Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Accounting Officer for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government signed off the decision to let a contract to Faculty; whether the Accounting Officer (1) has confirmed that the contract was subject to open competition, and (2) has set out the reasons for the contract meeting value for money considerations; and if so, whether they will publish those reasons.

The approval of the contract awarded to Faculty was completed in line with the Department’s scheme of Delegated Authority.

The contract was awarded following a robust selection process through the Crown Commercial Service’s G-Cloud Digital Marketplace in line with its published processes, further details of which can be found (attached) at www.gov.uk/guidance/g-cloud-buyers-guide.

Faculty’s G-Cloud service offered the best fit with the Department’s identified needs. Faculty’s pricing of this service offer was reviewed against alternative suppliers’ prices and was found to be comparable.

The contract is based on the time and materials used to undertake the required services.