In last months CHIC CHAT, we unveiled three forthcoming framework procurements and we now confirm their official launch will be later this month, so we invite tenders for all of these from prospective supply chain partners. We are also pleased to now release our new Healthy Homes Framework.

As part of our commitment to facilitating efficient procurement for our members, CHIC is embarking on a competitive tendering process to establish some replacement 4-year Frameworks where three existing frameworks are due to expire. These are for:

Kitchens & BathroomsThe Kitchens & Bathrooms Framework is for the installation of kitchens, bathrooms, and associated goods. This framework plays an important role in ensuring that residential properties can be equipped with modern, functional and aesthetically pleasing kitchens and bathrooms.

M&E (Mechanical and Electrical)The M&E Framework will cover a broad spectrum of heating and related systems. This includes services aimed at enabling clients to adequately maintain heating systems, electrical components and fulfill renewable energy obligations.

Passive Fire ProtectionThe Passive Fire Protection Framework is for the inspection, installation, repair and maintenance of passive fire stopping products. This includes critical services such as the creation of fire compartments, installation of fire doors, external wall systems/cladding and fire signage, ensuring that fire safety in residential and commercial properties is a top priority.

Healthy HomesDesigned to tackle energy inefficiency and improve overall living conditions, this framework is key for social housing landlords to ensure that their retrofitting and property safety works are sustainable, cost effective and socially responsible.

This encompasses a wide range of solutions aimed at enhancing residential properties and the lives of tenants. It will allow landlords to deliver retrofit energy efficiency solutions and property safety refurbishment works, providing access to a range of CHIC supply chain partners to deliver a variety of retrofit and building safety solutions such as Consultancy Services, Fabric First Measures, Ventilation Systems, Renewable Energy and Heat Systems, House Refurbishment, Damp and Mould Treatments and Digital Measuring Tools and Platforms.

Should you have any enquiries or require further information regarding these Frameworks or the tendering process, please do not hesitate to contact Ade Osunsanmi, Senior Procurement Manager, at tenders@chicltd.co.uk.

The Procurement Bill has successfully made its way through Parliament and we now have a new Procurement Act.

These wholesale reforms will update and improve the process for public procurement, so that every pound goes further for our public services.

The new Act will give procurement teams across the housing and communities sector greater commercial freedom and flexibility to design procurement processes that meet their organisations exact needs and to drive innovation.

It will help us open up public procurement further to smaller businesses and social enterprises so they can compete for more contracts and will embed transparency through the contract lifecycle - so everyone can access procurement data and see how public money is spent.

A new and stronger exclusions framework will make it easier to exclude any suppliers that present unacceptable risks to members.

Why do these changes matter?

These reforms should help to put procurement front and center, creating a real opportunity for us to innovate, open up the marketplace and drive greater value.

The Act creates simpler, more flexible and effective procurement procedures which will improve how your organisation delivers public services, so as a profession we need to make sure we make the most of the new regime and take advantage of the new flexibilities. It’s not just about the rule book changing – it’s how the rules are applied that will make the biggest difference. And this depends on cultural and behavioral change.

CHIC Procurement Team will be taking part in a funded training offer to support implementation of the reforms. For anyone whose work touches on procurement - and that will include CHIC suppliers, and to ensure that procurement and commercial practitioners, who will already be familiar with the current rules, understand what will be different under the new rules, the Procurement Team will be responsible for coordinating and championing the change and be able to provide ongoing support and guidance to both our members and our supply chain partners about the new regime.

You should also consider the procurement and contract management capability across your organisation and consider benchmarking your organisation against relevant commercial and procurement operating standards and other comparable organisations, in line with the National Procurement Policy Statement.

We expect the new regime to go live in October 2024, with at least six months’ implementation period before launch.

The Procurement Act has the potential to make a huge difference, and your engagement is essential to the outcomes we all want to see. Make sure you and your organisation is ready to grasp the opportunities.

If you would like to know more information or have any questions, do let us know at tenders@chicltd.co.uk