Purpose

This DAR is in relation to a contract
variation for additional works identified and agreed with
Government that are separate to, but related to the current contact
with Sweco, the technical consultant for the Council's Clean Air
Plan programme.

Decision

For the reasons set out in this report, the
Corporate Director has decided to:
 
1)   
Approve the decision to vary the existing consultancy contract
between Liverpool City Council and Sweco UK Limited dated
13th March 2025 for the provision of technical work
required to address the 3 identified air quality exceedances at
Pembroke Place, Walton Vale and Hunter Street by including
additional technical consultancy support on the Liverpool Clean Air
Plan (LCAP) programme, following identification of tasks not
included in the original contract award and further written
instruction from the Government’s Joint Air Quality Unit
(JAQU). The estimated value of the proposed variation to the
contract is £132,535 excluding VAT.

Alternative options considered

1.1         
A full open procurement process to be followed, however this is not
feasible for the reasons provided in the following sections 2.2
& 2.3.
1.2         
Sweco have been providing technical
consultancy support on the LCAP programme since 2020 and if this
contract variation award for the additional FBC work required is
not approved, and a full open procurement process was to be
followed, there would be significant delays to maintaining the
current LCAP programme timeframe that would not be acceptable to
JAQU and the UK Government. This would certainly be the case if
another organisation was awarded a contract via an open procurement
process, as a handover and transition period would severely impact
on already agreed timeframes.
1.3         
Do nothing – this option was considered but disregarded as
the Council has a legal mandate from the Government as outlined in
1.1.