Council rejects all youth tender bids

Crucial engagement services for youth in Wickham will continue to be delivered by the City of Karratha after the council scrapped all external applications for failing to meet expectations.

The City put out a request for tender for youth services for the Pilbara town and the surrounding areas of Point Samson and Roebourne.

The tender was part of the City of Karratha’s Youth Strategy 2019-2024, with City officers believing there was an opportunity for existing and new youth service providers to enhance and expand current services.

Envisioned to include the running of The Base youth centre in Wickham and provide activities including programs to address wellbeing and mental health, and enhance pathways to employment, the tender had an advertised operating fee of $380,000.

The Base is a dedicated space for 11 to 24-year-olds with access to table tennis, computers, gaming stations and a pool table.

A City officers report found all three of the received tenders failed to reach expectations.

“Following the assessment of the tenders and a review against the current service provided by the City from both a service and financial perspective, officers recommend that all tenders should be rejected,” the report said.

A City of Karratha spokesperson said the City invited tenders to deliver high-quality youth programming from The Base in Wickham for two years, extending for an additional year.

“Three tenders were received, which the evaluation panel determined did not represent a better outcome or value for money than the City continuing to deliver these services,” they said.

“The City is keen to explore partnerships with tenderers as part of its commitment to improving the wellbeing of 11 to 24-year-olds through recreational, cultural, and capacity-building programs.”

The service would continue to be run by the City’s Youth Services team.