Decision

The Director of
Neighbourhood Services has agreed to award a contract to
Futureflow Mechanical Services Ltd
to replace all the
standpipes across Wirral's 42 Allotment Sites and 8 Cemeteries.
There are 209 Allotment standpipes to be replaced and 49 Cemetery
standpipes (more standpipes than stated may be required over the
course of the contract if identified on site). The standpipe
replacement programme is needed to ensure that all of the
standpipes meet the current legal and regulatory requirements,
ensuring the safety of the water system.
 

Reasons for the decision

The work required is
to replace all of the standpipes across our Allotment Sites and our
Cemeteries which do not presently meet Water Supply (Water
Fittings) Regulations 1999 (there are 209 Allotment standpipes to
be replaced and 49 Cemetery standpipes). The old standpipes will be
removed and new prefabricated standpipe units will be installed in
all sites with the cemetery standpipes having a Non-Concussive Tap
fitted and the allotment sites having a Brass Bib Tap fitted. Works
will start on site in July 2025 and will be completed within 18
weeks. All works are to be completed within the financial year
2025/26.
 
This service was
commissioned via a contract using the open tender procedure which
was conducted in accordance with Council’s Contract Procedure
Rules and The Procurement Act 2023.
 
The procurement
exercise involved publishing this opportunity on The Chest, in
total five bids were received. The bids received were scored based
on:

Quality –
30%
Price –
60%
Social Value –
10%
Total –
100%

 
The award of the
contract to Futureflow Mechanical
Services Ltd was within the approved budget and in accordance with
the Most Economically Advantageous Tender criteria.
 
Appendix 1 provides a
summary of the Tender Evaluation. This appendix contains exempt
information as defined in Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act
1972. It is in the public interest maintain the confidentiality of
Appendix 1 pursuant to Paragraph 3 ‘Information relating to
the financial or business affairs of any particular person
(including the authority holding the information).
 
The financial value of
this contract is £224,057.52
 
The cost of the
project is being met from Capital funding.
 
The award will be
underpinned by a formal contract which will be drawn up by the
Council’s legal team.
 
 

Alternative options considered

The Council has
Capital funding to carry out these essential health and safety
works to ensure that all Cemetery and Allotment standpipes meet the
meet the current legal and regulatory requirements, ensuring safety
of the water system.
 
The existing
standpipes do not comply with The Water Supply (Water Fittings)
Regulations 1999 which set national standards for the design,
installation and maintenance of plumbing systems, water fittings
and water-using appliances to protect the public water supply from
contamination.
 
The alternative option
is to leave the allotment and cemetery standpipes as they are and
not update them.
This is not a suitable
option, and the Council would not be showing compliance with
current legal and statutory requirements if we didn’t go
ahead with the works therefore we are not carrying out our duty of
care to ensure the safety of the water system.