This report requests that the Assistant Director of Neighbourhoods, Safety & Transport agrees to award contract for Maintenance, Supply & Installation Of CCTV Cameras & Associated Equipment for Wirral Council assets to Synectics Security through the Eastern Shires Procurement Organisation (ESPO) framework 628_19.  This will be for a three-year term and is to commence subject to contract on 16th February 2023.  This will support future digital improvements for the Council.

 The decision supports the delivery of the Wirral Plan by fitting into the Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) referenced in the Wirral Plan.  Within the MTFP one specific aim is that value for money is delivered for the services we provide.  This contract aims to achieve value for money by the avoidance of inflated call off rates which would be the default position if no action is taken.

The report supports the delivery of the Wirral Plan themes: Safe and Vibrant Communities - where our residents feel safe and are proud to live and raise their families and Active and Healthy Lives - Working to provide happy, active and healthy lives for all, with the right care, at the right time to enable residents to live longer and healthier lives.

This is a key decision.

This decision affects all wards in the Borough.

The Assistant Director of Neighbourhoods, Safety & Transport has decided to approve the award of a contract with a term of 3 years, for Maintenance, Supply & Installation Of CCTV Cameras & Associated Equipment, for Wirral Council assets to Synectics Security (Synectics Security Limited – Registration Number 05831231) through the Eastern Shires Procurement Organisation (ESPO) framework.  The contract value is up to £850,000.

This framework provides a compliant route to market for the procurement of Maintenance, Supply & Installation Of CCTV Cameras & Associated Equipment for all public sector bodies. Core network equipment supplied under the previous contract is covered under guarantee for a further three years and award of this contract to other vendors would incur additional costs in the event of equipment failure.  This is due to a third party being required to remove the failed equipment and return to the manufacturer for repair while providing a suitable temporary replacement, all of which would be a chargeable service.  As the vendor and manufacturer of the network hardware, Synectics Security are able to provide replacement equipment direct to site instead of operating on a return to base basis, which would not attract the additional mark-up cost.

Currently due to the spend on the previous contract, orders for repairs and maintenance are not able to be progressed, the further integration by Merseyside Police is hampered and a recent grant allocation for investment in CCTV for 2022/3 is unable to be spent.

Do nothing – This would mean that Wirral Council would be unable to purchase new CCTV equipment or procure maintenance & repair services for current equipment.

Choose a different framework provider or run a competitive tender exercise.  The contractor has an extensive working knowledge of the Council CCTV network; having been successful on the previous competitive tender exercise to supply and install a new CCTV Control Room and upgrade the CCTV network to digital transmission and recording. Much of the back-end equipment supplied under that contract is under warranty for a further three years and awarding maintenance & break/fix responsibility to another contractor would result in increased cost to the authority in the event of hardware or software failure.  By purchasing services from a framework provided by a public sector owned professional buying organisation the Council can guarantee obtaining value for money in the services it purchases. All suppliers listed on the framework have been assessed by ESPO during the procurement process for their financial stability, track record, experience and professional ability.