Key information
Executive summary
This report sets out the case for the award of a contract without competition for the provision of a graduate recruitment and training service from Police Now Enterprises Limited. Police Now Enterprises Ltd are the only organisation which can provide the Police Now programme. The value of the contract is estimated to be between £900k and £1,460k depending on the volume of intake.
Recommendation
That the DMPC approves the award of a contract without competition to Police Now Enterprises Ltd to the maximum value of £1.46m for the supply of the graduate recruitment and training.
Non-confidential facts and advice to the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime (DMPC)
1. Introduction and background
1.1 Police Now is a high calibre graduate recruitment programme developed by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).
1.2 The programme focusses on developing leadership and was designed to attract exceptional graduates and put them into frontline policing roles in some of London’s most challenging communities.
1.3 Police Now’s mission is to: transform communities, reduce crime and increase the public's confidence in policing, by recruiting and developing outstanding and diverse individuals to be leaders in society and on the policing frontline.
1.4 It is an intensive two year programme that involves graduates serving as Dedicated Ward Officers (DWOs). Those that complete the programme have the choice of joining a fast track scheme or leaving the police to pursue other careers.
1.5 In March 2015 the programme secured a grant from the Home Office Innovation Fund to expand nationally as a social enterprise and develop programmes for forces outside of London. In April 2016 Police Now formally transitioned to an independent charity and began delivering the programme to a further 6 police forces.
2. Issues for consideration
2.1. This Business Justification concerns the award of the contract through a Single Tender Action for the provision of graduate recruitment and training services to the MPS for the Police Now programme.
2.2. Police Now Enterprises Limited is the only organisation that can legally provide the Police Now programme due to the protection of exclusive intellectual property rights.
2.3. The consideration of this proposal is urgent due to the graduate recruitment season commencing in September 2016.
3. Financial Comments
3.1. The estimated cost of 100 graduate recruits over a 2 year period is estimated to be £900k, with provision in the contract award to increase the volume of intake and cost up to a maximum of £1.46m. MPS will fund these costs from within their existing budget.
4. Legal Comments
4.1. The Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime is a Contracting Authority as defined within the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (the Regulations). When awarding public contracts for goods or services valued at £172,514 or above all contracting authorities must do so in accordance with the Regulations. This report confirms that the value of the proposed contract award exceeds the above threshold.
4.2. Regulation 32 of the Regulations provides that MOPAC may award a public contract without publishing a contract notice in the Official Journal of the European Union where the services can only be provided by a single provider due to the protection of exclusive rights, including intellectual property rights and there is no reasonable alternative or substitute that exists. The report states Police Now is the only provider legally capable of providing the service based upon their exclusive ownership in the intellectual property rights to the Police Now programme
4.3. This Business Case recommends the initiation and award of a contract to Police Now valued at a maximum of £1.46m based upon the MPS recruiting and training 100 graduates through the Police Now programme (although this could be variable by 10% dependent on acceptance rates).
4.4. Paragraph 4.13 of the MOPAC Scheme of Delegation and Consent gives the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime the authority to approve all Contract Exemptions for £100k or above.
5. Equality Comments
5.1. Of the first Police Now cohort of 73 recruits 44% were female but only 10% were from a Black & Minority Ethnic (BME) background.
5.2. Extensive efforts were made in the marketing and targeting of candidates for the second cohort and this was rewarded with increased diversity. Of the 56 MPS candidates of 52% were female and 29% BME. This is particularly noteworthy as this is recruitment from the national pool where BME diversity is proportionally lower.
Signed decision document
PCD 53