Procurement for All (PFA) is another not-for-profit consortium of housing organisations, led by a board of member representatives.

Having carefully assessed the future requirements of PFA’s shareholder members, its Board decided not to undertake any new procurement activities. Knowing that the services it had delivered for many years to the PFA wider membership had added great value, PFA wanted to provide an easily accessible and immediate alternative for both its members and suppliers.

To achieve this, PFA decided to work with CHIC and we are pleased to advise that it has now transferred its Dynamic Purchasing System DPS to CHIC, so that a wide range of DPS services are now available alongside our existing services.

Our 100+ members are primarily from the affordable housing sector but, like PFA, CHIC also provides procurement and commercial support services to a range of other organisations which need to comply with Public Procurement Regulations.

This transfer creates a new and exciting opportunity for the contractors and suppliers on the DPS and an efficient procurement solution for an increased range of organisations.

CHIC already has a wide range of other contract and framework solutions (including merchants, compliance, planned works, planned materials, newbuild off-site manufacture and legal services). In addition, we are now able to offer the following DPS framework solutions to our members:

Click the link to see more: https://www.chicltd.co.uk/dynamic-purchasing-systems  

We will ensure that all PFA members can continue to benefit from our range of proven and cost-effective procurement solutions, alongside CHIC’s existing membership.

"CHIC has been seeing a significant increase in demand for an effective, compliant DPS service as an alternative route to market for some time.  The transfer of the PFA DPS to CHIC offers housing providers, contractors and suppliers an established, proven and efficient procurement solution. The DPS is a welcome addition to CHIC’s highly regarded product stable”

Maggie Punyer, CHIC’s Chair.

If you would like to find out more information, please get in touch with one of the following CHIC team who will be pleased to explain more:

South West & Wales – vspeakman@chciltd.co.uk

North West & North East – ldixon@chicltd.co.uk

Midlands and South East – ssharman@chicltd.co.uk

Contractors & Suppliers – jscurr@chicltd.co.uk

To assist with the management of the DPS, CHIC is recruiting for a new Procurement Manager. If you know someone who has the relevant expertise and would like to find out more, please get in touch at enquiries@chicltd.co.uk

MORE ABOUT THE DPS

A Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) is similar to an electronic framework agreement, with two exceptions, new suppliers can join at any time and it is run as a completely electronic process.

Dynamic Purchasing Systems are used exclusively by public sector organisations. They save time and money by being a quick and easy way to access goods, services and works through an OJEU compliant route.

CHIC’s DPS is a PCR 2015 compliant procurement solution, giving flexible options for members for all of CHIC’s asset management and development services.

The timescale for tenders is shorter (if required) meaning the DPS can help members respond to urgent procurement needs. The scope of CHIC’s DPS lots is extensive, giving a whole range of solutions to supplement CHIC’s other services. New suppliers can join at any time, to ensure that the offer can be dynamic. CHIC manages the full DPS draw down process on behalf of members.

Suppliers can both join and leave Dynamic Purchasing System arrangements whenever they choose. PCR 2015 withdrew the four year maximum lifecycle for a Dynamic Purchasing System, leaving the timeframe open. In the case of CHIC’s DPS solutions, they will be re-procured every 5 years (next in 2023) to maintain market competitiveness and relevance to members’ needs.

In Other News

We would like to welcome all of the new members that have joined CHIC over the past few months to access some of our services:

• Wakefield & District Housing
• Bedford Borough Council
• Community Gateway Association
• Barnet Homes
• Richmond Housing Partnership
• Settle Group
• London Borough of Ealing
• Arun District Council

With these organisations, CHIC now has 114 members and is supporting over 300 individual projects.

Our updated legal services framework went live in July. We have since received a lot of interest and many of our members have been using the framework to receive expert advice and cost savings across 3 legal workstream lots. Some of the housing specialist law firms on our framework include:

MSB Solicitors have been appointed to the CHIC panel for Housing and Asset Management and Property and Development.

MSB provide legal services in the Social Housing and Commercial property sectors and harness a niche expertise with a combined experience of over 50 years. MSB has represented a wide range of Registered Provider’s throughout England from RPs’ with a national presence to specialist supported housing providers.

The team is led by Louise Murphy who is a Partner and head of the Housing and Regeneration Team and Brad Armstrong, Partner in the Commercial team. The team specialise in a plethora of areas including housing management, disrepair, leasehold, ASB and asset management, possession matters, commercial and residential property, development and construction law.

The team prides itself in providing robust and cost-effective legal services, in a straight forward manner. 

For any enquiries, please contact Louise Murphy at LouiseMurphy@msbsolicitors.co.uk or on 0151 281 9040

Sharratts is a boutique firm of senior housing solicitors providing a professional, affordable service specifically for Registered Providers and other affordable housing providers in relation to development, site acquisition, planning, shared ownership and open market plot sales and other property disposals.

They provide commercial, pragmatic and practical advice in a responsive helpful and approachable manner.

Sharratts is committed to excellence, is a recognised social housing specialist and is acknowledged within the sector as an expert in its field.

Sharratts has been appointed to Lot 3 of the CHIC Framework and the lead contact is Leo Stevens (Partner) who can be contacted at:

E: Leos@sharratts-london.co.uk

T: 01959 568018

W: http://www.sharratts-london.co.uk/

Penningtons Manches Cooper’s social housing team offers CHIC members the full range of legal services.

Lot 1 – Corporate, Governance and Finance

• Corp/Gov – Gemma Bell
• Finance – Charlotte D’Avola
• Commercial, Procurement, IP & IT – Chris Shelley
• Regulatory and Commercial Dispute Resolution - Phillip D’Costa
• Employment and Pensions – Eugene Wojciechowski  

Lot 3 – Property and Development

• Development – Andrew Casstles
• Construction/procurement – Peter Massey
• Shared ownership/residential property – Linda Storey
• Commercial property – Donald Lambert

If you’d like to speak to one of our lawyers about a particular legal issue, please get in touch.

Linda Storey

Linda.Storey@penningtonslaw.com

T: +44 (0)1256 407115  |  M: +44 (0)7879235223