The Cirrus Consortium (The Consortium) currently consists of in excess of 60 members including Registered Providers of Social Housing, Local Authorities, ALMOs and NHS Trusts. Members are based across England, Wales and Scotland. The Consortium is seeking to establish a new framework of multiple suppliers for the supply of building materials and associated services to expand upon The Consortium's existing highly successful materials framework. The Consortium is seeking bids for the following lots:

— Lot 1: General building materials (including paint and tools).

— Lot 2: Plumbing and heating materials (including gas spares and renewables).

— Lot 3: Electrical materials.

— Lot 4: Kitchen materials.

— Lot 5: Managed stores.

The outcome of the tender process will be a 4 year framework agreement expected to commence during May 2016. It is envisaged that the final framework will be awarded to approximately 15 suppliers per lot for lots 1 to 4, and 6 suppliers for lot 5.

General building materials including lightside and heavyside products, paint, tools and associated supply services.

Plumbing & Heating materials (including gas spares and renewables) and associated supply services.

Electrical materials supply including accessories, cabling and other electrical components and associated supply services.

Supply of fitted kitchens materials including units, components and worktops and associated supply services.

A managed stores solution is where a single merchant delivers a managed service for the provision of building materials to a client. The relationship most commonly involves the merchant supplying all building materials that may be required by the client. The core service is usually delivered through one of the following methods:

— The merchants existing branch network, usually with a dedicated stock holding at one or more of the branches local to the client.

— From a dedicated standalone stores site operated solely for the client.

— A delivery service.

— Using a combination of the options shown above.

Additional services the merchant may provide to a client through a managed stores solution may include, but may not be limited to:

— Direct integration with client IT systems.

— Dedicated stock holding.

— Van stock management.

— Provision of welfare facilities at existing branches/standalone stores for use by client staff.

— Waste management facilities and other ancillary services.

— Factoring items from third party suppliers.

Merchants providing a managed stores solution will be required to provide the full range of materials that may be required by The Consortium members. Suppliers bidding on lot 5 must be able to comprehensively supply materials covering all categories named in lots 1 to 3. Suppliers bidding on lot 5 may choose whether or not they also bid on lots 1 to 3 separately.