Provision of Community Equipment

Amendment to description

The Council has a statutory duty to provide the integrated community equipment and service pursuant to the Care Act 2014. This includes the provision of community equipment to support independence, hospital discharge and care at home for adults and children. This is for the supply, maintenance, and collection of items.

The contract was actually executed at 17:00 on 22nd September 2025 but the notice will not allow this date to be included, so the date selected in the notice has been chosen to allow the notice to be completed.

Contract start date: 22 September 2025

Contract end date: 21 September 2027

The primary risk to contract performance arises from the short mobilisation period following the insolvency of the incumbent provider, NRS Healthcare, and the service formally closing on 15 September 2025. This created an urgent need to secure continuity of statutory services under the Care Act 2014.

Risks include potential delays in service mobilisation, supply chain disruption, and gaps in equipment availability or maintenance during the transition. These could impact hospital discharge timelines, people's ability to live independently, and safeguarding outcomes. Mitigation measures include a phased transition with interim 'patchwork' arrangements, contingency planning for high-priority equipment, and collaborative oversight from the eight-borough consortium.

Possible extension date: to 21 September 2028

Extreme and unavoidable urgency

The urgent action required is to ensure the needs of vulnerable residents can be met and the Council fulfils statutory requirements.

The Council is required to maintain access to the Services for all eligible residents and there is a legal duty under the Care Act 2014 for the Services to be delivered.

The directly contract award a contract to the identified supplier will be made under Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023.

In relation to the urgency justification under Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023, this justification applies for the following reasons:

• The goods and services to be supplied under the proposed contract are strictly necessary to ensure the Council complies with its statutory duties.

• The situation has arisen due to unforeseeable events outside of the Council's control. In the circumstances the Council must act urgently and there is not sufficient time to conduct a competitive tendering procedure.

• The urgency is unavoidable and was not attributable to any act or omission of the council.

Link to decision for more information: https://democracy.brent.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?Id=7523