Decision details

To approve the most appropriate procurement process and pre-tender considerations as set out in Contract Standing Order 89 in respect of the procurement of contractors for the construction of a primary school as part of the South Kilburn Regeneration Programme.

That the Corporate Director Neighbourhoods and Regeneration:

i)               Notes that Cabinet has approved delegations for this project which enable the approval of pretender considerations and the invitation of tenders through the delegated officer decision route.

ii)              Approves the Contract Standing Order 89 pre-tender considerations.

iii)            Approves the invitation of tenders by mini competition call-off under the Southern Construction Framework for the Council’s two stage Design and Build requirements for the South Kilburn Primary School project.

iv)            Approves the procurement timetable and the approach to evaluation.

v)             Notes that Cabinet approval will be required for authority to award the main Design and Build contract at the conclusion of the second stage tender.

vi)            Confirms there is sufficient budgetary provision for the proposed call-off contract.

The Council is seeking to procure Design and Build services for the delivery of the South Kilburn School as part of the South Kilburn Regeneration Programme. It has been determined that the most appropriate procurement route is a two-stage Design and Build tender to appoint a main Contractor by way of a mini-competition under the Southern Construction Framework (SCF).

Stage 1 – PCSA – The preferred bidder will be appointed under PCSA, the Contractor will initially work as a consultant alongside the Council’s retained Multi-disciplinary Consultant Team to develop design from Stage 2, advising on value engineering, cost certainty, buildability, and address risk prior to RIBA Stage 3 planning submission. Post-planning, the Contractor will be responsible for technical design prior to the submission of a second stage tender at the end of RIBA Stage 4.

Stage 2 – Main Works – Contractors will submit a fixed-price proposal supported by confirmed supply chain commitments and compliance with Brent’s governance, sustainability, and social value requirements.

This strategy provides opportunities for early contractor engagement, a structured mechanism for early contractor involvement, allows Brent to draw from a pre-qualified pool of experienced contractors, enables market testing and cost validation during pre-construction, balances quality, risk and governance requirements, and is tried and tested for complex public-sector projects.

Officers have reviewed a range of procurement options and concluded that the use of the Framework is the most appropriate means of procuring a Design and Build Contractor given the efficiency in timescales, costs and resources involved. this route has been selected following a robust options appraisal and engagement with commercial, legal, and design advisors, with the aim of securing early contractor involvement, achieving best value for money, and protecting design quality.

None.