Purpose

This decision concerns the procurement of fully maintained vehicle hire and associated fleet management services to support Facilities Management, Pest Control, Caretaking and Grounds & Parks services.

Decision

To approve the award the contract for fully maintained vehicle hires and associated fleet management services for 48 months in the sum of £359,672.36 to Enterprise Rent-A-Car UK.

Reasons for the decision

The Council requires the provision of fully maintained vehicle hire and associated fleet management services to support the operational delivery of frontline services across Facilities Management, Pest Control, Caretaking and Grounds & Parks. The contract covers the provision of 15 fully maintained operational vehicles to ensure continuity of service delivery, minimise vehicle downtime and provide safe, reliable transport for frontline operations. The fleet has been specified to meet the differing operational requirements of the participating service areas.

Council officers undertook a further competition under the Pretium Total FleetSolutions Framework and identified Enterprise Rent-A-Car UK as the tenderer submitting the most economically advantageous tender in accordance with the published evaluation criteria. Officers therefore recommend the award of the contract for fully maintained vehicle hire and associated fleet management services (the "Contract") to Enterprise Rent-A-Car UK.

Alternative options considered

Officers have considered whether the fully maintained vehicle hire and associated fleet management services can be provided by the council itself but have concluded that fully maintained vehicle hire and associated fleet management services is best provided by a contractor.

Officers have reviewed a range of procurement options and have determined that the use of a framework is the most appropriate and cost-effective means of procuring a contractor.

Officers considered undertaking a standalone open procurement but concluded that using the Framework provided a compliant route to market, reduced procurement timescales and ensured access to suitably qualified suppliers.