Agenda and decisions

Salford City Council - Record of Decision

I Paul Dennett, City Mayor in exercise of the powers contained within the Council Constitution do hereby approve an exception to Contractual Standing Orders as permitted within the City Council Constitution and the award of the Contract to award an extension to the commissioning of the Sexual and Reproductive Health Services for Salford and Bolton as detailed in the table below:

The Reasons are

1       The provider’s resilience and ability to produce high quality bids, as part of a competitive tender exercise continues to be affected by the additional pressures relating to the COVID-19 global pandemic. Non-NHS providers could have an advantage over NHS providers in their ability to participate fully within the procurement process, as NHS providers have been responding to and continue to experience the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and increased demand.

2       If NHS providers were deemed to be disadvantaged Salford City Council could potentially be open to a legal challenge about the procurement process from providers who considered themselves disadvantaged in this way.

3       A new service specification needs to be developed, taking in to account the changing health service landscape and the new additions to Sexual and Reproductive Health Services such as PrEP provision.

4       Market Testing needs to be carried out, to assess and stimulate interest in tendering for the contract.

5       The market for sexual health services is limited therefore, a costly tender process at this time may result in failure to secure bids of sufficient quality or recommissioning a service of insufficient quality, having carried out a costly tendering exercise.

Options considered and rejected were

Going out to tender within existing time frames for Sexual and Reproductive Health Services.

Not providing a service.

Assessment of Risk

Medium – these are mandated services to help people prevent, identify and treat sexually transmitted infections, improve sexual health and wellbeing, manage conditions and adhere to treatment, avoid unwanted pregnancy and promote safe and positive sex and relationships. Not extending these  ...  view the full decision text for item 5a

Salford City Council - Record of Decision

I, Councillor Bill Hinds, Lead Member for Finance and Support Services and chair of the Procurement Board, in exercise of the powers contained within the Council Constitution do hereby approve an exception to Contractual Standing Orders as permitted within the City Council Constitution for Best Value to The Council and the award of selected contracts within the Skills and Work Commissioned programme for the period: 1^st April 2022 to 31^st March 2023, subject to the confirmation of final budgets for 2022/23.

The individual contracts and budget values are detailed in the Skills and Work Programme report dated 29^th September 2021.

The Reasons are: In September 2016 Procurement Board gave approval to go out to competition for the delivery of services within this proposed programme. Following a competitive tendering process, contracts were awarded to successful providers and delivery commenced on 1^st April 2017. These projects become time – expired at the end of March 2022. 

In order to retain targeted support for some of our most vulnerable young people, adults and families in the wake of the economic impact of the pandemic; add value and fill gaps in the mainstream offer and taking into account wider strategic and financial considerations, it is proposed that selected contracts are extended for a further 12 months, for the period 1^st April 2022 to March 31st 2023. The options to extend within the contracts have been exercised and as such they therefore require an exception to contractual standing orders in order to continue into 2022/23.   

Options considered and rejected were:

-        Develop new specifications and go out to tender

-        Bring the services in house

-        Decommission current services

Assessment of Risk:

The current Skills and Work programme delivers a suite of targeted services to support local young people and adults to progress in to education, training or work. The programme is also strongly aligned to support the wider outcomes of the Helping Families programme.

Regular dialogue is maintained with the providers to ensure that the services are delivering against agreed outcomes and continue to be responsive to local requirements, particularly against the background of the pandemic.

Delays in the award of contracts for 2022/23 could potentially de-stabilise providers and provision going forward and there will be gap in provision if these services are not continued.

The source of funding is: These services are funded by the City Council revenue budget (Skills and Work / Raising Participation / Dedicated Schools Grant – High Needs Block), Section 106 and Troubled Families grant.

Legal Advice obtained from: Tony Hatton, Principal Solicitor, Tel. 0161 219 6323

Financial Advice obtained from: Chris Mee, Strategic Finance Manager, Ext 0434

Procurement Advice obtained from: Christopher Conway, Procurement Category Manager,Tel 0161 686 6248

Climate Change Implications considered: Advice from Michael Hemingway, Principal Officer – Climate Change, Tel: 0161 793 3209  

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

Skills and Work Commissioning Intentions  ...  view the full decision text for item 8a

10:00am on Wednesday 13^th October, Salford Suite, Civic Centre.