Cabinet, on 10 November 2021, resolved to:

1.     Delegate authority to the Executive Director for Communities, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Citizen Focused Services, the Head of Financial Services and Head of Law & Governance, to conduct the procurement and award of new Telephony contracts for five years (3+2) using the [Crown Commercial Services Network Services 2 framework (RM3808 Lot 10] (fixed line and mobile), and all other necessary or ancillary agreements with the successful bidder(s) in accordance with the strategy set out in the report.

Part 19.27 of the Council’s Constitution provides that:

Contracts can only be varied when the contract allows and by a written instruction from the Head of Service or an officer they have appointed to manage the contract. Where such a variation would have a material impact on the nature of the contract or would materially alter its risk profile, advice must be sought and received from both Law and Governance and the Procurement team before such variation is put into effect.

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Variations must not break any of the contract rules, the UK Public Contract Regulations 2015, or any terms of the contract.

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A contract or framework may change without re-advertisement in the Find a Tender Service (FTS) where:

·         minor changes that do not affect its nature and not exceed the relevant FTS threshold and not exceed 10% for goods/services or 15% for works of the initial contract value;

·         additional goods, services or works that have become necessary where a change of supplier would not be practicable (for economic, technical or interoperability reasons) or involve substantial inconvenience/duplication of costs up to 50% of the initial contract value; and

·         the change was unforeseeable and does not affect the nature of the contract or exceed 50% of the initial contract value.

·         In the case of the second and third bullet points, the Council must publish a notice of modification of a contract during its term in the Find a Tender Service.

Variation of Contract Award for Fixed Telephony Provision to Class Affinity following a procurement mini competition on framework RM3803 Lot 5.

The contract is for 3 years + 1 + 1 and has a total value of £764,942 over five years. This is a variation from the originally stated value of £686,000 over five years (original decision taken 15 February 2023).

Class Affinity was the successful bidder in the mini-tender for the fixed telephony contract.

The contract variation was required because the value shown on the original officer decision form was incorrect, due to a spreadsheet keying error on the part of Class Affinity.

The variation is to reflect minor changes which do not affect the nature of the contract and do not amount to a substantial modification under the UK Public Contract Regulations 2015.

Not to process the contract variation. This option was rejected because the Council requires a fixed telephony contract and the variation was required in order to drive in-year savings of circa 50% on the current expiring contract. To not make the decision would have required the procurement to start again, with the likely outcome being the same.

Decision taken by Stephen Gabriel, Executive Director (Communities & People) in consultation with Helen Bishop, Head of Business Improvement; Nigel Kennedy, Head of Financial Services; Susan Sale, Head of Law & Governance; and Councillor Nigel Chapman, Cabinet Member for Citizen Focused Services.