Matter for Decision Wards Affected: All SOUTH WEST & MID WALES REGIONAL CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES FRAMEWORK 2021 to 2025 Purpose of the Report To seek Members’ approval to make use of the new South West & Mid Wales Regional Civil Engineering Services Framework. Executive Summary The NPS SWMW Regional Engineering Consultancy Framework ends its term in March 2021. The replacement to existing NPS Frameworks which are being developed by Cardiff County Council has been determined to be unsuitable for the needs of the six participating local authorities who require the greater continuity and resilience required by a Regional Framework. NPS no longer wish to participate in a new Regional Framework; therefore, it was decided to create a new SW&MW Regional Engineering Services Framework which is managed by Carmarthenshire County Council. The new framework becomes active from 1st April 2021.
Background The new Framework is a development on the previous NPS South West and Mid Wales Framework (consisting of Carmarthen CC, Ceredigion CC, Pembrokshire CC, Neath Port Talbot CBC, and Powys County Council & City & County of Swansea) that was implemented in 2017 and expires at the end of this March 2021. Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council do not hold an approved list of Consultants; therefore, in order to satisfy Public Contract Regulations 2015 (Inc. Subsequent Amendments) and to ensure that projects are procured in a timely manner, it is proposed to utilise the new framework. Our requirements in South West Wales are different to those currently provided in the NPS Framework and Cardiff County Council replacements, where we need particular emphasis upon: • Integration of a Local Supply Chain with measurable Community Benefits. • Increased range of Staff Grades. • Communication, Knowledge Retention & Best Practice. • Consistent Standards & approach to Procurement. • Improving Tender Response Rates • Promotion of continuous improvement and teamwork suitable for the delivery of work programme • Local Design Capacity. The framework structure is included in Appendix 1. Following an extensive procurement process that was managed by Carmarthenshire County Council and with a project board consisting of gateway managers from each authority, 6 consultants were appointed; namely: • Amey • Arcadis • Atkins • Capita • Mott Macdonald • WSP The framework becomes active from 1st April 2021.
