URL: https://democracy.wirral.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=6363

Decision Maker: Director of Capital Programmes

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose:

Content: The Interim Director of Capital Programmes has approved the award of a contract to Pool Technical Services Limited (Company Number 07967122) as the most advantageous tender for a period of 2-years with an option to extend for a further year to provide pool plant specialist services for Wirral Council’s Active Wirral Services within five Council owned leisure centres with an estimated contract value of £240,000 over a period of three years.   Active Wirral operates five leisure centres containing seven swimming pools that are heavily used by residents across the borough. The pool programmes cover learn?to?swim provision, school swimming, public swimming and competitive club activity. These facilities rely on a complex pool plant system that requires year?round maintenance. Much of the plant equipment is ageing and increasingly prone to failure.   The specialist will become the single point of contact (POC) for Facilities Management in order for Active Wirral to maintain the complex pool plant operation and remain compliant within the boundaries of Health and safety.   Historically, Active Wirral relied on six different suppliers to respond when equipment broke down. Following the transfer of reporting, management and budget responsibilities to the Corporate Landlord, officers concluded that the existing multi?supplier approach was too complex for the central team to manage effectively. To ensure the correct specialists could be deployed quickly and consistently, a decision was made to tender for a single pool?plant contractor to work alongside Facilities Management and support the integration of plant assets into Concerto.   A detailed scope, specification and pricing document for the required service was issued in April 2026 to eight suppliers and a tender exercise undertaken. Five bids were received, including from Pool Technical Services. They were evaluated on price, quality and social value submissions and moderated with the Council’s Procurement Team. Details of the tender evaluation are set out in the exempt Appendix 1.   Appendix 1 is exempt from publication pursuant to paragraph 3 of part 1 of Schedule 12 A of the Local Government Act 1972 (Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)) because it contains or refers to information relating to the financial and business affairs of tenderers and the Council and the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure.   The evaluation criteria was based on price (50%), quality (40%) and social value (10%).   Quality elements of the tender return were evaluated by two officers from the Asset Management team and one officer from Neighbourhoods team, completing individual scoring sheets which were moderated by Procurement.   The Pricing element of the tender return was scored separately by the Procurement team   The final scores were brought together by the Procurement team in a weighted "evaluation matrix" which determined the preferred tenderer. The tender submitted by Pool technical services represents the most advantageous tender received.   Pool technical services were successful in the tender process. The company has worked with Active Wirral for over 20 years and has extensive knowledge of our systems. Do Nothing: This option was discounted as the Council needs to have a contract in place in order to fulfil its statutory duty to ensure that its assets comply with relevant Health and Safety Legislation and Regulations   To take no action, leaving the Council without a tendered contractor responsible for servicing, maintaining and reporting on the pool plant to the Facilities Management team. Under the current arrangement, the process is complex, and staff without specialist pool?plant knowledge would struggle to identify the correct supplier to contact, the reason for doing so, and the appropriate timing.   The decision has been taken under Part 3 Section C - Overview and Scheme of Delegations of Authority to Officers as the decision is not reserved to a Committee or Sub-Committee and the Assistant Director is satisfied that paragraphs 2(a) to 2(c) apply.   Background Papers   Specification Schedule of Tenders received  

Date of Decision: September 4, 2026