Issue - meetings

Background:

This report provided details of the outcome of the procurement exercise for the provision of the Medway Children’s Assessment Unit.

The report explained that the Outline Sufficiency Report issued in October 2020 had set out the challenges and trends affecting children in and leaving care. One of the report’s recommendations was to develop an assessment unit and consider the remodelling of existing Council premises to support the reunification of children back with families or into a more suitable and longer-term arrangement.

The Cabinet report outlined the options available to Medway Council in implementing that recommendation and recommended an option to utilise the Old Vicarage property with a commissioned service to a partner/provider for a period of a year and a half, thereafter moving to two more suitable smaller units.

An Exempt Appendix set out key information in respect of financial analysis, the tender process and evaluation and made a recommendation to award a contract.

The Council's decision to award these contracts would be subject to observing the procurement standstill period of a minimum of 10 days in accordance with the requirements of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The Council would be unable to enter into the contract before the end of the standstill period.

Reasons:

The preferred provider meets the criteria set out within the tender and is also the best value for money.