Issue - meetings

The report will provide a summary of the procurement exercise completed and put forward the proposed winning bidder for cabinet to formally consider and approve contract award.

The contract is for the provision of supply, install and maintenance of stairlifts and ramps for the Disabled Facility Grants Team and Council Adaptations service covering both private and council owned properties. The contract is for 5 years to the value of £600,000

Purpose of report

To obtain approval to enter into a contract with EMS Lifts Ltd for the provision, installation and maintenance of stairlifts, through floor lifts, step lifts and ramps for the Disabled Facility Grants Team and Council Adaptations service covering both private and council owned properties for a period of 3 years with the option to extend by a further 1 year plus 1 year.

Decision

That Cabinet approves the contract award for the supply, installation and maintenance of stairlifts, through floor lifts, step lifts and external modular ramps to EMS Lifts Ltd with an annual contract value of £120k for a period of 3 years with the option to extend by a further 1 year plus 1 year.

Alternative options considered and rejected

No other options were considered. This function cannot be delivered in house and the current arrangements are due to end, therefore this was the only option considered.

Reasons for decision

The current contractual arrangements were ending and following a robust procurement process the successful supplier. Due to the contract value and in accordance with the Constitution, the contract award requires Cabinet approval.

Two teams had been involved in working on the contract award; the Disabled Facility Grants team were responsible for private households, and the Council Adaptation team were responsible for Council tenants. A joint procurement exercise had taken place to find a new contractor to take on both services.

There was no means testing for private households. The discretionary financial limit was nominally £15,000, but there was discretion to go above this award. Items such as stairlifts tended to be lower in value and would not meet the discretionary threshold.

Funding could not be awarded retrospectively.