Procurement
How to appoint us
The routes social landlords and main contractors use to appoint a works contractor, under the Procurement Act 2023 and their own rules.
Most social landlords can appoint us through a below-threshold quotation under their contract standing orders, through their framework contractor as a tier-2 subcontractor, or through their own competition under the Procurement Act 2023.
Which routes can you use to appoint us?
Direct quotation below threshold
For work below the procurement thresholds, landlords can usually ask for quotations in line with their own contract standing orders. Under the Procurement Act 2023, contracts of £30,000 or more awarded by sub-central authorities below threshold need a contract details notice.
Subcontract to your framework contractor
If you call off work through a framework, your main contractor can engage us as a tier-2 subcontractor for a trade, a patch or extra capacity. The 30-day payment term in the Act flows down public contract chains.
Your own competition
If you run an open or competitive flexible procedure, or a dynamic market, we can respond to your tender. Before award, suppliers share their Central Digital Platform unique identifier with the authority.
Schedule of rates or fixed prices
We price against your schedule of rates (including NHF-based schedules), per job, per property or per unit, whichever fits your contract.
What will your supplier onboarding ask for?
Social landlords commonly ask for health and safety assessment (for example through the Common Assessment Standard or an SSIP scheme), insurance certificates, policies, method statements and, for some settings, DBS checks. Tell us your requirements and we will confirm in writing, before appointment, how each one is met for your work. We do not list accreditations on this website.
Social value
Many housing contracts ask for social value commitments such as local labour, apprenticeships and community engagement. Under the Social Value Act 2012, authorities must consider social value before procuring services; tell us what your contract asks for and we will propose commitments we can evidence.
Payment terms
Under the Procurement Act 2023, valid invoices in public contracts must be paid within 30 days, and the term flows down to subcontracts in public contract chains.
What about Scotland?
The Procurement Act 2023 covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Public bodies in Scotland follow Scotland's own procurement legislation; tell us which route your organisation uses and we will work within it.
For more detail, read our guides to the Procurement Act 2023 and frameworks, dynamic markets and direct awards.
Common questions
Are you on a housing framework?
We do not claim framework places on this website. Social landlords can appoint us through below-threshold quotations and other routes allowed by their procurement rules, and main contractors can engage us as a tier-2 subcontractor on framework work. Our procurement page explains the routes.
Do housing associations have to follow the Procurement Act?
Most housing associations are treated as contracting authorities under the Procurement Act 2023, but not automatically: it depends on funding and control tests. Check your own status.