ForViva is procuring a Framework Agreement pursuant to which it is envisaged that contracts will be let to suppliers within the Framework for the provision of a range of Wide Area Network services. Further details are set out in the tender documentation.

The Framework Agreement is for the provision of Wide Area Network services.

Under this Framework Agreement the following entities will have the option to call-off contracts as and when services are required:

— ForViva and any entity within the ForViva group from time to time, which currently includes ForHousing, ForLiving and Liberty Group (a ‘ForViva Member’),

— any entity or joint venture company that ForViva or any other ForViva Member holds an interest in from time to time,

— other Social Housing Providers in the UK (both those that are in existence now and those that may be in existence in the future). ‘Social Housing Provider’ for this purpose means any provider of social housing and includes, without limitation, registered housing providers, local authorities and ALMOs. A list of the current Social Housing Providers can be found by visiting https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/current-registered-providers-of-social-housing

Such Social Housing Providers will only be entitled to call off under the Framework Agreement if ForViva consents.

ForViva intends to appoint no more than 5 suppliers to this Framework Agreement following this procurement process, subject to a receipt of a sufficient number of complete and compliant bids.

Once the Framework Agreement has been set up, ForHousing intends to award a contract to the supplier whose bid for a place on the Framework Agreement scored the highest following the evaluation of bids in accordance with Section 8 of the ITT (the ‘ForViva WAN Contract’) (note that this represents ForHousing’s current intention with respect to the award of the ForViva WAN contract. As an alternative, ForHousing reserves the right to hold a mini competition amongst the framework suppliers appointed to the framework to determine who to award the contract to, if it considers it appropriate to do so).

For further details of the scope of the ForViva WAN contract and the services to be carried out under it please refer to the technical specification attached at Appendix 4 of the ITT.

Other entities which are entitled to call-off under this lot of the Framework Agreement may award wide area network services contracts to framework suppliers appointed to the framework from time to time during the term of the framework by following the call-off procedures set out in the framework.

The current estimated value of the services to be called-off under the framework over its 4 year term is 1 400 000 GBP. This estimated value is based solely on the estimated value of the ForViva WAN contract. Accordingly, bidders should note that this value may increase if other entities decide to join and call-off contracts under the framework.

Bidders should note that, under the terms of the Framework Agreement, no entity will be under any obligation to call-off with framework suppliers.