12 Accommodation Project Update and Procurement Approval
To receive and consider the report of the Deputy Chief Executive.
Additional documents:
Decision:
1. To note the report and update on the accommodation review project and links to the Workplace Strategy and estimated costs of the project.
2. Approval to proceed with procurement of architectural and interior design services consultants utilising a Framework agreement (Fusion 21) and a further competition for architectural and interior design services consultants to be appointed.
3. To approve that the evaluation of tenders to be based on 50% cost and 50% quality in line with the Fusion 21 Framework rules, including 5% quality question in relation to social value.
4. To approve the delegation of award decision to the Executive Member (Resources) once proposals received, evaluated and the preferred consultant selected.
Minutes:
Peter Wilson, Executive Member (Resources) presented the report of the Deputy Chief Executive which provides an update on the accommodation review project as part of the Workplace Strategy 2021-2024 and seeks approval of the procurement route for architectural and interior design services consultants, delegation of award decision for architects and other design consultants.
Decision:
1. To note the report and update on the accommodation review project and links to the Workplace Strategy and estimated costs of the project.
2. Approval to proceed with procurement of architectural and interior design services consultants utilising a Framework agreement (Fusion 21) and a further competition for architectural and interior design services consultants to be appointed.
3. To approve that the evaluation of tenders to be based on 50% cost and 50% quality in line with the Fusion 21 Framework rules, including 5% quality question in relation to social value.
4. To approve the delegation of award decision to the Executive Member (Resources) once proposals received, evaluated and the preferred consultant selected.
Reasons for recommendations:
1. To enable the progression of the projects to transform the Town Hall and White Hart buildings supporting the aims of the council’s Workplace Strategy, architectural and interior design services consultants are required to support the council in its decision making and the project as a whole.
2. A further competition via the Fusion 21 framework is recommended in order to appoint architectural and interior design services consultants to ensure that best value can be obtained.
Other options considered and rejected:
1. Internal resource has been considered. However due to internal staff skills and the nature of the project, an external architectural and interior design consultant to support the project fully and act as lead designer is a more feasible option in this instance.
2. A direct award via the Fusion 21 Framework to AEW Architects has been considered as AEW Architects have worked on the project up to this stage. However, to achieve best value the recommendation is to carry out a further competition and invite bids via the Fusion 21 Framework.