Decision details

SERVICE AREA:

Finance Directorate

SUBJECT MATTER:

Capita SIMMS Software (Free School meals)

DECISION:

Under rule A2: to approve the use of Risk Based Sourcing by waiving the requirements of rule C6 of the Council’s Procurement Standing Orders in order to award a contract of £60k or more without open advertisement.`

DECISION TAKER(S):

Director of Governance & Pensions

Director of Finance

Deputy Executive Leader

Executive Member for Lifelong Learning

VALUE OF CONTRACT

£80,280

DATE OF DECISION:

26 March 2019

REASON FOR DECISION:

Exchequer cannot provide this service without full recovery costs which is not value for money when there is a DfE system that provides the same process nationally.  Running a formal competitive exercise is not considered prudent on this occasion due to the results of the soft market test meaning that time will be wasted going to market when the outcome is already known because:

1.    There are only two commercial organisations offering a suitable system on the market;

2.    The DfE will not respond to a tender process as they offer their system on a ‘take it or leave it’ basis without entering a tender process.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS REJECTED (if any):

As set out in the submitted report

CONSULTEES:

STaR procurement

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:

(Authorised by Section 151 Officer)

As set out in the submitted report

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS:

(Authorised by Borough Solicitor)

As set out in the submitted report.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:

There were no declarations of interest.

DISPENSATION GRANTED BY STANDARDS COMMITTEE ATTACHED:

Not applicable.

REFERENCE DOCUMENTS:

The background papers relating to this report can be inspected by contacting the report author,:

Tom Wilkinson, Assistant Director of Finance, Tameside

Metropolitan Borough Council

Telephone:0161 342 5609

e-mail: tom.wilkinson@tameside.gov.uk