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There was submitted a report by the Director of Scotland Excel relative to the award of a national collaborative framework for the construction of new build residential properties.
The report intimated that the development of this framework had been funded by 11 councils and would provide councils, housing associations and other associate members with a mechanism to procure a range of residential properties from contractors, including all enabling and ancillary works and services. The framework focused primarily on the delivery of affordable houses, bungalows and flats, but allowed for the delivery of other residential properties such as sheltered housing, student accommodation and mixed tenure properties.
The Scottish Government introduced the Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP) to address the shortfall in affordable homes and fund the building of 50,000 homes by 2021. As such there was an increased demand from members for these services and this would continue beyond the period of the AHSP.
The new framework supported the delivery of Scotland’s National Outcomes which included tackling inequalities in Scottish society; living in well-designed, sustainable places with access to amenities and services we need; improving life chances for children, young people and families at risk; and allowing people to maintain their independence as they get older. The framework specification encouraged delivery of properties which complied with Housing for Varying Needs and Secure by Design to maximise the adaptability of the delivered properties and the living standards of tenants.
The framework had been divided into five lots as detailed in table 1 of the report and would be effective initially for a period of 24 months from the award date with an option to extend for up to a further 24 months.
The framework had been advertised at £1.5 billion over the maximum period of four years and it was noted that 13 councils had confirmed their intention to participate in the framework from the start date. It was anticipated that a further nine councils would use the framework in future and the remaining 10 councils were not currently looking to participate in the framework as they either had no housing stock or were using their other framework arrangements. To allow for potential migration from existing arrangements, all 32 councils were included in the contract notice for the framework. Cross sectoral discussions had been held with Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges and associate members, including housing associations, who had confirmed their intention to participate in the framework. Appendix 1 to the report detailed the participation and spend summary.
The report summarised the outcome of the procurement process for this national framework agreement. From the 26 candidates brought forward to the ITT stage, Scotland Excel received 22 offers before the closing date. One supplier failed to submit a complete commercial response and as such this bid was non-compliant and the supplier had been advised that they would not be considered further.
Based on the criteria and scoring methodology set out in the tender document, a full evaluation of the 21 compliant offers had been completed and Appendix 3 to the report detailed the scoring achieved by each tenderer in each lot and per council area.
Based on the evaluation undertaken, and in line with the criteria and weightings set out in the report and to secure best value, capacity and coverage, it was recommended that a multi-supplier framework be awarded to 19 suppliers across the 32 geographical areas and five lots, as outlined in Appendix 3 to the report.
Appendix 4 to the report detailed suppliers with Scottish Living Wage status at the point of tender.
It was noted that Scotland Excel would host a national launch event for this framework on 8 October 2019 bringing together key players across procurement, housing and policy, together with the awarded suppliers. An invitation to this national launch event would be issued to members of the Executive Sub-committee.
It was proposed that the Director of Scotland Excel provide members of the Executive Sub-committee with information in relation to the awarded suppliers history in relation to blacklisting; and further that the Director of Scotland Excel submit regular reports to the Joint Committee on rebate income from the New Build Housing Framework and other income streams.
DECIDED:
(a) That the award of the framework agreement, as detailed in Appendix 3 to the report, be approved;
(b) That the Director of Scotland Excel provide members of the Executive Sub-committee with information in relation to the awarded suppliers history in relation to blacklisting; and
(c) That the Director of Scotland Excel submit regular reports to the Joint Committee on rebate income from the New Build Housing Framework and other income streams.