Halton Housing Trust (HHT) is a not-for-profit housing association, who own and manage 6 400 homes in the Cheshire towns of Widnes and Runcorn. HHT looked to establish a framework of contractors to provide asbestos surveying and testing services across multiple HHT sites. Services are required in the Halton and surrounding area as appropriate to meet the operational needs of the Trust. Services initially required under the framework are expected to include provision for sampling and testing for asbestos across approximately 3 500 properties over the life of the framework. This is for information only, and no guarantees are given, nor are implied as to the value or quantity of business that will be placed with successful bidders. HHT accepts no liability for any inaccuracies in the estimates provided. HHT reserves the right to add or remove sites or otherwise change the volume of work during the life of the framework.

The ITT was issued in accordance with the Open Procedure under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 #102.

Call-off contracts will be awarded by HHT in accordance with the rules as defined by Regulation 33 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 #102. 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. Call-off contracts may be awarded on a direct award basis or through the use of mini-competitions. Where mini-competitions are undertaken, HHT reserves the right to amend and refine the relative weightings of elements where appropriate for call-off contracts. Individual weightings of each cost and quality element may range between:

— Cost elements may be weighted between 10 % and 100 %;

— Quality elements may be weighted between 0 % and 90 %.