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# Council bypasses tender process for urgent £79,000 IT contract
- URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/council-bypasses-tender-process-for-urgent-79k-it-contract/
- Published: 2024-11-15T11:45:08.000Z
- Updated: 2026-03-16T15:30:16.000Z
- Description: 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.
- Author: Oliver Rouane-Williams
- Tags: News, Councils, #article, Ipswich Borough Council, #Import 2026-03-16 14:46

**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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