Procure Plus (PP) is a social housing consortium based in the North West of England. PP has formed an alliance with Cumbria Housing Partners (CHP), Procure Plus Associates (PPAL) and Efficiency North (EN). Subject to business requirement this alliance may from time to time include other housing associations and/or social housing consortia in the United Kingdom. This alliance is known collectively as Re:allies. Further additional social housing consortia may join the Re:allies alliance from time to time. Further background information can also be obtained by visiting www.re:allies.com.

PP is a regeneration company and social and economic improvement is our fundamental purpose. We establish framework agreements that leverage demand for works, goods and services in the construction market. PPs members, clients and customers are wholly committed to the creation of training and employment opportunities for individuals who are furthest from the labour market, groups that are under-represented within the construction industry or individuals that may otherwise be overlooked or marginalised within the labour market. These groups include, but are not limited to, people from a black or minority ethnic background, ex-offenders, females and young people who are not in education, employment or training.

PP has identified that works to social housing properties, and in particular, works to empty properties, create an ideal basis for the individuals described to attain employability skills and eventually progress from entry level positions through to becoming a qualified tradesperson.

PP wishes to procure and enter into a framework agreement that targets those Contractors who can complete the works required and who can demonstrate they share PPs goal of supporting individuals from hard to reach groups into training and long term employment. Contractors will have to provide clear evidence that the foundational values of their organisation directly support the social value aims of this framework agreement and that regeneration is a core organisational activity.

The framework agreement will be divided into six Lots and will cover three categories of works that range from waste clearance, property cleans and the installation of preventative security measures to the minor and major repair and refurbishment of social housing properties. Further details of these Lots and the works and regions that they each cover are set out in Annex B of this Notice. The Contractors appointed to each Lot will be required to actively recruit and retain individuals from hard to reach groups. The Contractors appointed to each Lot will be measured on the quality of the works completed and on the number of individuals who progress to work ready status, and achieve employment and qualifications as a result of the Contractors input and development. The works will be predominantly completed in vacant social housing properties but they may also be required in occupied properties as part of a planned and cyclical maintenance programme.

The framework agreement will be in place for a period of four years and will not be extended beyond this period, however contracts called-off under the framework agreement may, where appropriate, continue beyond the 4 year term of the framework.

Individual contracting authorities entitled to access the framework agreement will have the option to agree and award call off contracts at any stage during the term of the framework. The following contracting authorities will be entitled to agree and award call off contracts under the proposed framework agreement as and when required-

1. PPs members (both current and future). A list of PPs current members is set out in section VI.3 of this Notice.

2. CHPs members (both current and future). A list of CHPs current members is set out in section VI.3 of this Notice.

3. PPALs members (both current and future). A list of PPALs current members is set out in section VI.3 of this Notice.

4. Any partner or customer of PP, CHP, PPAL, or other member from time to time, which may include any social housing provider in the United Kingdom. Social housing provider for this purpose means any provider of social housing and includes registered housing providers (a list of these can be found by visiting www.homesandcommunities.co.uk), local authorities, local government ALMOs and unitary authorities. A list of PPs current partners and customers is set out in section VI.3 of this Notice.

The contracting authorities referred to in paragraphs 1 to 4 above have requirements predominantly within the North West of England.

The contracting authorities referred to in paragraphs 1 to 4 above shall be under no obligation to use the framework agreement.

The framework agreement will be entered into by PP and the successful Contractors however the framework agreement may be novated from PP to Re:allies if and when Re:allies is incorporated.