Decision details

This report requests approval to award a contract for the provision of the inspection, servicing, maintenance and repair of straight and curved stairlifts, vertical through floor lifts, step lifts and overhead track hoists, installed in domestic properties in Tameside and Oldham.
Oldham has a history of collaboration with Tameside to procure this provision: in 2014 we jointly procured the service with Tameside council, with Tameside as the lead authority holding the contract for both boroughs. The service commenced on 18th January 2015: this report requests that approval is given for Tameside Council to award a new contract for this provision following a tender process.

RESOLVED - That:
That approval is given for Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council to award a contract for the inspection, servicing, maintenance and repair of straight and curved stairlifts, vertical through floor lifts, step lifts and overhead track hoists, installed in domestic properties in Tameside and Oldham.
That the contract be awarded to City Lift Services (NW) Ltd, to commence on or after 16th July 2018 and expire no later than 17th July 2023.

Option 1 -
not to tender and allow the service to lapse: this was not considered a viable option as the equipment is vital to the health, safety and wellbeing of disabled residents. Failure to service and repair such equipment would leave vulnerable people at risk.
Option 2 -
To undertake a tender process solely for provision in Oldham: this was not considered the most advantageous option, as a contract for a smaller, reducing portfolio is less attractive to the market. Also as each borough would pay for the activity that it uses it would not entail any risk from pooling of budgets between the parties by undertaking a joint procurement exercise, and the contract contains a ‘terminate at will‘ clause if we wished to make alternative arrangements.
Option 3 -
To undertake a tender process in collaboration with Tameside council: this was the preferred option as this afforded the best opportunity to maximise value for money. To ask:
•that approval is given for Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council to award the contract for the inspection, servicing, maintenance and repair of straight and curved stairlifts, vertical through floor lifts, step lifts and overhead track hoists, installed in domestic properties in Tameside and Oldham
•that the contract be awarded to City Lift Services (NW) Ltd, to commence on or after 16th July 2018 and expire no later than 17th July 2023.

Option 1 -
not to tender and allow the service to lapse: this was not considered a viable option as the equipment is vital to the health, safety and wellbeing of disabled residents. Failure to service and repair such equipment would leave vulnerable people at risk.
Option 2 -
To undertake a tender process solely for provision in Oldham: this was not considered the most advantageous option, as a contract for a smaller, reducing portfolio is less attractive to the market. Also as each borough would pay for the activity that it uses it would not entail any risk from pooling of budgets between the parties by undertaking a joint procurement exercise, and the contract contains a ‘terminate at will‘ clause if we wished to make alternative arrangements.

Consultation with the Equipment and Adaptations service manager informed the approach and the recommended option, as did appropriate officers from Tameside council.