Decision details
Appointment of Consultants to undertake ecological surveys and provide ecological advice for South Oxford Science Village
Decision Maker: Executive Director (Development)
Decision status: Recommendations approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
Purpose:
The appointment of legal advisors will ensure the Council’s legal interests are properly addressed in the drafting of the collaboration agreement. The procurement of commercial and legal advisors for the partnership will enable work to be progressed towards the procurement and selection of a development partner to support the delivery of development on the site.
Decision:
The decision is to extend the contract for consultants to provide specialist ecological surveys and advice to inform the next phase of proposals for SOSV.
The consultant has been chosen because of their knowledge of the site and ability to update existing surveys.
A quote has been provided for the work (£38k) and this can be met from the budget that is set aside to progress the SOSV and procured through a contract extension.
Alternative options considered:
The alternative options were not to appoint specialist advice or to carry out an open tender process. It would not be possible to take the SOSV project forward without specialist advice and therefore the first option was discarded.
To appoint new consultants to carry out the surveys would result in additional work and therefore cost whilst they reviewed extensive previous work and became familiar with the site and therefore this option was not pursued
Signed off by senior officers:
Tom Bridgman, Director of Development.
Publication date: 30/10/2020
Date of decision: 09/09/2020