Purpose

To request Cabinet Member approval to award a
contract for the supply and install of Turntide Technology motors to Future Motors Ltd,
following an extraordinary exemption approval process.
 
This contract has a value of up to
£1.4m, and will be delivered over
the next 5 years. This technology will be retrofitted to high
energy using equipment at multiple sites owned and run by the
council and will provide energy savings on the running costs at
those sites.

Content

I approve the exemption and contract award set
out in the report.
 
This decision was published on 7 January 2025
and will come into effect on 15 January 2025.

Reasons for the decision

Approval of the
procurement exemption will allow the award of a contract to Future
Motors Ltd for the supply and installation of Turntide Technology systems at key council
buildings.

Alternative options considered

A full tender process was considered and work
to scope and identify contractors in the market capable of
delivering the required technology was undertaken. However,
extensive market research and supplier engagement revealed that a
tender process would be an inefficient use of resources.
 
This was based on:
 
•     
Technical Exclusivity - No other suppliers in the market offer
functionality and software capabilities equivalent to Turntide Technologies, including the patented
10-pole Switched Reluctance Technology, full monitoring systems,
and remote access features. These are critical for achieving the
Council’s financial and sustainability objectives.
•     
Installation Exclusivity - Turntide
Motors installations are exclusively managed by Future Motors Ltd
or their approved subcontractors. No independent installers are
authorised to install the motor or its software. Future
Motors’ certified network of trained installers ensures
proper handling, and the system is not supplied outside this
authorised group.
•     
Unique Energy-Saving Benefits - Turntide Technologies offers unmatched energy
efficiency and operational benefits that align with the
Council’s goals. Procuring an alternative solution would
compromise performance and fail to meet the Council’s
technical requirements.
 
The exemption request was considered and
approved by Procurement Board and has subsequently been signed by
Director of Assets, Head of Finance, Director of Finance and
Director of Legal and Governance.