Issue details
GENERAL EXCEPTION NOTICE - UTILISATION OF PROCURE PARTNERSHIPS AND PAGOBA FRAMEWORKS –
UTILISATION OF PROCURE PARTNERSHIPS AND PAGOBA
FRAMEWORKS –
BIRKENHEAD WATERFRONT PROGRAMME, CONWAY STREET / EUROPA BOULEVARD
AND GRANGE ROAD / CHARING CROSS / GRANGE ROAD WEST MOVEMENT
PROJECTS
Having a single contractor to deliver the Waterfront and town
centre Birkenhead projects was historically considered the
preferred option as this should enable significant benefits from a
cost and efficiency perspective to be realised. It would also help
to facilitate improved network management, continuity and
co-ordination which could minimise disruption as much as possible
and therefore on 26 January 2023 the Economy Regeneration and
Housing Committee resolved that:
(1) The Director of Regeneration and Place be authorised to
commence a procurement exercise by way of a mini tendering process
via the Procure Partnerships Framework for the appointment of a
main contractor to develop the design and carry out the
construction works in relation to the highways, public realm and
active travel schemes across the Birkenhead Waterfront Programme
and in Birkenhead Town Centre via the Conway Street / Europa
Boulevard and Grange Road / Charing Cross / Grange Road West
Movement Projects; and
(2) the appointment of a main contractor under a pre-construction
services agreement following completion of a tender submission be
approved.
Two main contractors are required to utilise Levelling Up Fund,
Active Traver Fund Tranche 3 , Future High Street Fund and Town
Deal funding and implement extensive public realm, active travel
and highway infrastructure projects to bring significant
regeneration benefits to the Birkenhead Waterfront and as part of
the Birkenhead Town Centre programme highway,active travel and
public improvements at Conway Street / Europa Boulevard and Grange
Road / Charing Cross / Grange Road West.
A previous procurement exercise was carried out in 2023 following a
report to Economy, Regeneration and Housing Committee on 23 January
2023. The approach taken under that exercise looked to award a
single contract covering all elements of the work packages for
Birkenhead Town Centre and the Waterfront project. The returned
submissions did not provide the best financial outcome for the
Council and under the terms of the Procure Partnerships Framework
the Council is not obliged to award either contract, nor face
financial penalties for not making any award. In the interests of
seeking best value the Council now wishes to make two separate
direct awards, one covering the Birkenhead Waterfront Programme and
the other covering the Birkenhead Town Centre project.
A financially more appropriate scenario would be achieved if the
Council appointed different contractors to the different elements
splitting them between the Town Centre schemes and the Waterfront
project. The quality scoring was very close as one would expect
from skilled, tier one contractors of national scale.
Decision type: Key
Decision status: For Determination
Notice of proposed decision first published: 12/01/2024
This decision will be taken under urgency procedures.
Reason for urgency:
In relation to the Active Travel Tranche 3 funding elements on the town centre schemes contract must be entered into before the end of the current financial year. Likewise on Waterfront the Levelling Up funding must be dispersed by 31 March 2026 and the programme is extremely tight. It is necessary for the Council to proceed with the above recommendations so as to not jeopardise the continued availability of the above funding and minimise the risk of clawback.
Anticipated restriction: Part exempt -
Decision due: 22 Jan 2024 by Economy Regeneration & Housing Committee
Lead director: Director of Regeneration and Place
Documents
- GENERAL EXCEPTION NOTICE - UTILISATION OF PROCURE PARTNERSHIPS AND PAGOBA FRAMEWORKS –