Agenda item

The report sought approval from the Cabinet member to award a call-off contract for the Provision of maintenance, repairs and upgrades to community alarms to Tenderer A across 47 Sheltered Housing Schemes, for up to 7 years with and initial duration of five years, and the option to extend for 1 + 1 years, with a maximum value of £2,548,000 (plus inflationary factors).

The Cabinet Member welcomed the social value element of this contract - including a commitment to provide 200 staff hours to provide wellbeing sessions across our sheltered housing schemes.

The Cabinet Member RESOLVED

That the Cabinet Member for Housing Services, Private Renters, and Planning approve the award of a contract for the Provision of maintenance, repairs and upgrades to community alarms to Tenderer A across 47 Sheltered Housing Schemes, for up to 7 years with the initial duration of five years, and the option to extend for 1 + 1 years, with a maximum value of £2,548,000 (plus inflationary factors) with a start date of 1st April 2024.

Reasons for decision

In order to deliver the Maintenance and Repairs of lifeline Community Alarms Systems, Haringey Council requires the support of a specialist electrical contractor to carry out these works. The works include planned maintenance, repair, upgrades and replacement of pendants and careline equipment and installations, in accordance with the relevant British Standards (BS5839?6:2019).

The responsive provision would ensure that equipment failure which could put residents at risk of unreported injury or harm, would be responded to urgently and within required timescales. The work also allowed for upgrading smoke and heat alarms within individual properties and communal areas where necessary, and ensuring the telecom connection to the warden call alert system was maintained.

The upgrade works were required to ensure some of the borough’s most vulnerable residents were provided with the highest level of protection regarding fire detection and fire alarm systems. A system installed throughout the premises, must incorporate detectors in all circulation areas that form part of the escape routes from the premises, and in all rooms and areas. All current systems required additional equipment upgrades which formed a significant proportion of the contract value.

This was a call-off contract, in that there was no monthly or annual fee and the contractor would only receive payment for works completed on instruction.

Alternative options considered

Do Nothing – This was not an option as it would increase the risks around fire and personal safety for some of our most vulnerable residents. It would also leave Haringey exposed to potential prosecution for failing to take reasonable care to safeguard its residents and would result in contravention of current relevant safety regulations.

Carry out the work through in-house resources. – the Council were unable to deliver these works in-house due to a lack on suitably trained and certified operatives. The Council did not have enough operatives and the timescales required to recruit and train them would result in the same outcome as set out in 5.1 of the report.

Use the Council’s existing contracts or contractors. The only suitable contractor was currently delivering this service under a contract that expired in March 2024. The Council were unable to extend this contract further as all available extensions had been utilised. The Council also needed to ensure that its contracts provided value for money and reflected up to date regulatory requirements and current good practice.