Introduction
At PfH, we specialise in empowering public sector organisations to realise their sustainability ambitions through expert led procurement. When Mid Devon District Council, serving a rural area of 353 square miles in the heart of Devon, secured £2.8 million from Phase 3 of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS3), they chose to partner with us. Our reputation for compliant, rapid procurement solutions meant the council could meet tight funding deadlines and strategic objectives with confidence.
The challenge
Mid Devon District Council faced the urgent task of delivering a suite of decarbonisation projects: from borehole drilling for ground source heat pumps, to air and ground source heat pump installation, LED external pitch lighting, and solar PV supply and fit. These works spanned commercial buildings, leisure centres, car parks, council offices and 3,000 homes. With contracts needing to be awarded before April 2023 or risk losing vital funding, the council confronted significant hurdles: rural logistics, short timescales and the complexity of multiple sites.
The solution
Our recommendation was clear: deploy the capital works Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS), focusing on the heating lot for renewable technology. PfH’s procurement team took charge of the entire process, from engaging local contractors and supporting their onboarding, to preparing and publishing tender documentation in close collaboration with the council’s consultant and project lead. We offered hands on support with project scoping, documentation templates, price versus quality weighting, tender timelines, contract forms and price evaluation. Thanks to our managed service and a close working relationship, contracts for six separate projects were issued and awarded within a 10 working day tender period, ensuring every deadline was met.
What our customer says
“As part of the funding arrangements for this project there was an extremely short time frame to move this project from inception to completion, at times feeling like we were on the back foot before we had even started. But PfH were very reactive in the procurement of the various discrete parts we needed for the decarbonisation, which enabled this project to come home in time. For Mid Devon this is a really important, strategic project which will help us move towards our net zero goals and I would like to acknowledge the great work by Ross, Laura and Tom in helping this project come to fruition.”
Tim Powell, Corporate Projects Officer, Mid Devon District Council
“Working closely with Tim and their consultant, we established a strong working relationship during this project. With speed being one of the key drivers, our suite of DPSs allowed us to meet all deadlines and manage expectations. This could not have been achieved without the excellent support of our procurement team. This was a real team effort by all involved.”
Ross Green, Commercial Manager, PfH
The results
With PfH’s support, Mid Devon District Council successfully awarded contracts for all six projects in time for works to begin before April 2023. The rapid, ten working day tender process via our DPS was pivotal in meeting the funding deadline. The council has now significantly reduced the carbon output of several buildings, improved the lives of users and future proofed leisure facilities through energy savings. This project stands as a testament to the value of collaborative, expert led procurement, balancing compliance, speed and long-term impact.
