Decision details

Extension of the Council’s contract with KC+A Architects for additional design work on the Ramsey Court housing delivery scheme

Decision Maker: Assistant Director for Housing

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Decision:

To extend Kiran Curtis Architects’ contract for the additional sum of £18,807 +VAT in order to retrospectively cover additional work required by the Council redesigning the Ramsey Court scheme, waiving Contract Standing Order 8.03 as allowed by Contract Standing Order 10.01.2

Reasons for the decision:

It is in the Council’s overall interests to extend Kiran Curtis Architects’ existing contract because the redesign works required by the Council had to be carried out within tight timescales and to a high standard. KC+A had been working on the scheme designs since 2018 so were uniquely placed to do this and were already working to a high standard.
Ramsey Court has been a complex scheme to design, with a high level of public engagement in response to which the Council required a continual process of redesign. This led to the Council requiring additional work from KC+A not covered in the initial contract or its extension in June 2020. It was crucial that this work was carried out to a high standard and, in order not to risk undermining grant conditions and other procurement timetables, at pace. KC+A had existing knowledge of the site, and they were able to effectively co-ordinate the consultants, with a quick turnaround on results of the surveys to completed for the stage 4 detailed design. KC+A co-ordinated consultants’ surveys, held workshops, re-produced CGI drawings, to improve the quality of the building design and landscape strategy. This approach saved the Council time and money re-tendering this element of works.
The Council have valued the additional works carried out by Kiran Curtis Architects (KC+A) at £18,807 +VAT.

Alternative options considered:

The Council could have competitively tendered the additional design work, but this would be time consuming from a procurement and project progress perspective. Tendering out a new contract would cost the Council additional money and time; this option was therefore rejected.

Publication date: 23/05/2022

Date of decision: 20/05/2022

Accompanying Documents:

  • DD Ramsey Court KCA Architect Waiver - Extend contract