2.16 The selection of a winning bid would be based on a balance of all the criteria. Although the Consul bid was not the cheapest, it scored most highly overall against the five criteria. It also scored highest in three of the individual criteria (specifically the technical, financial and legal criteria). Following the evaluation process, the Service decided to by-pass the stage of Best and Final Offer. The Service considered that it would not gain any benefits from a further round of bidding because one of the other two bidders did not meet the required standard while the remaining bid was judged to be too expensive.
2.17 Consul was selected as the provisional preferred bidder and one of the other bidders was chosen as a reserve. The purpose of naming a reserve bidder was to maintain the element of competition within the process. The Service issued Consul with an agenda for action to be addressed over an eight week period which, upon successful completion, would remove its provisional status. Over the negotiation period, the unitary charge was reduced from £4.2 million a year to £3.6 million a year and the Service considers that the specification for the new courts was improved.