NE Procurement (NEP), is a consortium of social housing providers located in the North East of England. NEP wish to establish a four year non-binding framework agreement for the provision of external works on their residential properties. Works will predominantly be required in the North East of England and North Yorkshire but may be required in other areas of the UK. Works are primarily required for planned maintenance and investment programmes, however it is envisaged that works may be required for other activities such as voids, as well as responsive and one-off repairs and maintenance, new build and potentially disabled adaptations, where applicable.

The purpose of this procurement process is to establish a framework of contractors in respect of:

Lot 1: Pitch Roofing and ancillary works (Design & Build - Supply & Fit and 'Directed' Supply & Fit);

Lot 2: Flat Roofing and ancillary works (Design & Build – Supply & Fit);

Lot 3: Porches and Canopies (Labour Only);

Lot 4: Painting and pre-paint repairs (Supply & Fit);

Lot 5: Landscaping (Supply & Fit);

Lot 6: Brickwork (Supply & Fit);

Lot 7: External Wall Insulation ('Directed' Supply & Fit);

Lot 8: Loft and Cavity Wall Insulation (Supply & Fit and 'Directed' Supply & Fit).

Supply & Fit and 'Directed' Supply & Fit - In some cases NEP may wish to utilise their existing materials supply chain. In these cases contractors will be required to operate on a 'Directed' Supply & Fit basis.

The works to be completed via Lot 7 and Lot 8 are likely to include Eco & Green Deal related activities along with any similar initiatives that may arise over the period of this framework.

Contractors may apply for one or more lots, but must be able to carry out all of the works within the lot(s) applied for.

It is the intention of NEP to split the available work into packages, defined by both work type and geographical zone, with the aim of encouraging participation from a wide spectrum of companies with a range of capacity levels. Details of the call off methodology will be confirmed in the Framework Agreement issued with the ITT. The following contracting authorities will be entitled to call off under the NEP Framework Agreement as and when required:

NEP members (both current and future) including, but not limited to:

Coast and Country www.cch-online.org.uk

Housing Hartlepool www.housinghartlepool.org.uk

Three Rivers Housing Group www.threerivershousing.co.uk

Durham City Homes www.durham.gov.uk

Dale and Valley Housing www.daleandvalleyhomes.co.uk

Your Homes Newcastle www.yhn.org.uk

South Tyneside Homes www.southtynesidehomes.org.uk

Homes for Northumberland www.hfn.uk.com

Derwentside Homes www.derwentsidehomes.co.uk

Home Group www.homegroup.org.uk

Fabrick Housing Group – consisting of Erimus Housing and Tees Valley Housing www.fabrickgroup.co.uk

Tristar Homes www.tristarhomes.co.uk

Cestria Housing www.cestria.org

Riverside www.riverside.org.uk

It is intended that the resulting Framework Agreement will be capable of being used by other Contracting Authorities in the United Kingdom. This procurement is being undertaken by NEP for the benefit of its members as set out in Annex A (without any obligation for them to participate) and for the benefit of any Social housing provider that may fall within the geographical remit of the United Kingdom.

Social housing provider for this purpose means any provider of social housing and includes registered (housing) providers, local authorities, local government ALMOs, unitary authorities and third sector organisations / registered charities.

For the purpose of this procurement, the geographical area of local authorities are identifiable by reference to the Direct Gov website at http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/Localcouncils/index.htm and a full list of all current Registered Providers can be found at www.homesandcommunities.co.uk.

The contracting authorities listed or referred to above have requirements predominantly within the North East and NorthYorkshire region of England including; Northumberland, Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland, Durham, Darlington, Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees, Redcar and Cleveland and Middlesbrough.

Applicants should note that, under the Framework Agreement, none of the contracting authorities that are entitled to use the Framework Agreement shall be under any obligation to do so.

Expressions of interest are sought from suitably experienced companies who would like to enter into the Framework Agreement. Please note that the award of the Framework Agreement will not constitute any guarantee of work.

The Frameworks entered into will be managed by neprocurement and all members and partners, either current or future, will be entitled to call off individual contracts pursuant to the Framework Agreement.

Any such contract will be held, managed and supervised by the individual member organisation making the call-off.

Neprocurement will be holding two information events for contractors at locations across the North East, which are envisaged to take place on or around the 31st January and 1st February 2013.

To register your interest in the project please e-mail us at nepexternal@valueworks.co.uk.

Valueworks are NEP's chosen supply chain integrator and have been engaged to assist NEP in carrying out this procurement exercise.