Following the decision to reduce the scheme in February 2006 it was scoped and developed which gained approval by the Council in December 2006.  This also provided the required approval to advertise for expressions of interest from prospective strategic development partners.

Adverts were placed and the contract notice placed on the Official Journal for the European Union (OJEU) website in early January 2007.

As a result of advertising a total of 26 pre-qualification questionnaires were submitted in February 2007 from which 6 potential strategic development partners were shortlisted.

Throughout the early stages of the procurement process 3 of the 6 who had been shortlisted withdrew from the process and the remaining 3 submitted their stage 1 masterplans.  Following evaluation of the stage 1 masterplans a stage 2 refined needs and requirements brief was drawn up and the three shortlisted companies invited to submit stage 2 detailed proposals.

As part of the stage 2 development of proposals the three companies took part in a public consultation event in September 2007 where members of the public had the opportunity to view and comment on each of the three proposals and designs and for the potential strategic partners to be able to respond to public opinion and to shape their proposals accordingly.

Following the public consultation and prior to submission of stage 2 proposals 1 of the three companies advised the Council that they were no longer in a position to continue, which is not unusual in this type of procurement process.

Therefore the two remaining companies submitted their stage 2 proposals and again following evaluation the stage 3 tender document was developed with further refinements to the Council’s needs and requirements.

SELECTION

The stage 3 tenders were submitted on the 10th March 2008 where they were again evaluated and a decision was taken in April 2008 by the Chief Executive who had delegated authority in consultation with the Council’s Group Leaders to make the decision on the successful strategic partner.

It was clear that the submission made by Accent was the most economically advantageous to the Council scoring more highly than the Lovell bid.