Office Furniture & Associated Services

This contract is being awarded without a competitive tendering procedure under the provisions of Section 41 and Schedule 5, Paragraph 13 of the Procurement Act 2023, which permit direct awards in cases of extreme and unforeseeable urgency.

The incumbent supplier, with whom existing orders had been placed, has unexpectedly entered liquidation. This has created an urgent need to appoint an alternative supplier to avoid delays to ongoing works associated with the opening of new office locations. The goods required are subject to long lead times, and commencing a full competitive procurement process would result in delays that could compromise project delivery.

Failure to act promptly would lead to increased costs, including the need to accommodate staff in temporary office space. A competitive process is not viable within the time available, and the direct award is therefore necessary to maintain progress on critical projects and ensure value for money under urgent circumstances. The scope of the award is strictly limited to fulfilling existing orders where there is an urgent requirement to mitigate the risks arising from the liquidation of the incumbent supplier.

The supplier has been selected on the basis that they are already engaged in delivering works at the affected office locations. As an existing supplier familiar with the sites, they have a clear understanding of the space configurations and furniture requirements. This existing knowledge enables them to mobilise quickly and deliver the required goods within the necessary timeframes, minimising disruption and ensuring continuity of the office fit-out programme.