Masterplan Consultancy Services for Ebbsfleet Central Area - modification of an existing contract

Tender description

Original contract was Called off from Homes England Framework for Multi-Disciplinary Consultant leading on engineering, infrastructure, and transport. This contract variation was required following the unforeseen inability of incumbent service provider to resource an urgent piece of time critical design work, which the Contracting Authority could not have foreseen. The incumbent service provider now undertaking the work is fully integrated into the project and has undertaken significant work on the project to date and work being undertaken is aligned to the nature of the contract. The work being undertaken is critical to the programme and contracting with a new supplier would increase cost and result in significant delay to the programme. 72(1) C allows for modifications to made if brought about by circumstances which a diligent contracting authority could not have foreseen. Ebbsfleet Development Corporation undertook significant due diligence prior to contracting this supplier and there was no evidence that Natural England were considering a Site of Special Scientific Interest designation during the procurement of the services and this is therefore considered to be an unforeseeable circumstance.