Decision details

To request authority to award contracts for Lanscape Works, as required by Contract Standing Order 88.

That the Director of Inclusive Regeneration and Climate Action:

i)               Notes the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Property has granted an exemption from the requirement to tender for a contract for Landscape Works.

ii)              Notes the Contract Standing Order 89 considerations.

iii)            Approves the direct award of the contract for Landscape Works for a period of 6 months for planting, with 12 months establishment maintenance, in the sum of £425,000, to Street Tree Limited.

The Council requires the provision of Landscape Works. Council officers have sought and obtained from the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Property an exemption from the requirement to tender a contracto for Landscape Works.

Officers have considered whether the Landscape Works can be provided by the Council itself, but concluded that they are best provided by a contractor.

Officers reviewed a range of procurement options, but consider that a direct award to the named contractor is the most appropriate means of procuring a contractor.

Officers considered tendering all works required as a series of small tenders for individual projects and concluded this would be extremely time consuming. There is a limited pool of contractors able to carry out all types of landscape work required, some located far away from Brent, up to one and a half hours’ journey time, which would add to costs. Repeat tendering would have potential for prices to increase over time. For these reasons a schedule of rates priced in advance was felt to offer the best way to secure reasonable prices for all projects within the contract. Officers confirm that rates provided are reasonable and comparable to other works priced recently.