Cirrus Consortium Materials Supply Framework

The Cirrus Consortium is a procurement consortium with members including Registered Providers of Social Housing, Local Authorities, ALMOs and NHS Trusts. The Consortium is seeking bids for the following lots: - Lot 1: Managed Services - Lot 2: General building materials - Lot 3: Plumbing and heating materials (including gas spares and renewables) - Lot 4: Electrical materials - Lot 5: Highways and civil materials - Lot 6: Painting and decorating supplies - Lot 7: Tool and plant hire The outcome of the tender process will be a 4 year Framework Agreement expected to commence during January 2027. It is envisaged that the final framework will be awarded to approximately 7 suppliers for Lot 1: Managed Services and 10 suppliers per lot for all other lots. In compliance with the Procurement Act 2023, Coastline Housing are the principal contracting authority for the establishment of this framework and Cirrus Purchasing Ltd are the managing agent on behalf of the Cirrus Consortium. A managed services solution is usually a bespoke arrangement supplying a wide-ranging provision of building materials to a client. The relationship most commonly involves a single supplier route where the merchant stocks and supplies a comprehensive range of building materials to a client, who route their organisational expenditure through this merchant in particular. The core service could be delivered through one, or a combination of the delivery methods listed in the service specification, although alternative solutions can also be supported. Additional services the merchant may provide to a client through a managed services solution may include, but are not limited to: - Direct integration with client IT systems - Dedicated stock holding - Van stock management - Provision of welfare facilities for use by client staff - Out of hours materials provision - Dedicated account management - Key performance indicator and service level agreement monitoring - Training and 'Toolbox Talks' - Waste management facilities and other ancillary services - Consolidated invoicing - Factoring items from third party suppliers Merchants providing a managed service solution must be equipped to supply a comprehensive range of materials covering all categories named in lots 2, 3 and 4. Consortium members, on a case by case basis, may require a wider range of materials including, but not limited to, general building materials, plumbing and heating materials, electrical materials, highways materials, painting and decorating supplies, tool and plant (purchase or hire), kitchen materials and renewables. It is a minimum requirement for lot 1 that bidders must have experience of providing a minimum of 2 managed service contracts for contracting authorities within the last 3 years. Lot 2 covers general building materials required for repairs, maintenance and improvement works, including, but not limited to: aggregates and general building materials such as cement, sand, plaster, plasterboard and insulation; building chemicals including sealants, adhesives, fillers and damp-proofing products; fixings and fastenings; door and window ironmongery; timber and sheet materials including structural timber, board products and fencing; doors and windows; roofing materials; kitchen units and fittings; aids and adaptations items such as grab rails, ramps and door-widening hardware; and general workwear and PPE. Lot 3 covers plumbing, heating and renewable heating materials, including, but not limited to: bathroom and kitchen sanitaryware such as basins, WCs, cisterns and taps; pipework, fittings and pipe insulation across common jointing systems; showers, including electric showers; heating system and boiler spares and controls; gas spares and gas-specific consumables; guttering and rainwater goods; bathroom aids and adaptations such as level-access shower trays, raised WC seats and grab rails; and renewable heating technologies including solar thermal components, air and ground source heat pumps, and associated controls. Lot 4 covers electrical materials and accessories, including, but not limited to: consumer units, MCBs, RCBOs and switchgear; sockets, switches and wiring accessories; smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms; cable and cable management products; lamps and light fittings; electrical components associated with aids and adaptations, such as assistive alarm systems and emergency pull cords; and renewable electrical technologies including solar photovoltaic panels and components, inverters, battery storage and associated controls. Lot 5 covers materials for highways, drainage and civil engineering works, including, but not limited to: drainage pipework, ducting, gullies and couplings; heavy building materials such as kerbs, paving flags, engineering bricks and chamber/manhole sections; civils-grade aggregates and sub-base materials; manhole and inspection chamber ironworks; and street furniture, signage and safety barriers used in groundworks.