The Chair has accepted this urgent item of business dues to reasons of special circumstances. 

Executive Cabinet is requested to consider recommendation 7: That approval for the contract award decision is to be delegated to the Executive Member (Homes and Housing) once a preferred supplier has been identified using NHC’s ‘Further Competition Tender’ facility.

To endorse the recommendations made within the Executive Member Decision in May:

1.         That the Council undertakes a collaborative joint procurement exercise for the above via the Northern Housing Consortium Framework (NHC) for a contract period of 5 years with the option to extend for a further two years. Whilst this will be a collaborative procurement exercise to achieve maximum advantage of combined volume, each authority will complete their own individual contract with the preferred provider at award stage.

2.         That the evaluation criteria outlined within this report of 60% quality weighting and a 40% pricing weighting are used.

3.         That South Ribble Borough Council undertake the role of lead body for the procurement in accordance with Contract Procedure Rule 32.3.

4.         That approval for the contract award decision is to be delegated to the Executive Member (Homes and Housing) once a preferred supplier has been identified using NHC’s ‘Further Competition Tender’ facility.

The Chair accepted this urgent item of business dues to reasons of special circumstances.

The Executive Member (Homes and Housing)) presented the confidential report of the Director (Early Intervention and Support) which proposes revised procurement arrangements for the supply, installation, servicing and maintenance of stairlifts and lifting equipment funded by Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG).

Decision:To endorse the recommendations made within the Executive Member Decision in May:

1.         That the Council undertakes a collaborative joint procurement exercise for the above via the Northern Housing Consortium Framework (NHC) for a contract period of 5 years with the option to extend for a further two years. Whilst this will be a collaborative procurement exercise to achieve maximum advantage of combined volume, each authority will complete their own individual contract with the preferred provider at award stage.

2.         That the evaluation criteria outlined within this report of 60% quality weighting and a 40% pricing weighting are used.

3.         That South Ribble Borough Council undertake the role of lead body for the procurement in accordance with Contract Procedure Rule 32.3.

4.         That approval for the contract award decision is to be delegated to the Executive Member (Homes and Housing) once a preferred supplier has been identified using NHC’s ‘Further Competition Tender’ facility.

Reasons for Recommendation(s):

1.         The proposed joint procurement with SRBC is likely to confer financial benefits in terms of achieving greater economies of scale. The two Councils share Procurement services and therefore it is a logical development to work collaboratively on this venture.

2.         The total value of the Contracts to be awarded will exceed the EU threshold above which contracts must be advertised in OJEU in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations.  The NHC framework has been procured in accordance with EU rules and is therefore a compliant, streamlined and effective route to market.

3.         Throughout 2020 the UK and the EU are adhering to an agreed transition period https://www.gov.uk/transition during which the current rules on trade, travel and business for the UK and EU will continue to apply. These arrangements will cease on 1st January 2021, and hence it is a requirement that the tender arrangements under consideration in this report must adhere to EU procurement rules.

4.         The Council has a statutory duty to provide DFG funding to eligible applicants whose identified needs include stairlifts and other Lifting Equipment such as ‘Through Floor’ vertical lifts. The existing procurement arrangements via Lancashire County Council (LCC) will cease on 30th September 2020 and the Council needs to be able to ensure a seamless transition which will avoid causing any delays or distress for customers requiring such equipment.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

An option of seeking quotes on each occasion that the Council receives a recommendation to provide stairlifts and/or lifting equipment was examined but was rejected on the basis of lack of economy, inefficiency and being inconvenient for customers..