Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Westminster City Council
64 Victoria Street
London
SW1E 6QP
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKI32 - Westminster
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Not on any register
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Queens Park Court Replacement Contract
Reference number
PRJ_30087
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 45211100 - Construction work for houses
two.1.3) Type of contract
Works
two.1.4) Short description
The contract is for Stage 2 JCT 2016 D&B contract (with WCC amends) with Willmott Dixon Construction (Registration Number 00768173) for the Main Works Construction of Queen’s Park Court. The contract will be for a period of 12 months from December 2024.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £9,288,989
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKI32 - Westminster
Main site or place of performance
Westminster as the crow flies from SW1 6QP
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The proposed appointment of Willmott Dixon Construction follows Geoffrey Osborne Limited going into administration on the 25th of April 2024, with the Council now seeking to conclude the replacement contractor appointment. At the time of insolvency, the Queen’s Park Court scheme was approximately 80% complete, with an original Practical Completion of August 2024.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2.14) Additional information
The contract was awarded to Willmott Dixon Construction (Registration Number 00768173) for the Main Works Construction of Queen’s Park Court. The contract will be for a period of 12 months from December 2024, the award follows due diligence call off against the SCF framework.
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations
Explanation:
The proposed appointment of Willmott Dixon Construction followed Geoffrey Osborne Limited going into administration on the 25th of April 2024, with the Council now seeking to conclude the replacement contractor appointment. At the time of insolvency, the Queen’s Park Court scheme was approximately 80% complete, with an original Practical Completion of August 2024.
Background & Due Diligence
Immediately following Osborne entering Administration, the Procurement and Contract options were presented to the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Renters. The preferred option was to negotiate an open book 2 stage Design & Build Contract, following a short competition between two Contractors.
The 2 Stage route was agreed as follows:
• Stage 1 – Mobilisation, forward orders and urgent remedial works, including weathering, hoarding and Health & Safety works – Up to £1,500,000 for the 3 Batch B sites together with a PCSA to progress design and price build up.
• Stage 2 – Completion of the works, including all ancillary, highways & 3rd party works as defined by Stage 1.
The Executive Director Regeneration, Economy and Regeneration subsequently approved the direct appointment of a Contractor to carry out Stage 1 of the recovery works (Mobilisation/Enabling) to a maximum sum of £500,000 for Queen’s Park Court. It was also agreed that a Cabinet Member Report would be presented for approval following the completion of the stage 1 works, setting out the costs to complete the three projects.
As part of the Stage 1 works, proposals were requested from Wilmott Dixon & Higgins for Stage 1 for Queen’s Park Court, with Willmott Dixon recommended due to their lower OH&P and initial Stage 1 cost, their proactive approach and quality of the tender. Willmott Dixon also named an experienced team which Higgins did not provide and demonstrated a good working relationship with the NHBC, which gives the best chance of achieving a Warranty backed project at the end of the works. Procurement Strategy – Southern Construction Framework
Upon conclusion of due-diligence and securing the site, the Council sought to proceed with procuring the replacement contractor to carry out the remaining Main Works. Several strategies were considered, as listed below:
1. WCC Directly Negotiate Main Works Contract with Willmott Dixon
2. Full Re-Tender of the Remedial and Completion Works
3. WCC directly appoint existing Subcontractors, Consultants under a Management Contract
4. WCC Procure a new Contractor via a Framework
From the options presented, the Council chose to progress the appointment via a Framework, with the Southern Construction Framework (Lot 3) selected for the Queen’s Park Court Package of Works. The full rationale is detailed in the CGRB report presented to the Cabinet Member.
An Expression of Interest was carried out via the SCF Framework, which included the following 9 Main Contractors:
1. Bowmer and Kirkland
2. Galliford TRY
3. Graham
4. ISG
5. Willmott Dixon
6. Kier
7. Mace
8. Morgan Sindall
9. Tilbury Douglas
The Expression of Interest was undertaken over the course of September and responses received on the 20th of September 2024:
• 8x contractors declined with 1x Positive response received from Willmott Dixon Construction limited
Next Steps
Following the Expression of Interest, the recommendation was agreed to progress with a Direct Award via the SCF Framework for the contract to complete the Queen’s Park Court works with Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd.
Queen’s Park Court is scheduled to deliver 23 Social Rent homes within the Queen’s Park Ward and is located right in the heart of a vibrant, thriving community in Westminster.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
PrJ_30087
Title
Queens Park Court: Appointment of Main Contractor Replacement
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
6 January 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Willmott Dixon Construction
London
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKI - London
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £9,288,989
Total value of the contract/lot: £9,288,989
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Royal Courts of Justice
London
Country
United Kingdom