Decision

The Director of Neighbourhood Services has decided to approve the Direct Award of a contract for a period of 3 years with effect from 1 July 2025 to Gaist Solutions Ltd following a procurement process through the Blackpool RAMS Framework for the purpose of carrying out a highway condition network survey at a total cost of £400,000. Estimated annual expenditure £130,000

Reasons for the decision

The Department of Transport requires local authorities to report on the condition of their highway annually. To obtain these national indicators a road condition survey is required. 

Survey Consultants, Gaist Solutions Ltd, have been awarded the contract to carry out a driven highway condition survey and calculate the national indicators that are required for reporting to the Department for Transport.

This 3-year contract will enable the collection of Highway and Footway Network Condition Data on all classified roads (A, B, C and U). The Data will also be used to inform future Highway Structural Maintenance Programmes of work and to gather asset data to enable life cycle planning on Wirral’s highway assets.

This contract will assist in providing an accurate means of benchmarking performance against Liverpool City Region authorities.

Alternative options considered

The contract with Gaist is procured via Blackpool RAMS framework. Gaist are the only named supplier.

A two-year contract term was considered but discounted as term too short.