- Id
- PRJ_30087
- Status
- complete
- Procurement Method
- limited
- Main Procurement Category
- works
- Procurement Method Details
- Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
- Why this procedure was chosen
- The proposed appointment of Willmott Dixon Construction followed Geoffrey Osborne Limited going into administration on the 25th of April 2024, with the Council now seeking to conclude the replacement contractor appointment. At the time of insolvency, the Queen’s Park Court scheme was approximately 80% complete, with an original Practical Completion of August 2024.
Background & Due Diligence
Immediately following Osborne entering Administration, the Procurement and Contract options were presented to the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Renters. The preferred option was to negotiate an open book 2 stage Design & Build Contract, following a short competition between two Contractors.
The 2 Stage route was agreed as follows:
• Stage 1 – Mobilisation, forward orders and urgent remedial works, including weathering, hoarding and Health & Safety works – Up to £1,500,000 for the 3 Batch B sites together with a PCSA to progress design and price build up.
• Stage 2 – Completion of the works, including all ancillary, highways & 3rd party works as defined by Stage 1.
The Executive Director Regeneration, Economy and Regeneration subsequently approved the direct appointment of a Contractor to carry out Stage 1 of the recovery works (Mobilisation/Enabling) to a maximum sum of £500,000 for Queen’s Park Court. It was also agreed that a Cabinet Member Report would be presented for approval following the completion of the stage 1 works, setting out the costs to complete the three projects.
As part of the Stage 1 works, proposals were requested from Wilmott Dixon & Higgins for Stage 1 for Queen’s Park Court, with Willmott Dixon recommended due to their lower OH&P and initial Stage 1 cost, their proactive approach and quality of the tender. Willmott Dixon also named an experienced team which Higgins did not provide and demonstrated a good working relationship with the NHBC, which gives the best chance of achieving a Warranty backed project at the end of the works. Procurement Strategy – Southern Construction Framework
Upon conclusion of due-diligence and securing the site, the Council sought to proceed with procuring the replacement contractor to carry out the remaining Main Works. Several strategies were considered, as listed below:
1. WCC Directly Negotiate Main Works Contract with Willmott Dixon
2. Full Re-Tender of the Remedial and Completion Works
3. WCC directly appoint existing Subcontractors, Consultants under a Management Contract
4. WCC Procure a new Contractor via a Framework
From the options presented, the Council chose to progress the appointment via a Framework, with the Southern Construction Framework (Lot 3) selected for the Queen’s Park Court Package of Works. The full rationale is detailed in the CGRB report presented to the Cabinet Member.
An Expression of Interest was carried out via the SCF Framework, which included the following 9 Main Contractors:
1. Bowmer and Kirkland
2. Galliford TRY
3. Graham
4. ISG
5. Willmott Dixon
6. Kier
7. Mace
8. Morgan Sindall
9. Tilbury Douglas
The Expression of Interest was undertaken over the course of September and responses received on the 20th of September 2024:
• 8x contractors declined with 1x Positive response received from Willmott Dixon Construction limited
Next Steps
Following the Expression of Interest, the recommendation was agreed to progress with a Direct Award via the SCF Framework for the contract to complete the Queen’s Park Court works with Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd.
Queen’s Park Court is scheduled to deliver 23 Social Rent homes within the Queen’s Park Ward and is located right in the heart of a vibrant, thriving community in Westminster.