Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member for Education, Early Years and Skills seeking extension of the contract for Special Education Needs Travel Assistance Service.

Cabinet received a report of the Director of Education and Early Years which advised that the current Special Educational Needs Transport Services Dynamic Purchasing System was awarded for a period of five years from 1^st September 2022 until 31^st August 2027. This report seeks to extend the current Special Educational Needs Transport Service DPS Contract from August 2027 until 23^rd February 2029. This forms part of the transition from the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 under which the DPS was awarded to the new Procurement Act 23 and can only be up to the permitted/advertised value of £17.5m.

Options/Alternatives considered:

Option 1 (preferred Option): To agree to apply the proposed extension to the current DPS which has and continues to work well in terms of a compliant solution for the requirements which are needed both ad-hoc and as a larger project in advance of the start of a new academic year.

Option 2: That the extension is not approved. If the DPS were to expire as of its original planned expiry date, our procurement team advise there is no alternative type of framework which will be as well suited to the requirements due to the changes in Procurement Regulations applying from February 2025.

Resolved:

That the Cabinet authorises the extension to the current Special Educational Needs Transport Service Contract.