Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER
Room G010,John Owens Building, Oxford Road
MANCHESTER
M139PL
Telephone
+44 1612758857
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKD33 - Manchester
UK Register of Learning Providers (UKPRN number)
UKPRN10007798
Internet address(es)
Main address
http://www.procurement.manchester.ac.uk/
Buyer's address
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/manchesteruniversity/
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Education
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Specialist recruitment company for Finance Transformation Project
Reference number
2022/1953/CTR Partner/JL
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 79600000 - Recruitment services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Specialist recruitment company for Finance Transformation Project.
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: £800,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKD3 - Greater Manchester
Main site or place of performance
The University of Manchester
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Specialist recruitment company for Finance Transformation Project.
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
- Extreme urgency brought about by events unforeseeable for the contracting authority
Explanation:
Following the pandemic, 2022 has seen unprecedented demand for IT Contractors across the UK. So much so, that 2 stage interviews, or delays in offering positions, would invariably result in the contractor taking an offer elsewhere. Back in May 2022 ERP specialist resources were extremely difficult to find and even more so in the Northwest, as the London markets were saturated with opportunities.
University of Manchester (UoM) are implementing a critical time dependant, large and complex ERP solution which is an on-premise solution. Enquiries to the University's contracted agencies proved very challenging as the message was consistent from all:-
• It may take some time to fill this position as the demand is at an all-time high.
• All ERP contractors known to the agency were already in contract
• Contractors preferred to work on cloud-based solutions.
• Manchester was either too far to travel or they wanted to work from home
UoM had no choice but to widen the search for specialist resources to non-contracted providers, that had immediately available and contractors willing to travel to Manchester. Using several specialist ERP search and selection recruiters that are recognised as the leading agencies for top tier ERP solutions, UoM identified several candidates which were available or coming available within 2 weeks that lived in or around Manchester.
The chosen company, CTR Partners, have subsequently been able to recruit to additional hard to recruit roles that contracted providers have not been able to fill and it is our intention to retain the services of this provider for the duration of the Finance Transformation Project (October 2023).
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/concession
Contract No
2022/1953/CTR Partner/JL
Title
Specialist recruitment company for Finance Transformation Project.
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
4 October 2022
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
CTR PARTNERS LIMITED
Lafone House, The Leather Market, Weston Street,
London
SE13ER
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKI - London
Companies House
11065487
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: £800,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
The High Court of Justice of England
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
http://www.procurement.manchester.ac.uk/
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
The authority will incorporate a minimum 10 calendar days standstill period at the point information on the award of the contract is communicated to tenderers. Applicants who are unsuccessful shall be informed by the authority as soon as possible after the decision has been made as to the reasons why the applicant was unsuccessful. If an appeal regarding the award of the contract has not been successfully resolved, the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (SI 2015 No 102) provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). Any such action must generally be brought within 3 months. If a declaration of ineffectiveness is sought, any such action must be brought within 30 days where the authority has communicated the award of the contract and summary of reasons to tenderers or otherwise within 6 months of the contract being entered into. Where a contract has not been entered into, the Court may order the setting aside of the award decision or order the authority to amend any document and may award damages. If the contract has been entered into the Court may, depending on the circumstances, award damages, make a declaration of ineffectiveness, order the authority to pay a fine and/or order the duration of the contract to be shortened. The purpose of the standstill period referred to is to allow the parties to apply to the Courts to set aside the award decision before the contract is entered into.