AQW 14268/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Education
To ask the Minister of Education whether the approved business case for Strule Shared Education Campus demonstrated value for money for the project.
Asked by Nick Mathison MLA on 2 September 2024
- Answered
- Written
- After due date
- Priority
- Tabled
- 2 September 2024
- Answer due by
- 5 September 2024
- Answered
- 9 September 20247 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Education
- Priority question
- Yes
Answer
The procurement of the main work contract for the Strule Shared Education Campus was taken forward under a Ministerial Direction endorsed by the Northern Ireland Executive in 2021. The Direction gave authority to proceed with the programme to completion, with review at key points.
Value for Money could not be determined definitively in regard to the main works procurement due to the lack of competitive tension in the Competitive Procedure by Negotiation process and the lack of a directly comparable benchmark project in the schools’ estate
As Strule proceeded to procurement under a 2021 Ministerial Direction which was endorsed by the then Executive, on 18 July 2024, the Northern Ireland Executive reviewed the completed Full Business Case and up-to-date programme position and costs and in light of the position re VFM as set out above, agreed it should immediately proceed to contract award.