Archived decisions

Contact: Phil Samms, tel 01962 874795 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report summarises the reasons behind the Environment Department seeking to establish a framework contract for temporary technical professional staff, and sets out the proposed arrangements for the contract.

1.2 The County Council has a duty to maintain and improve the highway infrastructure within Hampshire in a safe and effective manner. Whilst the Environment Department carries out this role, current recruitment difficulties within the civil engineering industry have led to a number of vacancies in the permanent workforce over a considerable time. Traditionally, these vacancies have been successfully covered by the employment of temporary technical staff through a variety of arrangements, in addition to the use of the Professional Services Contract.

1.3 Current arrangements for the supply of such staff have relied upon the corporate temporary staff contract established by County Supplies. Whilst this arrangement with Manpower has been able to offer limited numbers of suitable resources over the past four years, it was not originally established with a main aim of supplying such technical staff, and has struggled to meet the Environment Department's requirements in this respect. A new contract, to replace this arrangement in July 2008, is uncertain to alleviate these concerns, and it has therefore been agreed with the Corporate Procurement Network that alternative arrangements may be sought to ensure continued supply of suitable resources for the Department.

1.4 In order to offer the most flexibility to supply suitable technical resources to the Department, it is intended to tender a framework contract with a number of specialist suppliers of technical professional resources. This framework will be established to supplement permanent staff vacancies, and to assist in the delivery of any workload increases that may occur. To comply with EU regulations and ensure greatest flexibility in the use of this contract in collaboration with all local authorities in Hampshire the contract will embrace all such authorities in Hampshire. It is therefore proposed that the appropriate OJEU notice indicates a wider geographical coverage in order to allow other local authorities in the south to use this contract if desired. This may assist with collaboration and reduce prices.

2. Recommendation

2.1 That approval be given to tender a framework contract to facilitate the supply of temporary technical professional staff for delivery of maintenance and improvement scheme design, project management and implementation of works to highways, related structures and other construction related projects within Hampshire.

3. Background

3.1 The Environment Department has been employing temporary technical professional staff on a variety of contractual arrangements for many years, assisting in the backfilling of vacant permanent posts and supplementing resources when workload levels increase. Recent experience with the provision of such staff has been switched to operate through the corporate temporary staff contract with Manpower.

3.2 The corporate temporary staff contract has been operating since 2004, predominantly aimed at care and administrative provision. Whilst every effort has been made to use this contract for the provision of technical professionals, the Department's experiences have been patchy at best, with approximately 25-50% of posts sought actually being successfully filled. Particular problems have occurred in locating suitable staff through this contract, and recent changes to taxation legislation have led to further difficulties with other means of resource that have historically been possible.

3.3 The corporate temporary staff contract is also due to end in July 2008, and work is well progressed by County Supplies to procure a replacement. Whilst the Environment Department has been given opportunity to input into these new arrangements, concerns still exist regarding the new contract's ability to resolve problems with the supply of technical professionals.

3.4 It is therefore proposed that the Environment Department establishes a framework contract with a number of suppliers of temporary technical professional staff to supplement the new corporate contract.

4. The Proposed Arrangements

4.1 It is proposed to establish a framework of suppliers capable of delivering engineering design and supervision resources directly (not agencies) to work alongside the new corporate temporary staff contract (likely to be an employment agency with support from other employment agencies). Based on the current use of temporary technical staff (of which only £600,000 per year has been achieved through the current Manpower contract), the new Framework contract is expected to have a value of approximately £1 million per annum.

4.2 Each supplier will offer some, or all, of a range of skills that will be pre-defined within the framework contract, specifically relating to technical competence and abilities. Hourly rates for a range of standard roles will be requested from each supplier, with ability to supplement these for specific additional skills that may be required (eg computer aided design, drainage, carriageway alignment modelling).

4.3 Expressions of interest are currently being sought through the European Journal and local advertisement, with tenders issued in April, for return in May. The suppliers will be assessed against pre-defined criteria of price and quality, and the successful ones appointed in June for commencement of service from 9 July 2008.

5. Impact Assessments

5.1 The new temporary technical professional staff framework contract has been developed taking into account the impact on the environment and equalities at all stages.

5.2 For all services delivered through the new framework, particular emphasis will be placed on developing safe approaches to permanent highway works and temporary traffic management arrangements.

5.3 By making the framework accessible to other local authorities it is possible that efficiency savings may be made.

6. Conclusion

6.1 It is proposed that a Temporary Technical Professional Staff contract be established as a framework of suppliers for the Environment Department and other County Council Departments, Unitary and District Councils requiring such resources.

6.2 The framework shall start on 9 July 2008 and operate for a maximum of four years.

1582Rpt/PS