Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
North Hertfordshire District Council
Council Offices,Gernon Road
LETCHWORTH
SG63JF
Contact
Procurement Team
Procurement.Team@north-herts.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 1462474000
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKH23 - Hertfordshire
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Not on any register
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.north-herts.gov.uk/
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
Employment of Environmental Protection & Housing Team Consultant from Oyster Partnership
Reference number
NHDC0123155
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 90720000 - Environmental protection
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Appointment of specialist consultant via Oyster Partnership to provide expert consultancy support for managing the Environmental Protection and Housing Team (EP&H) of Environmental Health division of North Herts Council.
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: £377,266
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH - East of England
Main site or place of performance
North Hertfordshire
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Authorisation in line with the Single Tender Process as per rule 14.4 c(i) and 14.8 of the Council's Contract Procurement Rules with regard to the retrospective and continuing appointment of consultant via Oyster Partnership to provide expert consultancy support for managing the Environmental Protection and Housing Team (the Team) of Environmental Health of North Herts Council. Consultant will hold the role of Environmental Protection and Housing Manager (Acting). Consultant has been employed by the Council in this role since October 2022 initially to provide assistance to the EP&H Manager as part of her phased return to work following a sickness absence. This appointment has since changed such that he now fully manages the EP&H Team (the Team).
There is a long history that the Council's Team has of not being able to appoint officers into its employment, and the critical nature of this post that is essential in the operational management of the Team, to facilitate the development of the Team and officers currently in post, and to allow the Council to meet its statutory duties in relation to the work of the EP&H team.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Negotiated without a prior call for competition
- The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
- absence of competition for technical reasons
Explanation:
Consultant has successfully worked in the role and within this capacity under the necessary terms of employment required by North Herts Council since October 2022. The post he currently holds is critical to the Council, and that failure to continue with his contract will pose a significant detriment to Environmental Health in particular, but to the Council as a whole. Due to the structure of the Team, the operational role played by the Manager is critical and without Consultant in post, the Team could not operate in an effective or compliant manner. It would be difficult to replace him in the role, due to the approximately 3 to 6 months that would be required to identify, interview, appoint and then train an alternative suitable Consultant, therefore it is not possible for the Council to accommodate such a void for this length of time. This will safeguard the Council if the previous difficulties in employing officers continue. It is nationally recognised that there is a lack of experienced and competent officers working in the Environmental Health sector, and due to the required nature of this post, the post-holder will have to be competent in all aspects of the work of the Team, which means that being able to identify and then appoint such an officer will be harder. The consultant has proven himself to be technically compliant in all respects and meet the rigours of the Council's requirements.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
Section five. Award of contract/concession
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
11 July 2024
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Oyster Partnership
2nd Floor 64 North Row
London
W1K 7DA
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKI - London
Companies House
05020374
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £377,266
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Legal Team- North Hertfordshire District Council
Letchworth Garden City
SG6 3JF
Country
United Kingdom