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 sought bids 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 framework covers 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 framework agreement is 4 years in duration from the commencement date. The framework commenced during May 2016.

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

Plumbing and 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 1 of the following methods:

— The merchants existing branch network, usually with a dedicated stock holding at 1 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 above.

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

— Direct integration with client IT systems;

— 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.