Decision details

(R&E) Rother Valley Country Park, Broadband and Public Wi-Fi

Decision Maker: Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Purpose:

Exemption Request Report.
To install and operate over 5 years a broadband link and public wi-fi at Rother Valley Country Park's new Caravan Park.

Decision:

ROTHERHAM METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

RECORD OF OFFICER EXECUTIVE DECISION

 

Date of Decision:

 

21 January 2019

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

 

Paul Woodcock

Acting Strategic Director for Regeneration and Environment

Specific Delegation:

(If any)

 

Financial and Procurement Procedure Rule 50

Brief Description of Decision:

 

 

Rother Valley Country Park Wifi - exemption from Financial and Procurement Procedure Rule 50

 

In November 2017 Cabinet decided to include the development of a new Caravan Site at Rother Valley Country Park. Construction of the site is underway and completion is expected to be April 2019.  However, there is currently no broadband connection or Wi-Fi on the site. The main construction contract was procured in May 2018. However, because of the very challenging compressed programme necessary to ensure project implementation detailed project planning had to continue beyond the start of the main contract, including engagement with Corporate IT regarding delivery of Wi-Fi, which began in July 2018. IDAQ had previously been selected, through a competitive procurement process in October 2016, to provide broadband connection to the Park. As they were the existing supplier, they were approached in January 2018 regarding the possible supply of broadband and Wi-Fi. In February 2018 IDAQ advised that they could provide a broadband connection and Wi-Fi at no cost to the Council and this led to them being selected to design and specify a system to be installed. In discussions with the Corporate IT and Procurement Teams in November 2018, it was identified that the contract may have a value to the supplier that could take it above the threshold that would normally require a competitive procurement process to be followed. Consequently, it is necessary to apply for an exemption from Contract Standing Orders.

 

Reasons for the Decision:

 

 

The reason for seeking an exemption is that if these services were to be procured through a competitive process, then the projected date for installation of the system is September 2019 (based on programming advice supplied by Procurement Team and informed by IDAQ), meaning that essential security and communication systems would not be operational until 5 months after the opening of the caravan site.

 

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

 

The Procurement Team have tried to source quotes from other suppliers in the marketplace. Although both alternatives have provided quotes, upon reflection they are unable to provide the same level of service that IDAQ can deliver.

IDAQ are uniquely placed to deliver broadband and Wi-Fi to meet the challenging programming requirements of this project. This is because they are the only firm with the necessary infrastructure in the vicinity (in the main part of the park), and they have been engaging with the design team and contractor for several months to deliver their systems on the critical path of the project programme.

 

Conflicts of interest declared by any Executive Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to the decision:

None

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

 

None

Reports or parts of reports considered

 

Rother Valley Country Park Broadband and Public Wi-Fi

 

 

 

I certify that this is a true record of the executive decision to award a contract to IDAQ in respect of the provision of wifi at Rother Valley Country Park.

Signed by the Decision Maker    Paul Woodcock

Date:           21 January 2019

 

Name          Paul Woodcock

Job Title:    Acting Strategic Director

 

Publication date: 21/01/2019

Date of decision: 21/01/2019

  • Restricted enclosure  View reasons restricted
  • Restricted enclosure  View reasons restricted
  •