Frameworks

“A framework is an agreement with suppliers to establish terms governing contracts that may be awarded during the life of the agreement.

In other words, it is a general term for agreements that set out terms and conditions for making specific purchases (call-offs).” Constructing Excellence.

The council utilises framework agreements to speed up the procurement of capital works and reduces the high cost of tendering for individual projects by:

• removing the requirement to advertise projects through the Official Journal of the European Union
• removing the need for lengthy pre-qualification processes
• promoting early involvement by contractors
• introducing mini-competition between relevant contractors
• promoting consistency, because the same contractors are able to bid for various projects
• reducing the time to undertake the tender process

The procurement of capital construction projects and professional construction consultancy services are predominantly let through the council’s construction framework agreements and are procured and delivered through the council’s Capital Commissioning and Delivery section.

These long-term arrangements (up to a maximum of four years) also allow the council to meet and monitor its targets with regard to:

• key performance indicators
• health and safety
• equality and diversity
• environmental targets and carbon emissions
• risk management
• cost and time predictability

They also give the contractors incentives to offer local labour, training and apprenticeship opportunities.

For further details on the use of these framework agreements please contact the Capital Commissioning and Delivery section.

Capital Commissioning and Delivery

Stephen Howells - Frameworks and Contracts Manager

stephen.howells@lbbd.gov.uk

The council operates five construction framework arrangements for the delivery of capital construction projects:

1. Major Construction Works - Education and Built Environment (contractors)
2. Housing New Build (contractors)
3. Housing Refurbishment (contractors)
4. Low Value Construction Works (contractors)
5. Construction Related Professional Services (consultancies)

Major construction works

The Major Construction Works Framework Agreement covers the council’s non-housing construction requirements including education and the built environment and currently consists of two separate lots:

1. All non-housing construction work with a value between £50,000 and £2,000,000
2. All non-housing construction with a value over £2,000,000

This framework expired in April 2016 and was also available for access by those other local authorities comprising the East London Solutions Group:

• Havering
• Newham
• Redbridge
• Tower Hamlets
• Waltham Forest

Housing new build

The Housing New Build Framework Agreement encompasses the council’s new build housing construction requirements and consists of two separate lots:

1. All new build housing construction work with a value below £2,500,000
2. All new build construction with a value over £2,500,000

This framework expires October 2019 and is available for access by those other local authorities comprising the East London Solutions Group:

• Havering
• Newham
• Redbridge
• Tower Hamlets
• Waltham Forest

And additionally the London boroughs of:

• Greenwich
• Bexley

Plus unitary authorities and councils in the county of Essex.

Housing refurbishment

The Housing Refurbishment Framework Agreement covers the refurbishment of the council’s housing stock consisting of both Decent Homes work and other housing refurbishment works:

1. All new build housing construction work with a value below £2,500,000
2. All new build construction with a value over £2,500,000

This framework expired June 2016 and was also available for access by those other local authorities comprising the East London Solutions Group:Havering;

• Havering
• Newham
• Redbridge
• Tower Hamlets
• Waltham Forest

Low value construction works

The Low Value Construction Works Framework Agreement will cover the council’s low value general building requirements with a project value between £50,000 and £500,000.

Construction related professional services

The Professional Construction Related Services framework agreement is for the appointment of professional construction consultancy requirements consisting of 10 lots:

1. Architectural Services - Education and General
2. Architectural Services - Housing
3. Building Services Engineers
4. Construction Health and Safety Advisor (CDM-C 2015)
5. Civil Engineers
6. Cost Consultants
7. Project Management
8. Structural Engineers
9. Surveying Services
10. Quality Inspector

This framework expires August 2019 and is available for access by those other local authorities comprising the East London Solutions Group:

• Havering
• Newham
• Redbridge
• Tower Hamlets
• Waltham Forest

And additionally the London boroughs of:

• Greenwich
• Bexley

Plus unitary authorities and councils in the county of Essex.