Contractors appointed to framework worth up to £68million across EIGHT housing associations
A SUCCESSFUL collaboration between eight
housing associations is helping to deliver value for money for tenants AND
provide a boost for communities.
i-Flair – as the consortium of all eight is
known - operates across Inverclyde, East Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire and
offers work to contractors in what’s known as a “framework agreement.”
This is an arrangement where
the member housing associations can easily and quickly procure works from
contractors previously accepted onto the framework. This current framework is
now in place for 4 years
The current i-Flair members are Barrhead,
Bridgewater, Cloch, Ferguslie Park, Linstone, Oak Tree, Paisley and
Williamsburgh Housing Associations.
There are huge benefits to the concept, including speeding up the tendering
process and ensuring that contractors deliver a quality and customer-focused
service. Importantly, contractors are also required to deliver something called
“community benefits.”
This comes in many forms such as helping local employment, skills development
and apprenticeships – all of which are designed to benefit communities as the
name suggests. Contractors are required to deliver such community benefits on
work over £100,000 in value.
I-flair members take their social
responsibility obligations seriously and the framework agreement is the ideal
opportunity for contractors to give something back to their respective
communities.
Now the framework – worth up to £68 million in
work - has swung into action and will - on an ongoing basis - deliver kitchen,
bathroom and heating replacement works, roofing and cladding, window and door
replacement works.
Also include is electrical maintenance and works, rewires, gas servicing to existing heating systems, landscape maintenance and works and decoration works to existing properties.
Framework Administrator Alan Shanks of A.D.A.
Construction Consultants said: “The new Framework Agreement will deliver up to
£68 million of property maintenance works and services throughout East
Renfrewshire, Inverclyde and Renfrewshire.
“I-Flair set out on a journey in 2019 to build
on the success of the 2016-2020 Property Maintenance Framework agreement and
provide greater opportunity for small and medium-sized enterprises to access
the new Framework Agreement.
“Support was provided by i-Flair to bidding
organisations during the tender process through procurement workshops and Meet
the Buyer engagement events with 82% of the contractors appointed to the new
Framework Agreement being small and medium-sized organisations. The opportunities which i-Flair will provide
through the new Framework Agreement will offer invaluable support to i-Flair’s
partners during the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic’”
Paul McColgan, Property Services Manager at
Cloch Housing Association in Inverclyde, added: “I-Flair has underlined our commitment and approach to providing
apprenticeship and employment opportunities throughout East Renfrewshire,
Inverclyde and Renfrewshire by ensuring that delivery of community benefits is
a key requirement of the new Framework Agreement.
“I-Flair will seek to build upon the
achievements of the 2016-2020 Framework Agreement and the apprenticeships that
were created for young people in East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde and Renfrewshire
through the community benefits requirements.”
Also include is electrical maintenance and works, rewires, gas servicing to existing heating systems, landscape maintenance and works and decoration works to existing properties.
Read more: