*This tender is available only for completion online via www.cirrustenders.co.uk

Organisation background.

Halton Housing Trust (HHT) was formally created on 5.12.2005. The Trust is a company limited by guarantee and registered with Companies House. We are a not for profit housing association, who own and manage 6 100 homes in the Cheshire towns of Widnes and Runcorn.

HHT's vision is to ‘deliver high quality and excellent services for all’. It's mission is to ‘provide high quality housing services with a social conscience’. It's values are based around both customers and employees.

We provide affordable homes for people who may not have the means to buy or rent a home privately, help people who are homeless and provide support to older or disabled people to help them live independently in their own homes.

Tender information:

This tender is being undertaken as an open procedure, as detailed in Regulation 15 of the UK statutory instrument Public Contracts Regulations 2006/5.

HHT are seeking bids from general contractors to participate in a framework to provide The Trust with additional resource in all trades to be used on an ad-hoc basis for repairs and maintenance of housing. The framework will consist of a single lot.

Bidders are not required to provide resource covering all trades needed under this framework, however bidders who can deliver more trades will score higher on some questions located in the award criteria section of the tender. Successful contractors will not be permitted to subcontract work to third parties without the prior approval of HHT.

The proposed framework will consist of approximately 5 contractors, and last for a maximum of 4 years. It is anticipated that the framework will commence from January 2015. The estimated value of work over the framework period will be in the region of 800 000 GBP excluding VAT, however no guarantee can be given as to the actual amount of work that will be required and no variation to any tendered rates or percentage schedule adjustments will be made should the value be greater or lesser than the estimated value. HHT reserve the right to award call-off contracts of varying length, subject to the work required and the needs of the Trust.

Call-off contracts will be awarded by HHT in accordance with the rules as defined by Regulation 19 of the Public Contracts Regulations UKSI 2006/5. The duration and size of any call-off contract is likely to vary at the discretion of HHT dependent on the needs of the business. Contracts can be placed on a direct award basis or through the use of mini-competitions.

Call-off contracts will typically be placed for small value and infrequent repairs and works related activities. The framework is primarily envisaged as additional resource to support the Construction Services team during peak times. However, all parts of the Trust may access the framework as necessary.

Any mini-competitions will typically be evaluated with the same award criteria as used at the award of the Agreement. However, the relative weightings of these criteria, together with any specific sub-criteria used by HHT, can be refined to meet the specific needs of each requirement. Award criteria and weightings applicable shall be advised as part of any mini-competition process.

Unless otherwise stated by HHT, call-off contracts awarded from this framework will be awarded using the NHF conditions of contract associated with the 6.1 schedules as the preferred form of contract. By submitting a tender to participate on this framework your company is indicating acceptance of this as the preferred form of contract. No variation or proposed amendment to the form of Contract is permitted.