Issue - meetings

Background:

This report sought permission to award the contract for Connexions Services. 

Medway Council had become responsible for the commissioning of the Connexions Service from April 2008 and this procurement fulfilled Medway’s statutory obligations under Section 68 of the Education and Skills Act 2008.  These obligations placed a duty on local authorities to make available to young people below the age of 19 and relevant young adults (i.e. those aged 20 and over but under 25 with learning difficulties) support that will encourage, enable or assist them to participate in education and training. 

The Cabinet had given approval to the commencement of this procurement at Gateway 1 on 4 October 2011.

The contract would begin on 1 September 2012 for a 5-year term with an option to extend for a further two years. It was noted that an interim contract had been approved for up to five months to ensure no gap in service when the current contract ceased in March 2012.

This Procurement Gateway 3 report had been approved for submission to the Cabinet after review and discussion at Children and Adults Directorate Management Team and Procurement Board on 30 November 2011, 18 January 2012 and 16 May 2012.

An exempt appendix provided key information in respect of finance and whole-life costing and detailed procurement process tender evaluation information.

Reasons:

The recommendations have been provided on the basis of the information gathered during the procurement process.