Decision details

To award the contract as described above to Kensa Contracting Ltd via the Northumberland County Council Framework for Microgeneration Lot 2 Domestic and Commercial Ground Source Heat Pumps (OJEU contract award notice 2018/S 051-112351. The contract amount is £754,644.45 which is within the authorised budget of £900,000.

To replace the existing heating system at Shadwells Court, including all distribution pipework and emitters, with an efficient, low-carbon system for space heating and hot water, utilising funding from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS).

Kensa are clear market leaders in a relatively small market with significant experience in installing this very specific type of heat pump, which is well suited to deployment in sheltered housing.

·       The existing system is becoming obsolete and ongoing reactive maintenance is increasingly difficult due to the scarcity of parts.

·       Replacement of like-for-like gas boilers are not considered compatible with the council's stated net zero carbon targets and would not have attracted PSDS funding, therefore requiring Adur Homes to fully-fund the distribution system replacement

·       Alternative Low-Zero Carbon heating systems are not as well suited to this site as ground source heat pumps and would result in residents having comparably higher heating bills