Council bypasses tender process for urgent £79,000 IT contract
Ipswich Borough Council has bypassed its usual market testing process to award an urgent £79,000 contract, citing the need to quickly implement new project management tools to deliver planned savings.
The big picture: The council's director of transformation and change has approved a three-year contract with Smartsheet UK without going through the standard competitive tendering process.
Why it matters: This decision highlights the urgency of the council's need to implement new project management systems.
By the numbers:
- Total cost of £79,312 excluding VAT
- Three-year contract
- Six service areas already use the system
- Two working days are committed for the initial implementation
Between the lines: The council justified skipping market testing under Contract Standing Orders paragraph 10.2, arguing that:
- The current lack of proper infrastructure tools compromises project governance
- Existing familiarity with Smartsheet in six service areas would minimise training time
- The system is needed urgently to deliver savings programmes
What's next: The contract is set to begin in October 2024, with Project Plan Services partnering to provide integration support and training.
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