Decision

The Assistant Director of Property and
Investment has approved that a direct award be made to HSL
Compliance Ltd (Company Number: 02425951) via ESPO 198_25
Framework, Lot 3 to undertake water hygiene monitoring and risk
assessment works for a fixed term of 12 months at an estimated
contract value of £150,000.

Reasons for the decision

Wirral Borough Council has a statutory duty to
ensure that all water systems within premises operated by it meet
the requirements as detailed within the approved code of practice
L8 ‘Legionnaires Disease. The control of Legionella bacteria
in water systems’, produced by the Health and Safety
Executive, and any amendment to the document produced during the
period of this contract

The Contract is primarily to provide risk assessments, monthly
monitoring and six-monthly servicing (the Children’s Services
buildings, except Special Schools and Children’s Centres, are
every 12 months servicing) of Thermostatic mixing valves.

Initially these works were to be procured through the Wirral
Property Framework, but this has now been postponed due to the time
factor. The current contract expired on 31st March 2025 and for an
interim period of 12 months a direct award route was proposed, to
provide time to undertake a full further competition exercise with
suppliers, via a relevant framework.

A detailed scope, specification and pricing schedule was issued in
March to HSL Compliance Ltd, via the ESPO 198_25 Framework, Water
Systems Risk Assessment and Water Hygiene Monitoring Service, Lot
3.

The Council’s Contract procedure Rules (Standing Orders) set
out how contracts are to be awarded by the Council in accordance
with the Procurement Strategy requirements. The award will be
underpinned by a formal contract which will be drawn up by the
Council’s legal team.

The cost of the works associated with the contract are recharged to
the relevant individual building asset codes for revenue works or
the appropriate Capital project code.

Analysis of the previous contract, the submitted rates have
increased by an average of 7.04%, higher than what is indicated by
the Tender Price Index published by the Building Cost Information
Service (BCIS), but acceptable due to the contract only having a 12
month duration.

Alternative options considered

To do nothing would result in a non-compliance
of a statutory duty.