Key information
Request reference number: MGLA010524-2098
Date of response:
Summary of request
Your request
- GLA has assigned the contract to Heatflex, managed by Happy Energy, to make the LA Flex declaration for people to qualify under ECO4 funding for retrofit work. I would like to know the full details of the procurement procedure in line with GLA's responsible procurement procedure policy. Especially, I would like to know where it was advertised, how many companies took part in the bidding, and how it was finally awarded to Heatflex Happy Energy?
- GLA has assigned the contract to Heatflex, managed by Happy Energy, to make the LA Flex declaration for people to qualify under ECO4 funding for retrofit work. I would like to know the full details of the consideration of transparency that Happy Energy is an installer by itself. There is an apparent clash of interest while they are approving other installers' jobs, and they can easily be biased toward the approval of the jobs of their competitors.
p.s In all other parts of the uk, these contracts are given to the community energies - non-non-profit companies
Our response
The Greater London Authority (GLA) is not required to undertake a full procurement for concessions under £5.3m, particularly where the financial risk is borne by the contractor. The role of the Greater London Authority is to certify the eligibility of households in London for the Energy Company Obligation Flexible Eligibility scheme. Eligibility is established through in accordance with the requirements of Ofgem and using information provided to us by households via the HeatFlex administrator. We do not specify the works or appoint the installers.
The GLA and HeatFlex work together within the bounds of ECO4 legislation, Ofgem guidance and UK GDPR. The eligibility evidence of each individual applicant and their contractor is robustly collected and checked to ensure that this meets all requirements. If another third party installer with the same or better skillset and experience was able to show that it could undertake the tasks in question (at no cost to the GLA) the GLA would consider proposals made by them as well.