Ltd for £233,738.

Reasons for the decision

The Council approached Morgan Sindall via the
SCAPE Construction Framework Lot 1 to understand the indicative
costs and timescales to deliver the Post-16 SEND Provision project
at Welsh Harp. Morgan Sindall provided information for the Council
to consider.
 
Officers are seeking approval to award the
professional services contracts for the project by calling off the
SCAPE Construction Framework Lot 1 in order to complete the design
and provide fixed costs to carry out the required works.

Alternative options considered

One alternative option considered was to
procure the scheme through alternative construction frameworks,
however, the Council has found it challenging to elicit sufficient
bids of the required quality recently. There were also concerns
raised relating to the financial strength of the bidders who
provided bids for the projects.
 
Another alternative procurement method was an
open tender procedure. This was discounted owing to the delays in
appointing a contractor would have on the programme and there would
be no guarantee that a different result would be received. The
current proposed decision provides a well-resourced, financial
stable contractor who has the capacity to deliver the scheme
effectively and efficiently.