Midland Heart would like to invite tenders from suitably qualified/experienced companies for the provision of a comprehensive directly delivered responsive repairs and voids maintenance service for its portfolio of properties managed from the Coventry base. Midland Heart currently operates in 54 local authority areas, providing and maintaining homes for more than 70 000 people, managing over 31 000 properties. The geographical region for this contract stretches from the eastern edge of Birmingham beyond Coventry and encompassing property in Nottingham, Leicester and further south down to Milton Keynes. Within the first lot there are approximately 6 000 units in the region generating in the order of 13 000 repairs orders and 350 voids. In the second lot there are approximately 8 500 units within the geographical region of central and south Birmingham which generates an order of 30 000 repairs orders and 550 voids per annum. (This lot is awaiting an internal decision and may be withdrawn further down the process suppliers will be notified it this is the case.) Parties interested in both lots will be required to submit a tender submission for each lot individually and a separate combined submission for both lots. There will be no obligation to bid for both lots and it will be acceptable for parties to identify which lot they have an interest in and provide a submission for that lot alone. The contract will be let for an initial period of 5 years, with an option to extend (based on acceptable performance) for up to a further 5 years, in yearly increments. The service will comprise of a day-to-day non emergency and emergency responsive repairs and void maintenance call out of work to be carried out to occupied and non occupied general needs, sheltered and supported residential properties, garages, communal facilities and commercial property. Note: where there are hard landscaping issues such as repairs to paths, fencing etc. the general responsive repairs contractor may be used. The contractor (s) will be required to provide a customer focussed service and show commitment to providing effective services that provide value for money to the authority and its residents and must be responsive to achieve collaborative working practices, innovation and continuous improvement. The contractor(s) will be required to operate a 100 % repairs by appointment slot system with appointments being made by the contractor once the job is notified via interface to the contractor. The contractor(s) must show a commitment to maintaining and improving the authorities excellent performance in relation to customer satisfaction, best value and other local performance indicators, the Authority will require the contractor(s) to provide dedicated staff to deal with the day-to-day operations of the contract and employ predominately local and preferably directly employed labour to carry out the work. The Contractor(s) will also be required to provide, maintain the use of modern, up-to-date ICT technology and business systems for the end to end management and delivery of the contract service, including a suitable and compatible direct IT link in to order to interface with the Authority's Northgate repairs system. Applicants are advised that TUPE will apply to the contract and there is no guarantee of work for this contract.