Purpose

Proposed decision :
To
agree the re-procurement and the award of a new contractual
arrangement for the Arboriculture Programmed Works Contract for a
period of five years and allowable extension of three years,
subject to performance and to delegate authority to the Director
for Highways and Transportation to take other relevant actions,
including but not limited to finalising the terms of and entering
into required contracts or other legal agreements, as necessary to
implement the decision
 

Background
The
current contract expires 31st August 2024. Accordingly,
in order to ensure a seamless service remains in place a new
procurement is required.  Ongoing
procurement enables market testing and ensures that the rates KCC
pay for the work are competitive and reflective of the current
market. 
 

Options
The
commissioning of the arboriculture programmed work stream within
the soft landscape service was considered and agreed with
amendments by the Commercial and Procurement
Oversight Board on 31st October
2023. 

 
How the proposed decision supports Framing
Kent’s Future 2022-2026: The
arboriculture works service is a safety critical service that keeps
Kent’s roads moving and assists economic growth.

 
How the proposed decision supports Securing
Kent’s Future: The budget for this
work is covered within existing budgets and will not be an
additional financial burden to KCC. Best value was considered as
part of the procurement process including assurance checking via
the Commercial and Procurement Oversight Board.
 
 

Decision

As Cabinet Member for  Highways and
Transportation, I agree to:
 
APPROVE the procurement of the Arboriculture
Programmed Works Contract and in consultation with the Cabinet
Member for Highways and Transportation delegate authority to the
Director of Highways and Transportation to approve the award of the
subsequent contract to the preferred bidder and to take other
relevant actions, including but not limited to finalising the terms
of and entering into required contracts or other legal agreements,
as necessary to implement the decision and;
 
•   in
consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways and
Transportation DELEGATE authority to the Director of Highways and
Transportation to award extensions of the Arboriculture Programmed
Works Contract in accordance with the possible extension clauses
within the contract.