Issue - meetings

This report concerns the procurement of Speech and Language therapy services in Brent and requests approval to invite tenders as required by Contract Standing Orders 88 and 89.

(i) that the pre-tender considerations and the criteria to be used to evaluate tenders for two Speech and Language Therapy contracts as set out in paragraph 3.1 of the report from the Director of Children and Families be approved.

(ii) that approval be given to officers to invite expressions of interest, agree shortlists, if relevant, and invite tenders in accordance with the procurement timetable and evaluate them in accordance with the approved evaluation criteria referred to in (i) above.

(iii) that it be noted that options had been explored for a collaborative procurement with other West London Alliance boroughs which if feasible would have followed the same procurement process set out in (i) and (ii) by way of procuring two framework agreements; however, following a meeting with the West London Alliance Board of Directors, these options were no longer being pursued.

Councillor Pavey (Lead Member for Children and Families) introduced the report which concerned the procurement of Speech and Language therapy services in Brent. The report sought approval to invite tenders as required by Contract Standing Orders 88 and 89. Currently the services offered across Brent’s schools and Children’s Centres were provided via four separate contracts which were due to expire on 31 March 2014.  The proposed procurement process sought to ensure service continuity, rationalise service provision and achieve an anticipated 3% savings. A further option to procure services in collaboration with the West London Alliance (WLA) was no longer being pursued following a meeting with the WLA Directors Board on 20 May 2013. 

RESOLVED:

(i)        that the pre-tender considerations and the criteria to be used to evaluate tenders for two Speech and Language Therapy contracts as set out in paragraph 3.1 of the report from the Director of Children and Families be approved:

(ii)       that approval be given to officers to invite expressions of interest, agree shortlists, if relevant, and invite tenders in accordance with the procurement timetable and evaluate them in accordance with the approved evaluation criteria referred to in (i) above:

(iii)      that it be noted that options had been explored for a collaborative procurement with other West London Alliance boroughs which if feasible would have followed the same procurement process set out in (i) and (ii) by way of procuring two framework agreements; however, following a meeting with the West London Alliance Board of Directors, these options were no longer being pursued.