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.