Notice Information
Notice Title
Building Control Management Services
Notice Description
Chelmsford City Council has a statutory duty to provide building control services within its geographical area. Due to a national shortage of qualified building control inspectors, the council has been unable to recruit permanently to this role despite repeated attempts. To prevent a breakdown in statutory service delivery, the council previously awarded a 6-month temporary contract to Sarto Thomas to provide a Building Control Manager. This contract is due to expire, and recruitment efforts remain unsuccessful. The Council has undertaken a direct award for a further 12 month contract to ensure continuity of services.
Procurement Information
Justification for Direct Award under Section 41, 42 and Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 The Council is making a direct award to Sarto Thomas for a further 12 months on the following grounds: 1. Continuity of Essential Service: A change of supplier at this point would create a significant gap in service delivery, causing operational disruption and failing to meet the Council's legal obligations. 2. Knowledge and Integration: The supplier has developed specific knowledge of the council's systems, processes, and ongoing caseload during the initial contract. Replicating this with a new supplier would require substantial duplication of cost and time. 3. Absence of Viable Alternative: The council's master vendor contract was previously unable to fulfil this specialised requirement. The ongoing national skills shortage means a competitive tender is unlikely to yield a suitable alternative in the necessary timeframe. 4. Proportionate and Necessary: The award is limited to 12 months to maintain service continuity while the council pursues a permanent recruitment solution and/or develops a longer-term procurement strategy for this critical function. This direct award is considered necessary and proportionate to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of the council's statutory building control service.
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-05f69c
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083324-2025
- Current Stage
- Award
- All Stages
- Award
Procurement Classification
- Notice Type
- UK6 - Contract Award Notice
- Procurement Type
- Standard
- Procurement Category
- Services
- Procurement Method
- Direct
- Procurement Method Details
- Direct award
- Tender Suitability
- SME
- Awardee Scale
- SME
Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)
- CPV Divisions
79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
-
- CPV Codes
79620000 - Supply services of personnel including temporary staff
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- Not specified
- Lots Value
- Not specified
- Awards Value
- £192,000 £100K-£500K
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 16 Dec 20252 months ago
- Submission Deadline
- Not specified
- Future Notice Date
- Not specified
- Award Date
- 16 Dec 20252 months ago
- Contract Period
- 31 Jan 2026 - 30 Jan 2027 6-12 months
- Recurrence
- Not specified
Notice Status
- Tender Status
- Complete
- Lots Status
- Complete
- Awards Status
- Pending
- Contracts Status
- Not Specified
Buyer & Supplier
Contracting Authority (Buyer)
- Main Buyer
- CHELMSFORD CITY COUNCIL
- Contact Name
- Not specified
- Contact Email
- procurement@chelmsford.gov.uk
- Contact Phone
- Not specified
Buyer Location
- Locality
- CHELMSFORD
- Postcode
- CM1 1JE
- Post Town
- Chelmsford
- Country
- England
-
- Major Region (ITL 1)
- TLH East (England)
- Basic Region (ITL 2)
- TLH3 Essex
- Small Region (ITL 3)
- TLH36 Heart of Essex
- Delivery Location
- Not specified
-
- Local Authority
- Chelmsford
- Electoral Ward
- Marconi
- Westminster Constituency
- Chelmsford
Further Information
Notice Documents
-
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083324-2025
16th December 2025 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender -
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083310-2025
16th December 2025 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
View full OCDS Record for this contracting process
The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.
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