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To enter into a Direct Award contract with Plexal for the purposes of providing payment for
work already delivered for both GCC and CBC. This includes a
community engagement project for the Golden Valley Development
project and delivering a project for GCC which is a three-staged
approach to enhance the skills ecosystem within Gloucestershire.
CBC will be lead procurer and procure on behalf of GCC.

A breakdown of the costs are as follows:

CBC’s Golden
Valley Community Engagement project - £10k [work
completed]
GCC’s skills
project phase 1 - £20k [work completed]
The next phase of the
GCC skills project is to be split into an extended scope phase of
£50k, followed by an implementation phase of
£150k.

Reasons for the decision

Plexal has specialised expertise that
is critical for CBC’s and GCC’s projects. Plexal has been able to tailor a solution for both
Council’s projects that are not easily available on the
market when the requirement is highly specific. This Direct Award
enables both Councils to continue their relationship with
Plexal to enable continuity of service
to avoid any disruption to the project’s timeframes.
Plexal has demonstrated innovative
solutions and quality outputs which both Councils have been pleased
with. 

Plexal has been working with CBC for a
number of years and are a highly trusted company, who understand
the organisations needs and requirements. Plexal has already delivered the Community
Engagement project for CBC and have begun the first stage of the
GCC Skills project. Plexal is part of
the Bloom framework, and this is the only way to procure
Plexal via Direct Award. CBC already
have an established relationship with Plexal and are happy to be lead procurer for these
two projects.

To manage a payment schedule between GCC and CBC a Participation
Agreement by One Legal has been developed and is to be signed by
both Councils to agree payment dates and outline risks
involved.

Alternative options considered

Plexal has completed and began these
projects in good faith and require payment. These projects are
critical for the development of Gloucestershire’s skills
eco-system and Cheltenham’s pivotal Social Value outcomes for
the Golden Valley Development.