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A decision has been made to approve a waiver
of the Council’s Standing Orders to permit a direct award of
fire remedial action works to Arundel Fire, Security and
Electrical. The value of the works is £54,782.00 (excluding
VAT) / £65,738.40 (including VAT). This approval enables
urgent fire safety works to commence immediately without running a
full competitive procurement process.

Reasons for the decision

Independent fire risk assessors have
categorised three residential blocks as very high risk, and this
assessment has been confirmed by the Fire Service. The level of
risk requires immediate intervention without delay.

Running a full procurement process would significantly delay
essential works, prolonging residents’ exposure to known fire
safety hazards and increasing organisational risk.

The proposed supplier has already completed detailed
building-specific surveys while preparing quotations for fire alarm
upgrades. Re-procurement would require these surveys to be
repeated, causing duplication of cost and additional delay.

Arundel Fire, Security and Electrical is a trusted contractor with
a strong track record of delivering similar fire safety works for
the Council. Their existing knowledge of the buildings ensures they
can start work immediately and complete it to the required standard
with minimal disruption.

For these reasons, waiving Standing Orders provides the safest,
most efficient and risk-reducing option available.

Alternative options considered

Following the usual competitive procurement
process was considered. However, this option was rejected because
it would introduce unacceptable delays, repeat survey work already
completed, and increase risk to residents due to the very high-risk
fire safety issues identified.