Decision

To direct award the delivery partner contract
using Fusion 21 Framework, a compliant framework which allows
direct awards to be made.

Reasons for the decision

Legal and Procurement had been consulted in
the decision to direct award the contract using the Fusion 21
Decarbonisation Framework. They were satisfied that the Fusion 21
Framework was appropriate for a direct award, provided the rules of
the framework were followed and best procurement practices were
observed.
It had not been permissible to extend the existing contract with
the current supplier to include the new round of funding. Doing so
would have required an exception and posed a heightened risk of
legal challenge due to the scale of the expenditure.
The decision was to direct award to the current supplier given the
strong relationship which had developed over the last 10 years and
which had resulted in significant success in the area of
retrofitting domestic homes. The relationship had been beneficial
to the residents of North Lincolnshire and the council, given the
difficulties in recruiting experienced, skilled staff and the
nature of the funding. We have been able, via the partnership to
ensure that as much of the funding as possible is spent on homes
for NL residents, helping the council meet its outcomes of safe,
well and prosperous.
In the last round of funding, North Lincolnshire was one of the
best performing authorities in relation to spend and achieving
outcomes in the Midlands Consortium.

Alternative options considered

A further competition was considered, however
the funding for this was not available, approving the delivery
partner through the Fusion 21 Framework allows the scheme to
commence from September 2025. In addition the Framework allowed a
direct award and the past collaborations with the delivery partner
had been successful, including being one of the top performing
councils for HUG 2 delivery in our consortium. Therefore the direct
award was the best option and provided compliance with the
Procurement Act 2023.