Decision details

The award of this contract will enable the Council to continue to meet the decent homes standard and comply with all associated compliance and health and safety regulations and for the Council to continue to meet its ongoing Corporate Priority; “Your Home”.
This will be a 3-year call off contract, with a potential to extend for a further 3 years (3+ 1+1+1). The estimated annual spend for the Council for this call off contract is around £100,000, which is within the approved budget for this work within the Housing Revenue Account.
The decision is to award the above contract to by Bell Group Limited.

Following an open tender process (which is fully compliant with EU procurement rules), two tenders were received. Of these two tenders only one was found to be fully compliant and priced in accordance with contract requirements.
Following discussions with PSPS procurement officers, a comparative exercise of the submitted rates by the compliant tender against other similar priced works from National procurement frameworks, and those currently used by our own in house repairs team was undertaken.
The outcome of this comparative exercise was shared with PSPS procurement officers who confirmed “from the analysis undertaken, and us being comfortable with Bell Group's quality submission too, we are comfortable that we can award this contract to Bell Group”.

Option 1 - Do nothing. The Council could continue to absorb damp remedial works within its in house Housing Repairs service. However, it is felt that having access to a specialist contractor will provide an enhanced service for tenants and ensure the Council can comply with strict timescales for resolving damp issues. If the Council cannot respond within set down prompt timescales, this would have a detrimental effect on the conditions of the council’s assets but more importantly the health and wellbeing of our tenants. Not recommended.
Option 2 – Undertake another tender programme. In the last tender programme which was advertised in “Contracts finder” and twenty local and national contractors were contacted directly and advised of this opportunity, twenty one expressions of interest were received by PSPS. Of these expressions of interest sixteen were from contractors who found the tender information independently off “Contracts finder”. However, only two tenders were returned. Due to the high profile of damp condensation and mould at present, and the abundance of opportunities within the market. It is not considered that a further round of tendering would enhance the number of contractors bidding for this work. Not recommended.