Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) is a special health authority within NHS Wales which has a leading role in the education, training, development, and shaping of the NHS Wales healthcare workforce, which in turn supports high-quality care for the people of Wales. HEIW has an immediate requirement to maintain continuous security and cleaning services at its headquarters. Any interruption in these services would create a significant business continuity risk, impacting the security and wellbeing of staff and visitors, the protection of premises, assets and information, and the maintenance of a safe, clean, and operational working environment. A direct award to the incumbent supplier is considered necessary to ensure uninterrupted service delivery and avoid the operational risks associated with mobilisation of a new provider at short notice. The incumbent supplier is already fully mobilised, familiar with the site, security procedures, cleaning schedules, key personnel, access arrangements and operational requirements. Appointing an alternative supplier would introduce implementation and mobilisation risks that could compromise continuity of services, potentially impacting site security, cleanliness standards, staff and visitor safety, and the effective operation of the headquarters. The direct award is therefore justified on the grounds of business continuity, operational necessity and risk mitigation. The arrangement will provide continuity of security and cleaning provision while HEIW determines and implements their longer-term procurement strategy.

Procurement Act 2023

Below threshold - without competition