Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

Tender description

Swan Housing Group operates predominantly in the South East of England. The parent undertaking in Swan Housing Group is Swan Housing Association Ltd (the Authority) which is an industrial and provident society and Registered Provider. The procurement process was led by the Authority for itself and on behalf of other members of the Swan Housing Group including: — Swan New Homes Limited; — Swan Commercial Services Limited; — Vivo Support Limited; and — Hera Management Service Limited. More specifically, it is intended that the framework will be available to the following such that each of the following will be entitled to call-off contracts from the framework: 1. The Authority and all other members of the Swan Housing Group from time to time (including all subsidiary undertakings of Swan Housing Association Ltd); and 2. Any entitles which fall into either of the following categories and which are permitted by the Authority to call-off contracts from the framework from time to time: (a) Any joint venture entities (whether companies, limited liability partnerships or otherwise) in which any member of the Swan Housing Group participates from time to time (whether as a shareholder, member or otherwise); or (b) Any developer or contractor which is involved in a particular project in which a member of the Swan Housing Group is also involved (for example, where a developer has received or is due to receive funding from a member of the Swan Housing Group to develop a particular scheme). The Authority and other members of the Swan Housing Group currently develop affordable rented projects, low cost home ownership projects, intermediate rent and key worker accommodation as well as properties for sale. The framework from which contracts can be called-off and awarded to architects appointed on the framework. It is envisaged such contracts will be for the provision to the Authority of architectural services in respect of a range of new build and refurbishment works. The framework agreement is for a term of 4 years, although (for the avoidance of doubt) the duration of individual contracts called-off under the framework may extend beyond the expiry of the framework term. The Architect's Framework is divided into 2 Lots as follows: Lot 1: For architects services to provide RIBA work stages 1 to 3; Lot 2: For architects services to provide RIBA work stages 4 to 7. A prospective bidder was able to bid for 1 Lot, or both Lots. The bidder was only required to complete 1 Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) Response even where it was bidding for more than 1 Lot. However, there were certain sections in the PQQ that were specific to either Lot 1 or Lot 2 and were only applicable to the evaluation of PQQ responses for the particular Lot in question. The framework will be available for use by the Authority and other members of the Swan Housing Group for any architectural services that they may require from time to time. This is likely to include, but is not limited to, services that are likely to be required in relation to the Authority's development programme, under which it is expected that in excess of 500 homes per year will be developed within the London Thames Gateway area and Essex. In particular, this development programme includes large regeneration schemes based at the Authority's developments at Blackwall Reach, Poplar and Craylands in Basildon, Essex. At this stage it is only possible to provide a very approximate, indicative value for the services that may be called-off from the framework. As an estimate only, the Authority considers that the value of these services (in terms of total amounts payable to the various appointed suppliers) may be approximately 2 000 000 GBP per year for the 4 year framework term. For the avoidance of doubt, the Authority will be under no obligation to award contracts to any or all appointed individual architects and does not guarantee the level or value of services that will be called-off under the framework or required under any individual contract. The Authority wanted to attract architects with extensive experience of the Registered Provider market, with a commitment to quality and customer service, and knowledge of the Home and Communities Agency design and quality standards. The Authority's initial intention was to appoint in the region of 15 suppliers to each Lot meaning that approximately 30 would be invited to tender.