EPCs and EICRs - Surveys, Inspections & Testing

Location

North East England:

Description

Inclusion Group, as the contracting authority, has awarded a 3 year contract to ECO Approach Limited for EPCs and EICRs - Surveys, Inspections & Testing. This award was made via a direct award, under Procurement for Housing's Funded Retrofit Works & Delivery framework.

Total Quantity or Scope

The scope of this procurement covers the following essential services: EICR Inspections and Certification: Comprehensive Electrical Installation Condition Report inspections and subsequent certification. EPC Inspections and Certification: Energy Performance Certificate inspections and subsequent certification. All EICR and EPC inspections and certifications will be completed in line with agreed contract costs as per the asset list. The appointed supplier (ECO Approach Limited) will be responsible for ensuring the programme of inspections strives to achieve 100% compliance for both EICRs and EPCs across Inclusion Group's portfolio. Additionally, the contract outlines provisions for: Remedial Works: Works resulting from Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) activities that exceed a self-certification threshold (£150+) will require separate order numbers. Reactive Repairs and Improvements: Any reactive repairs and improvements will each be issued as separate orders

Award Detail

Renewal Options

Option to extend +2 years

Award Criteria

CPV Codes

• 98300000 - Miscellaneous services

Indicators

• Options are available.

Legal Justification

Inclusion Group, as the contracting authority, hereby provides the justification for the direct award of the contract to ECO Approach, without prior publication in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) or the Find a Tender Service (FTS). This decision is made in strict accordance with the provisions of Regulation 32(3) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (or the equivalent national transposition of EU Directive 2014/24/EU, as applicable), which permits the use of the negotiated procedure without prior publication for additional services by the original contractor under specific circumstances. ECO Approach is the incumbent supplier for the services in question, and our assessment, conducted under PfH's call-off procedures which permit consideration of a "lawful advantage of an incumbent Supplier," has concluded that a change of supplier would unequivocally result in considerable inconvenience and substantial duplication of costs for Inclusion Group. Specifically, our analysis has identified the following critical factors: Unavoidable Costs of Changing Supplier: Transitioning to a new supplier would necessitate significant and unavoidable financial outlays. These include, but are not limited to, the costs associated with: Extensive re-training of our staff on new systems and processes, leading to productivity losses during the transition phase. Potential investment in new or adapted infrastructure to ensure compatibility with a different supplier's operational model. The inherent administrative burden and resource allocation required for onboarding a new provider, including contract negotiation, legal reviews, and extensive due diligence processes. Potential for initial service disruption during the migration period, which could impact our residents and operational efficiency, incurring indirect costs. Lower Risks of Service Migration: The continued engagement with ECO Approach, as the incumbent, presents a demonstrably lower risk profile for service migration. ECO Approach possesses an in-depth understanding of Inclusion Group's specific operational requirements, existing infrastructure, and the unique needs of our residents. This established knowledge base mitigates the significant risks associated with: Potential delays or failures in service continuity that could arise from a new supplier's learning curve or unforeseen integration challenges. The risk of non-compliance or misinterpretation of our specific service level agreements and regulatory obligations by an unfamiliar provider. The disruption to established communication channels and working relationships that are critical for the efficient delivery of services to our vulnerable residents. Based on this thorough assessment, Inclusion Group is satisfied that the cumulative impact of these unavoidable costs and elevated risks associated with changing suppliers constitutes the "considerable inconvenience and substantial duplication of costs" as stipulated by Regulation 32(3). Therefore, to ensure the continuity of essential services, safeguard our operational integrity, and responsibly manage public funds by avoiding disproportionate expenditure and risk, the direct award of the contract to ECO Approach is deemed lawful and necessary under these exceptional circumstances.

Other Information

** PREVIEW NOTICE, please check Find a Tender for full details. **