Building Control Management Services

Justification for Direct Award under Section 41, 42 and Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023

The Council is making a direct award to Sarto Thomas for a further 12 months on the following grounds:

1. Continuity of Essential Service: A change of supplier at this point would create a significant gap in service delivery, causing operational disruption and failing to meet the Council's legal obligations.
2. Knowledge and Integration: The supplier has developed specific knowledge of the council's systems, processes, and ongoing caseload during the initial contract. Replicating this with a new supplier would require substantial duplication of cost and time.
3. Absence of Viable Alternative: The council's master vendor contract was previously unable to fulfil this specialised requirement. The ongoing national skills shortage means a competitive tender is unlikely to yield a suitable alternative in the necessary timeframe.
4. Proportionate and Necessary: The award is limited to 12 months to maintain service continuity while the council pursues a permanent recruitment solution and/or develops a longer-term procurement strategy for this critical function.

This direct award is considered necessary and proportionate to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of the council's statutory building control service.