Decision details

The Council requires a contractor to carry out a vehicle collection (removal, storage and disposal) service of vehicles from the public highway or the Council’s off-street car parks, where the vehicle has been issued a Penalty Charge Notice and can be legally removed.

Autobreak (Colchester) LTD be awarded the contract to carry out the vehicle collection (removal, storage and disposal) service of vehicles from the public highway or the Council’s off-street car parks, where the vehicle has been issued a Penalty Charge Notice and can be legally removed.

Reason:

In December 2020 the Council awarded a contract to Autobreak (Colchester) LTD to carry out a vehicle collection (removal, storage and disposal) service of abandoned vehicles identified within the Borough. This award was made following a competitive tender process that resulted in no bids were received. The Council subsequently contacted as many local suppliers as possible and it appointed Autobreak (Colchester) LTD because this was the only quote that the Council received.

There is no reason to suggest that if the Council was now to undertake a further competitive tender process that any additional bids would be received for providing a a vehicle collection (removal, storage and disposal) service of vehicles from the public highway or the Council’s off-street car parks.

Therefore, as this supplier - Autobreak (Colchester) LTD, can meet the required specification for this additional service, an exemption from the requirement in Contract Standing Orders (para 3.10) to carry out a competitive tendering process has been made as it is economically in the best interests of the Council to not incur additional costs undertaking a further competitive tender process which is highly likely to be unsuccessful.

The contract value over the contract period including a potential 12-month extension is estimated at £28,300. The contract start date is 1st April 2021 for a period of 32 months (30th Nov 2023) with a potential 12-month extension to 30th Nov 2024.