tendering procedures, and the circumstances are detailed in an appropriate Trust record; where the requirement is covered by an existing contract; national framework agreements are in place. where a consortium arrangement is in place and a lead organisation has been appointed to carry out tendering activity on behalf of the consortium members; where the timescale genuinely precludes competitive tendering but failure to plan the work properly would not be regarded as a justification for a single tender; where specialist expertise is required and is available from only one source; when the task is essential to complete the project, and arises as a consequence of a recently completed assignment and engaging different consultants for the new task be inappropriate; there is a clear benefit to be gained from maintaining continuity with an earlier project. However in such cases the benefits of such continuity must outweigh any potential financial advantage to be gained by competitive tendering; for the provision of advice and services providing that any legal firm or partnership commissioned by the Trust is regulated by the Law Society for England and Wales for the conduct of their business (or by the Bar Council for England and Wales in relation to the obtaining of Counsel’s opinion) and are generally recognised as having sufficient expertise in the area of work for which they are commissioned. The Director of Finance will ensure that any fees paid are reasonable and within commonly accepted rates for the costing of such work. Where it is decided that competitive tendering is not applicable and should be waived, the fact of the waiver and the reasons should be documented and recorded in an appropriate Trust record and reported to the Integrated Audit Committee at each meeting. Fair and Adequate Competition Where the exceptions set out in these standing financial instructions do not apply, the Trust shall ensure that invitations to tender are sent to a sufficient number of
tendering procedures, and the circumstances are detailed in an appropriate Trust record; where the requirement is covered by an existing contract; national framework agreements are in place. where a consortium arrangement is in place and a lead organisation has been appointed to carry out tendering activity on behalf of the consortium members; where the timescale genuinely precludes competitive tendering but failure to plan the work properly would not be regarded as a justification for a single tender; where specialist expertise is required and is available from only one source; when the task is essential to complete the project, and arises as a consequence of a recently completed assignment and engaging different consultants for the new task be inappropriate; there is a clear benefit to be gained from maintaining continuity with an earlier project. However in such cases the benefits of such continuity must outweigh any potential financial advantage to be gained by competitive tendering; for the provision of advice and services providing that any legal firm or partnership commissioned by the Trust is regulated by the Law Society for England and Wales for the conduct of their business (or by the Bar Council for England and Wales in relation to the obtaining of Counsel’s opinion) and are generally recognised as having sufficient expertise in the area of work for which they are commissioned. The Director of Finance will ensure that any fees paid are reasonable and within commonly accepted rates for the costing of such work. Where it is decided that competitive tendering is not applicable and should be waived, the fact of the waiver and the reasons should be documented and recorded in an appropriate Trust record and reported to the Integrated Audit Committee at each meeting. Fair and Adequate Competition Where the exceptions set out in these standing financial instructions do not apply, the Trust shall ensure that invitations to tender are sent to a sufficient number of
CORPORATE%20POLICY%20-%20Standing%20Financial%20Instruction%20-%20SFI%20-%20POLCF004-2.docx