Further to decision record number 2021 – 00270567, please see below updated decision to reflect concerns raised during the Alcatel period.
Members of the public, who would benefit from a driver education course, can attend an NDORS Scheme. This offer follows police intervention.
Attending the course is often as a voluntary alternative to an offence being dealt via the Criminal Justice System.
The scheme provides the member of the public – or client – with relevant re-training. This enables them to improve their attitudes, driving skills and road awareness. The outcome is to improve road safety.
On 1 September 2014, Durham Police Procurement led a joint procurement exercise.
This was to identify a supplier to provide NDORS courses. This was on behalf of the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner for Cleveland (OPCC) and the Office of the Durham Police Crime and Victims’ Commissioner (ODPCVC) across the counties of Cleveland, Durham and the Borough of Darlington.
The contract was awarded to Hartlepool Borough Council for three years. There was an option to extend for a further two years.
As a result of internal reviews and the Covid-19 pandemic, the current contract was extended to 31 March 2021. This was to enable a full and competitive tender process to take place.
Five year contract
A decision was made to ensure continuity of service. As a result, the new contract will be awarded for five years with the option to extend for a further two years.
In addition to a number of mandatory pass/fail questions such as mandatory/discretionary exclusion/financial viability/ Insurance etc., the evaluation criterion was 80% Quality and Service Delivery and 20% Price.
Although in the current financial climate price is a key factor, it was felt that a quality service particularly in relation to Clients re-training and road safety was procured.
During Alcatel one of the bidders brought to our attention the natural advantage another bidder had as a result of being VAT exempt. This advantage affected the total cost being offered to the Client.
Advice was taken on the best way to approach this and a decision was made to provide all bidders with the opportunity to resubmit pricing in the knowledge that one Bidder had this advantage.
Two Bidders resubmitted pricing. Bidder 2 took this opportunity to reduce the cost of the courses by £1.