Purpose

Since 2020, West Sussex County
Council (WSCC) has been the lead local authority for Solar Together
Sussex, a group purchasing scheme enabling residents and small to
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to install high quality solar PV
and battery storage systems at a reduced price compared to average
market installation costs.
 
The scheme, which uses local
economies of scale to deliver value for money for customers who are
able to finance their own system, has been delivered in partnership
with iChoosr (a group purchasing company), and supported and
promoted by local authorities in Sussex and Brighton &
Hove.
 
Following the expiry of
WSCC’s four-year contract with iChoosr in August 2024, local
authority partners agreed to explore a new procurement to identify
a delivery partner for a new domestic solar PV scheme commencing in
2025.
 

Decision

The Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate
Change has –
 
1)  
approved the commencement of a procurement exercise to secure a new
pan-Sussex group purchasing contract for domestic solar PV (and
ancillary low carbon technologies); and
 
2)  
delegated authority to the Assistant Director (Environment and
Public Protection) to award this contract at the conclusion of the
procurement process in accordance with the evaluation and tender
requirements described and within the financial parameters set out
in the report. The contract will be let for an initial term of five
years to commence following completion of the procurement exercise
with a possible extension of up to a further two years.