Decision details

The Strategic Director of Economy in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness: 

1.    Approves that Appendix 1 of this report is currently exempt from disclosure on the grounds that it contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of a particular person (including the authority holding that information) under paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, and in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. 

2.    Approves the procurement strategy proposing the use of the South East Consortium Consultancy Framework direct award procedure for the provision of multi-disciplinary services to enable the delivery of projects outlined in Appendix 1. 

3.    Approves the award of a contract to John Rowan and Partners (JRP) under the South East Consortium Consultancy Framework flexible direct award procedure for the provision of multi-disciplinary services to enable the delivery of projects outlined in Appendix 1. 

4.    Notes that the estimated fees detailed in Appendix 1 will be recalculated based on the total contract value and service proposal for each project and will be detailed in individual works contract award reports. 

A decision is required to secure a supplier to provide multi-disciplinary consultancy services to support the delivery of various projects forming part of the housing capital programme.

1.         Option 1 – Do Nothing. This is not an option as priority schemes need to be progressed to site and thereafter managed effectively.

2.         Option 2 – Carry out a full tendering exercise. A new procurement would be a very long and resource-intensive process. It would also overlap with the procurement of the council’s own consultancy framework with the same pool of suppliers submitting bids. 

3.         Option 3 – Carry out a mini-competition under an existing framework. Whilst this option would provide a suite of pre-qualified suppliers it would not significantly shorten the tender process, most of the effort going into establishing selection criteria and evaluating bids. As with Option 2, the same pool of suppliers would need to submit bids.

4.         Option 4 – Call off from an existing framework using a direct award process. This is the preferred option. This is the preferred option due to the need to get the various projects prepared for a start on site in 2023. The SEC’s consultancy framework allows a flexible direct award whereby clients can appoint any consultant regardless of rank. Nonetheless, John Rowan and Partners are second-ranked on the multi-disciplinary lot and have a good track record of delivery in Hammersmith and Fulham over many years. JRP are also currently managing the Linacre Court resident hall project and have developed a good relationship with the TRA there which can be carried forward to the proposed major refurbishment.