The framework is specifically designed to help registered social landlords meet their obligations under the Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing (EESSH). Contractors have until July 17 to register an interest in the framework and to submit their bid.

PfH Scotland are specialist providers of procurement services to the housing sector and jointly owned by HouseMark, the National Housing Federation, and Chartered Institute of Housing.

Introduced in 2014, EESSH aims to improve the energy efficiency of social housing in Scotland while reducing energy consumption, fuel poverty and the emission of greenhouse gases and is expected to make an important contribution towards meeting the requirements set out in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 to reduce carbon emissions by 42% by 2020 and by 80% by 2050.

To meet the standard, all social housing in Scotland must achieve an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of Band D or better by 2020.

With a specific focus on heating measures and a primary emphasis on meeting the needs of Scottish housing associations, the new framework is expected to generate contract work with a total value in the region of £600m over four years across Scotland’s social housing sector. Following a process of vetting, shortlisting and selecting contractors, the framework is expected to go live in September of this year.

To encourage applications from smaller local contractors, the framework has been split into six defined geographic regions across Scotland and evaluation of tenders will be 70% weighted in favour of quality and 30% on price. PfH Scotland is also offering a range of bid support and advice for SMEs with limited or no experience of tendering for public sector work.

In each geographic region, the framework has been broken down into 13 individual lots covering services ranging from energy performance certification to domestic and commercial gas servicing and from the installation of renewables to architectural services. Those tendering can submit responses for any or all of these individual lots and will then be required to identify the geographic areas within each lot that they can service.

Alongside competitive pricing, technical competence and a strong track record in health and safety, those applying will be assessed according to their ability to demonstrate high quality service, market expertise, transparency and integrity alongside innovation and the use of new technologies. Contractors able to demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and social value and a capacity to deliver local community benefit will be marked particularly highly.

Commenting ahead of the deadline for bids to the new framework, PfH Scotland head of operations, Stephen Herriot, said: “With a week to go until the opportunity to bid formally closes, we’re absolutely delighted with the response we’ve had so far from specialist heating contractors across Scotland. In total, 100 contractors have already registered an interest in the new framework. With many bids coming from smaller local contractors, our efforts to open this opportunity up to SMEs also seem to be paying off. If there are any other Scottish heating contractors out there who have yet to register an interest, I would encourage them to get their bids in now, ahead of the July 17 deadline.”