Council chooses Specialist Fleet Services for maintenance

Specialist Fleet Services (SFS) has secured a seven-year vehicle maintenance contract from Boston Borough Council.

SFS will take over the maintenance of the council’s waste management and street cleansing fleet, comprising 11 refuse collection vehicles (RCVs), 13 light commercial vehicles (LCVs) and two sweepers, from January 1, 2021.

As part of the contract, SFS is also creating a new workshop for the authority.

Matt Fisher, operations manager at Boston Borough Council, said: “We carried out an EU procurement tender exercise, but the bids failed on affordability.

“Following that we looked at every possible option before entering into contract negotiations with SFS.

“We were extremely impressed by the professional and flexible way they approached the tender. Not only did SFS provide the most cost-effective solution, their investment into a new workshop will provide a much-needed boost to the local community, by creating new jobs and supplier opportunities.”

Before reaching its decision, Boston Borough Council carried out a cost comparison analysis of the available options, with assistance from The Borough of Kings Lynn & West Norfolk Procurement Service and The Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE).

This included bringing the maintenance of the vehicles back ‘in-house’, sharing with East Lindsey District Council or using SFS.

Bob Sweetland, managing director of SFS, said: “This is our first contract in Lincolnshire, and we are delighted to have been chosen as the preferred provider by Boston Borough Council.  We are keen to invest in the local economy and are looking forward to setting up the new depot.”

Established in 1992, SFS delivers fleet and workshop management solutions to local authorities and the private sector and runs a network of workshops across the UK as well as operating its own municipal vehicle hire division, CTS Hire.