A procurement process to appoint a contractor to fix and operate Sinfin waste treatment centre is being brought to an end by Derby City Council and Derbyshire County Council and no contract will be awarded at this time.
Biffa and Thalia were invited by the councils as companies suitably qualified to move forward to the ‘Competitive Dialogue’ phase of the procurement in March last year.
This marked a significant step in the councils’ joint project to secure a long-term waste management solution for Derby and Derbyshire, ensuring efficiency, sustainability, and value for residents.
Both companies engaged positively with the councils throughout the process to clarify, specify and enhance their proposed solution to fix and operate the existing facility on Sinfin Lane.
While feedback from the process was that the technology at the facility is viable and the facility could be rectified, agreement on the commercial terms of the contract could not be reached and neither bidder submitted a final tender. Today, the councils have decided not to extend the procurement process or engage in further dialogue and will now formally close this process.
The councils will carry out a rapid review of future options for the project and a report will be presented to their respective Cabinets later in the year to set out a recommended way forward. No decisions have been made at this stage regarding the long-term future of the waste treatment centre.
In the meantime, essential preservation and maintenance works will continue. This is to ensure the site remains safe and secure. These arrangements are expected to remain in place until at least the end of August 2026.
In a joint statement, Leader of Derby City Council, Councillor Nadine Peatfield and Leader of Derbyshire County Council, Councillor Alan Graves said:
The process to find a contractor to fix and operate the waste treatment centre has now concluded without the appointment of a contractor.
Our top priority is making sure that every pound of council tax-payers’ money is accounted for and spent wisely. We were unable to agree terms with the bidders that meet the councils' requirements and must now focus on how to ensure that future decisions about the facility and our future waste disposal requirements deliver best value for Derby and Derbyshire residents.
Both councils have taken all steps to ensure that the proper and legal process was followed.
While it’s essential that the next step is thorough and robust, we recognise the significant public interest in this project and will do all we can to carry out this work as quickly as possible.
We aim to complete a rapid options appraisal by late summer for the councils to decide the next steps we will take together.
Through this process we remain committed to working together as two councils to find the best outcome for the residents of Derby and Derbyshire.