Jennifer Castle, chief operating officer at LHC Procurement Group, highlights two of the upcoming free-to-use frameworks for clients in the public sector
It’s a big year for the construction industry. While we busy ourselves getting to grips with the Building Safety Act and all the changes that it is bringing, public sector procurement is also being shaken up with the introduction of the new Procurement Act.
Set to come into force in October, the act is designed to streamline and modernise public procurement processes in the UK. It consolidates more than 350 different procurement regulations into a single regime, eliminating duplication and overlap. It will also introduce new procedures and provide better support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
It’s also a significant year for LHC as we continue to develop and launch new frameworks, all with social value at their core; as a not-for-profit construction framework provider, it’s essential that we deliver measurable and meaningful community benefits.
Next to open for applications will be our Roofing Systems & Associated Works (RS5) and Modular Buildings (MB3) frameworks.
Flexible public sector procurement frameworks
As the successor to our Roofing Systems & Associated Works (RS4) framework, RS5 covers the design, supply and installation of roofing systems and associated works in all types of public sector refurbishment and new build projects.
While RS4 has been hugely successful, allowing 15 appointed companies to deliver a total of 121 projects in communities across England, Scotland and Wales, RS5 expands on it by providing higher levels of quality assurance.
It has been designed to give clients greater flexibility and control by being split into two parts – a specialist framework for manufacturers and solutions, and a complementary one for contractors and installers. Although manufacture solutions and contractor/installer suppliers will be appointed independently, the two parts of the framework are interdependent.
This will allow for multiple project call off options to meet their requirements, whether that be greater visibility and control over costs and budgets through mini competition, or reduced complexity with direct awards options with quality suppliers. It’s likely that there will also be a greater focus on environmental solutions built into the framework as we factor in the outcomes of our pre-tender engagement activities. For example, we are discussing how we might embed both green and blue roof solutions to help meet client needs in this area.
RS5 is set to open for applications in the autumn.
Enabling offsite construction in the public sector
Meanwhile, our Modular Buildings (MB3) framework is being developed to increase the focus on offsite construction and its environmental benefits.
As the successor to MB2, it will cover the design, supply, installation and hire of permanent, temporary and refurbished modular buildings for the public sector. It’s suitable for a wide range of public buildings such as education, healthcare, emergency services, offices, community buildings and mixed-use developments.
Suppliers on the framework will provide a full turnkey solution, providing all services required to deliver a full project from design through to handover.
We believe this will be a popular framework as we’ve seen the public sector’s appetite for offsite construction increase over recent years, particularly as clients continue to tackle the RAAC crisis. Contracting authorities have procured over £67.5m of work through our previous MB2 framework.
MB3 will also open for applications in the autumn.
Using industry insight to inform public sector framework design
The creation of each of our frameworks includes extensive market engagement before they are developed, so that we can create something that is attuned to local supply chains and reflective of the specific needs of clients in those areas.
This process also helps us to identify how and where we can deliver tangible community benefits beyond the services provided via the framework.
Early feedback from pre-tender engagement for these frameworks has highlighted demand for more installers and a continued appetite for SME suppliers.
Ongoing support
These frameworks join others that we have launched in 2024, including Fire Safety (FS2), Refurbishment & Modernisation (RM3) and our upcoming Retrofit & Decarbonisation (N9) framework.
Our framework pipeline will provide the market with a range of services that will help to deliver new projects, maintain and enhance existing buildings, and drive improved social value in communities throughout the UK.
We are uniquely positioned to provide ongoing specialist support across England, Scotland and Wales. We have on-the-ground expertise within our five regional business units: London and South East (LSE); Consortium Procurement Construction (CPC); South West Procurement Alliance (SWPA); – Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA); and Welsh Procurement Alliance (WPA).
To find out more about our public sector frameworks, visit: www.lhcprocure.org.uk
LHC Procurement Group
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