Variant Solutions

In addition to a Standard Solution, Bidders may at their discretion submit one or more but no more than [insert number] Variant Solutions.

Bidders are invited to submit Variant Solutions in which they may offer proposals on the basis of different allocations of risk or alternative terms as well as different technical proposals from those contained in the Standard Solution.

Bidders should propose Variant Solutions only where and to the extent that Bidders believe that value for money can be improved by adopting a different approach, or that any of the Local Authority's proposals are not feasible, practical or necessary.

Bidders should clearly state in any Variant Solution how the alternative approach contained in such a Solution differs from the Standard Solution, how they will be able to deliver it, how it is likely to improve value for money and, where possible, the estimated impact on the Unitary Charge.  

The type of Variant Solutions that the Bidders may wish to propose might include, for example, but without limitation:

•  [Insert details of examples as appropriate].

A mark-up to the Model Contract must be contained in a Variant Solution, and each and every item of mark-up must be accompanied by a completed entry in a table in the format set out in Solution Form 2 in Appendix 9 of these Instructions.  Any mark-up which reallocates a risk (as opposed to merely clarifying some drafting) must have a completed entry in the column headed "Effect on Price". This is to satisfy the Local Authority that the reallocation of that risk has a cost consequence.  By taking that cost consequence and applying it to the Standard Solution, the Local Authority will be able to make a determination of whether or not the proposed reallocation of risk represents value for money.

A Variant Solution should be capable of being evaluated as a complete solution, i.e. a Solution with all the constituent elements necessary to complete the bidding process.  All of the various elements of a Variant Solution should be discrete, so that if a Bidder has a particular proposal that the Local Authority elects to investigate/negotiate with the Bidder, it may do so in the knowledge that the remainder of the Variant Solution (or the proposal itself) will not unravel.  

The Local Authority reserves, in its sole discretion, the right to reject Variant Solutions.