Security Services for Cheshire East Council

Cheshire East Council are looking for a supplier to perform our Security Services contract. This contract will be procured using the Competitive Flexible Procedure and is defined as a light touch contract under the Procurement Act and regulations.

The scope of the Services comprises the following main service elements: • Static guarding & ad-hoc security services; • Response services & key holding (including fire and intruder); • Site Monitoring (Mobile Patrols and CCTV installation & monitoring) & keyholding; • Locking/unlocking sites & key holding; • Security stewarding/guarding ad-hoc indoor and outdoor events. The Council's portfolio to be covered by this Contract is c.65 sites of differing sizes spread across a large geographic area including rural settings.

The sites requiring the various service elements of this Contract range from corporate offices where staff and members of visiting public will be present, to isolated sites in countryside locations including parks and car parks where there is limited artificial lighting at night, to busy multi-storey car parks where opening times are important. Access to some sites could be challenging in bad weather and monitoring situations may be difficult.

The site portfolio also includes operational sites of a high-risk nature, where fire would cause large scale risk to life and immeasurable damage and disruption. The Authority has determined that security services under this contract must be delivered directly by the provider and that subcontracting will not be permitted.

This reflects the need for direct control over personnel vetting, licensing, training standards and operational management, which are critical to the safe and effective delivery of security services. This requirement is linked to the subject matter of the contract and is proportionate to the risks being managed.

Permitting subcontracting would introduce additional layers of delivery and oversight, increasing the risk of non-compliance and undermining clear contractual accountability for performance and conduct. The Authority is satisfied that this approach complies with the procurement objectives in section 12 of the Act and does not unduly restrict competition, as the market includes a sufficient number of providers capable of delivering the services in house.

Due to the nature of the services, which include manned guarding and the protection of people, property and assets, the Authority requires that the contract be delivered by a single economic operator. Consortium bids will not be permitted.

This requirement is directly linked to the subject matter of the contract and is necessary to ensure clear accountability, effective control over personnel vetting, training and supervision, and robust operational governance. The Authority considers this requirement to be proportionate to the risks being managed and is satisfied that sufficient market capacity exists to maintain effective competition.