URL: https://democracy.adur-worthing.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1367

Decision Maker: Service Director for Operations & Environmental Services (CLT)

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose:

Content: Letting of the contract for Adur District and Worthing Borough Council’s stray dog service with AlphaguardK9 Limited of Railway Lofts, 19c Commercial Road, Eastbourne, BN21 3XE for an initial term of 2 years and optional extensions of up to a total of 5 years from the 1st of April 2026. Over 5 Years the total estimated value of the contract would be £187,500.00 Adur and Worthing Councils currently operate a dog warden service to collect, kennel and process stray dogs which are reported through the councils contact team or website. They operate across both councils but also provide the service to Arun district council. In order to align with the wider districts and boroughs ahead of LGR, alongside saving costs the councils sought an external supplier to deliver the service.    The service area discussed the requirement with procurement and determined a strategy to undertake market research ahead of running an open tender process. The contract will be split into 2 lots, one for Arun and another for Adur and Worthing. Running for an initial period of 2 years with optional extensions of up to three further years in annual renewals.    On the 16th of December the council undertook a market testing exercise in line with the guidance of The Procurement Act 2023. Officers released a preliminary market engagement notice on the find a tender platform with a closing date of the 12th of January 2026.    The market testing exercise had over 500 views but no expressions of interest were received directly.    On the 16th of January 2026 officers released the tender to the open market through a notice published on the find a tender portal. The tenders deadline for responses was the 16th of February 2026. The tender received no view or interest within the first two weeks, officers contacted every dog warden / dog collection service that we could identify operating within Sussex and received little interest with only two companies engaging with the tender.   Officers extended the tender to allow the interested suppliers more time but only received a single bid as of the 23rd of February 2026. Officers from all three authorities evaluated the bid chaired by procurement concluding that the supplier bidding was competent and the costs still reflected a saving against the current costs of operating the service.    It is therefore recommended that the contract move ahead with AlphaguardK9, based in Eastbourne (they currently operate the same service for Eastbourne, Lewes and Brighton council’s).    Retaining the service in house has been considered but it is significantly more expensive

Date of Decision: March 20, 2026