Decision details

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director – Enterprise, Community and Resources, which sought approval to award a contract for the supply of Agency Workers beyond 2022 for the Liverpool City Region (LCR).

Halton was the lead Authority for the review of agency provision on behalf of the LCR and had led the re-procurement of a further collaborative contract for agency worker supply to LCR authorities.  In 2017 the Council accessed the ESPO Framework MSTAR2 and made a direct award to Matrix SCM for the provision of a Natural Vendor Managed Service for Agency Workers.  This was due to end in February 2022 so an options appraisal was conducted, with five options considered, as outlined in the report. 

The Board agreed that Option 3 – Direct Award to a single provider accessing the ESPO framework – REF: 653F Managed Services for Temporary Agency Resources (MSTAR3), would be the most economically advantageous based on the assessments made in relation to previous years’ contract usage.  Members were advised that the ESPO Framework was in accordance with the Public Contract Regulations 2015 and was open for access by LCR members, via a direct award option within Lot 1(a) – Neutral Managed Service Provision, which had 8 shortlisted providers.  The incumbent provider, Matrix SCM, was the preferred supplier.

RESOLVED:  That, in accordance with Procurement Standing Order 1.9.4 and 1.10.1, the Executive Board authorise the Strategic Director – Enterprise, Community and Resources, to enter into a 4 year contract with the preferred supplier, who had been assessed as being the most economically advantageous and effective organisation to supply agency workers to the Council and three other authorities within the Liverpool City Region.