Decision details

Salford City Council – Record of Decision

I, Paul Dennett, City Mayor, in exercise of the powers contained within the Council Constitution do hereby approve:

·      the award of the Contract foran Integrated Information, Advice and Guidance for Adults and Employer Brokerage Support Service as detailed in the table below:

The Reasons are:

Following a fair and transparent open tender process, The Growth Company, have successfully met due diligence and the overall response across quality, price and social value has demonstrated that they are able to provide a robust Integrated Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) for Adults and Employer Brokerage Support Service in Salford.

Options considered and rejected were:

In-sourcing delivery of the Integrated IAG for Adults and Employer Brokerage Support Service was considered and rejected for a number of reasons. This including the available timescales, the potential for increased costs, putting in place relevant quality assurance frameworks within a limited timeframe, and the need for staff to have specialist Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) qualifications. On this basis a competitive open tender exercise was deemed to be the best option for delivering a quality service for residents and employers in Salford.

Assessment of Risk:

The service is designed to providing targeted employment and training support for residents who are not in employment and/ or who are in work and are looking to connect to and progress in work. Any delays in awarding the contract for this service could de-stabilise the current services and/ or cause a break in delivery.

As year one (15-months) has additional grant funding through DWP and GMCA (via UKSPF), we will need to provide additional returns to meet grant funding agreements.

The source of funding is:

City Council revenue budget (Skills and Work – formerly Childrens and Skills and Work – Place), DWP (Supported Employment – Employer Engagement element) and UKSPF funding (NEET Support – Employer Engagement element): Contract Total of £1,445,000.

Legal Advice obtained: Yes – supplied by The Shared Legal Service (Tony Hatton).

Financial Advice obtained: Yes – supplied by Luba Velychko Accountant, Place Directorate.

Procurement Advice obtained: Yes – supplied by: Emma Heyes, Category Manager/ Christine Flisk, Senior Procurement Officer.

HR Advice obtained: Not Applicable.

Climate Change Implications obtained: Yes – supplied in consultation with Mike Hemingway, Environment Policy Team, Tel. 0161 793 3209.

The following documents have been used to assist the decision process:

·      Approval to go out to competition for an Integrated Information, Advice and Guidance for Adults and Employer Brokerage Support Service – Report to Procurement Board on 14^th June 2023.

Contact Officer:

Angela Arthur, Commissioning Manager: 0161 793 3408

Emma Nolan, Commissioning Manager: 07921 749832

Alison Burnett, Head of Skills and Work: 0161 793 2535

This matter is also subject to consideration by the Lead Member for Skills & Work, Business and Workforce.

The Lead Member has been consulted and is supportive of the proposed contract.

The appropriate Scrutiny Committee to call-in the decision is Community and Neighbourhoods.

FOR DEMOCRATIC SERVICES USE ONLY

*           This decision was published on 13^th September 2023

*           This decision will come in force at 4.00 p.m. on 20^th September 2023 unless it is called-in in accordance with the Decision-Making Process Rules.