Purpose

The variation extends the programme delivery timeline to a July 2027 joint go-live and re-phases the associated Change Management deliverables and charges across the Statements of Work. Continuation of this work is critical to the successful implementation of the ERP Programme

Decision

For the reasons set out in this report, the Corporate Director has decided to:

1)     Enter into a contract variation pertaining to contract DN791934: Liverpool City Council ERP Consultancy Partner with Veran Performance Limited, to enable additional consultancy costs of £295,775 (exc. VAT) associated with the ERP programme implementation revised timeline.

Alternative options considered

Do nothing: change and engagement activity to remain aligned with an April 2027 implementation timeline: this is not considered to be a viable option for the Council. The continued use of Veran Performance Limited as change implementation partner, aligned to the revised July 2027 timeline, is considered essential to the effective implementation of the new ERP system in terms of process alignment, cultural change and effective embedding of the new solution and cannot be met by existing resource (including internal) given its specific specialisms and extent of support required to meet the programme timescales.

Award the contract to another supplier through a separate procurement process: this is not considered to be a viable option, as the Council has previously followed a formal tender evaluation process and arrived at the most economically advantageous tender based upon the scoring of tenders received. In addition, as the change and engagement activity is currently in full flight, and upcoming activity fully planned, it would be a critical risk to the programme to cease this activity whilst going out to tender for another potential supplier.