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Council go to court to defend contract award
The decision to award a major Bristol City Council contract will be settled in court after the current provider who failed to win the new contract challenged the process.
The city council have announced that is is preparing to defend its decision to award the contract for the provision of domestic and sexual abuse support services to a new provider.
At a preliminary court hearing a judge decided that the unsuccessful bidder and current provider Next Link’s dispute with the council was valid, and the case will now go to a full hearing.
is needed now More than ever
Next Link had challenged the council’s decision to award the contract to Refuge.
The council is defending this claim, saying that it is satisfied that the bids were evaluated correctly during “a robust commissioning process”.
It is anticipated that the trial will take place in June.
Service director for housing solutions and crime reduction Nick Hooper said: “Bristol City Council is committed to continue to provide, as well as develop, the best services for survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. After a full and rigorous evaluation process our decision is that Refuge could best meet the objectives we have set.”
Due to the dispute, the existing council contracts with Next Link have been extended for at least three months from April 1.
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