Design, Manufacture and Supply of Timber Frames for Development Schemes

Description

Linc-Cymru Housing Association Limited (‘Linc’) merged into Pobl Group Limited (‘Pobl’) on 1 April 2024. Linc are undertaking this procurement process on behalf of the entirety of Pobl including all parts of the group. Pobl are seeking to establish an appropriate route to market that provides compliant, effective and efficient access to approved and suitably certified and experienced timber frame suppliers capable of delivering a standardised Category 2 off-site panellised solution for the construction of new homes. The purpose of this Prior Information Notice is to seek early supplier engagement, in order to better understand the market and potential for collaboration with prospective suppliers on the development of a standardised Category 2 MMC solution. For information, although understanding the range of options available forms part of the early supplier engagement, it is currently envisaged that the timber frame suppliers appointed to any new route to market would not be supplying timber frames directly to Pobl. Instead, supply would be as nominated sub-contractor within a design and build contract for new homes. Lot 1: Pobl are aiming to construct 4,500 new homes in South Wales and South-West Wales over the next five (5) years. Many of these new homes will be for social rented tenure and will therefore need to comply with Welsh Government’s grant award requirements known as WDQR 2021. Pobl are committed to reducing the carbon emissions associated with the construction and manufacture of their new homes with a view to becoming Zero Carbon by 2050. The aim of early supply engagement is to help Pobl design an appropriate and effective procurement process that will enable multiple suppliers to collaborate with Pobl and its designers to achieve a standardised Category 2 off-site panellised solution for the construction of new homes. It is intended that successful suppliers will then be appointed to a compliant and commercially robust route to market that enables either: > A supplier’s nomination into design and build construction contracts for new homes being built by Pobl and or > Creation of an approved list of MMC timber frame suppliers that stipulated within the Employer’s Requirements of Pobl’s design and build construction Contracts for new homes. The intention being that appointed principal contractors for construction of new homes are required to use one of the timber frame suppliers appointed to the arrangement that’s established under this procurement process. As part of establishing the route to market, Pobl expects to require a priced response from participating suppliers at the culmination of the process to establish a standardised solution which will then be used to determine their respective supply costs under any subsequent formalised arrangement that’s established. Although delivery is anticipated to be predominately within South Wales, Pobl does not exclude the use of any route to market that is established being utilised for projects at other locations in Wales. Standardised Solution > The solution will meet the Category 2 MMC definition as set out in the Welsh Government’s MMC Strategy February 2020. https://www.gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2020-02/social-house-building-strategy_0.pdf > The solution will comply with WDQR 2021 in respect of building performance standards. The solution will comply with the latest version of Part L of the Building Regulations Wales – currently Part L 2022. Potential Selection and Assessment Criteria The selection and assessment criteria detailed below represent initial thoughts and guiding principles that have been developed by Pobl for the procurement process. Pobl are keen to explore these in more detail to finesse and develop them as part of the early supplier engagement. > In order to participate in the procurement process, it is expected that suppliers will be required to demonstrate experience of supplying Category 2 timber panels to the construction supply chain that meet the needs of housing developers in Wales. > In order to participate in the procurement process, it is expected that suppliers will be required to demonstrate the financial and delivery capacity to supply timber frames for over 100 domestic units per year in support of Pobl’s development programme. > In order to be successful in the procurement process, it is expected that suppliers will be able to demonstrate the commitment to supporting delivery of and actively delivering a range of social value outcomes as part of their supply contract(s). Social value outcomes will include such things as circular economy initiatives, creation and maintaining local employment opportunities, training and apprenticeships opportunities, and other community development and enhancement related activities. Lotting Strategy As indicated at II.1.6 of this notice, it is not envisaged that the awarded route to market will be divided into Lots. However, this is something that can be discussed further during the early supplier engagement discussions.. The survey should be completed by no later than 12:00 Hours (noon) on Monday 2 December 2024 and can be accessed via: https://tinyurl.com/5f4sd3br. After this date the survey will close, and responses will not be accepted. Late responses and or those submitted via alternative means such as email may be received but Pobl reserves the right to reject and or ignore them and or not to respond.