Decision details

DforDS&R/012/21-22 Rooftop solar PV installs on Council buildings

DECISIONS CAN BE IMPLEMENTED AT 5PM ON THE DAY THAT A CALL-IN EXPIRES. DECISIONS MAY BE ENACTED AFTER 5PM ON THE DAY PRIOR TO THE DATE INDICATED BELOW IN THE 'EFFECTIVE FROM' COLUMN

Decision Maker: Director for Sustainability & Resources

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Decision:

To award the Design & Build Contract for the delivery of rooftop solar PV systems at six sites across Adur and Worthing, to Bright Spark Ventures Ltd, trading as Bright Spark Energy.

 

The contract amount is £188,003.60, broken down as follows:

£61,618.30 for the two Adur District Council sites, funded by Invest to Save budget provision as approved by the Executive Members for Resources on 05/11/2021;

£71,369.21 for the two Adur Homes sites (£47,650 grant funded, remainder from Adur HRA Capital Programme); and

£55,016.09 for the two Worthing Borough Council sites (fully grant funded)

The total amount is within the estimated contract value authorised by the Joint Strategic Committee on 7 September 2021.

Reasons for the decision:

To install solar PV arrays on the roofs of the Commerce Way Depot, Eastbrook Manor Community Centre, Goring Recreation Ground, Marsh House, Shadwells Court and Worthing Town Hall & Assembly Hall, partly utilising funding from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS). The solar PV arrays will provide renewable electricity to the buildings, reducing the amount of electricity imported from the grid and therefore reducing the overall energy bills and carbon emissions associated with the buildings.

 

As per the Councils' Contract Standing Order 8.10, a framework agreement was used for the tender procedure. The Councils utilised the Portsmouth City Council “Design, Supply & Installation of Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Panel Systems & Associated Equipment - Central Southern England Multi Contractor Framework” with all Tier 1 contractors invited to participate in the mini competition for this proposal. One bid was received and was evaluated by a team of officers. The bid received from Bright Spark Ventures Ltd scored highest for both quality and price (overall 88%).

Alternative options considered:

The PSDS funding secured is directly linked to the amount of carbon emissions saved and, solar photovoltaic (generating electricity to the building) or solar thermal (delivering hot water to the building) were eligible technologies for rooftop installations. Given the movement away from gas boilers towards low carbon solutions such as heat pumps, solar PV was considered well-matched to provide zero carbon electricity to the heat pumps, supporting both the electrification of heat and the Councils’ net zero target.

Publication date: 05/11/2021

Date of decision: 05/11/2021

Effective from: 13/11/2021