To deliver the Meanwhile in Oxfordshire…Project in 2021/22.

After an OJEU compliant procurement process, the decision was taken to appoint Makespace to deliver Operator services for the Meanwhile in Oxfordshire Project for a total contract value of £1,692,488 (value exempt)

Oxford City Council has been allocated £1.875m to deliver a county-wide scheme to tackle the predicted significant increase in vacant units in Oxford (the city and its other neighbourhood centres) and Oxfordshire’s market towns.

The ‘Meanwhile in Oxfordshire…’ project is to be funded through the “Getting Building Fund” as part of a County-wide £8.4m programme, managed by OxLEP to accelerate the UK’s economic revival through the delivery of capital projects by early 2022.

The decision was taken in order to progress the decision made at Cabinet on 09 December 2020.

Ahead of the procurement process, self-delivery through officers of the programme was considered. This was ruled out due to the specialist range of short-term roles required.

Moreover, other appointable bidders under this procurement exercise came forward but were not selected as they did not meet the evaluation criteria as well.

The do nothing option to choose not to deliver the programme was available, but was effectively ruled out after cabinet decided to deliver the programme. It was clear the Meanwhile programme could bring significant benefit for the county in recovering from the pandemic recession.

Tom Bridgman, Executive Director – Development in consultation with Cllr Susan Brown, Leader of the Council.