Accessing the Framework

Accessing the YORbuild Framework is easy. Any Public Sector Organisation can access the framework and enjoy the many benefits that it offers. In the simplest of terms the steps to accessing the YORbuild Framework are:

1. Make contact with YORbuild at info@yorbuild.com and arrange a meeting with a member of the YORbuild Team to discuss your requirements and potential for procuring them via the framework.
2. Set out the key aspects of your project i.e. potential cost, timescales, general arrangement drawings key drivers for the procurement / call off process.
3. Agree with YORbuild the service that you require. There are two options. Option A, call the project off from the framework yourself. Option B, a member of the YORbuild Team will call the project off from the framework on your behalf.
4. Execute the Access Agreement granting use from the respective Contracting Authority to use the YORbuild Framework.
5. Carry out the call off process and proceed to award to the selected YORbuild Framework Contractor. Following call off and award of a project the YORbuild team will then facilitate the Contract Award and the user of the Framework takes their position as the Client for the project.
6. During the project delivery stage the YORbuild Team will work closely with the user of the framework in the delivery of strategic initiatives and measurement of key performance indicators including a project de-briefing.

The key working relationships in the process

Call off monitoring and feedback process

Benefits

The YORbuild Framework has been designed to offer a wide range of benefits to its users. They key benefits of the framework include:

• Procurement and cost efficiency. As the framework has been procured in compliance with The Contract Regulations 2006 any projects with a value in excess of the EU thresholds do not need to be procured through the OJEU process and can be called off in a matter of weeks using one of the five call off options set out below. In addition to procurement efficiency as the YORbuild Framework has been procured on a regional basis spend has been aggregated leading to Framework Contractors with very competitive overhead, profit and preliminaries costs.
• Competency and capacity. The YORbuild Framework offers a wide range of Contractors across the framework who have demonstrated their suitability through a detailed and competitive framework procurement process which received unprecedented levels interest from the market. Many of the Framework Contractors are award winners in their own right and offer a demonstrable track record of excellent delivery to Clients.
• Maximisation of Employment and Skills Opportunities. The YORbuild Framework has secured National Skills Academy for Construction status from Construction Skills and has an employment and skills planning model built into the framework. This offers a bespoke project by project employment and skills plan which is part of the contract and therefore brings certainty in terms of delivery. The YORbuild Framework has already been recognised for its innovative employment and skills planning model via its academy status and has featured in best practice case studies carried out by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills and the Homes and Communities Agency.
• Resource and Carbon Efficiency. The YORbuild Team are working closely with recognised bodies to improve the resource, carbon and waste efficiency of Framework Contractors through a number of strategic initiatives. Many of the outcomes of this activity relate direct to National Indicators which Public Sector Construction Clients must achieve.
• Economic Regeneration. Through the development of the YORbuild Framework maximum effort has been applied to ensure that the framework is economically inclusive and not only offers opportunity but is a catalyst for business opportunity. YORbuild work closely with regional partners to promote business opportunities emanating from YORbuild projects to the wider supply chain ensuring that framework users are maximising the economic impact of their projects upon the local economy.

Access Fees

In return for the resources invested in the development and management of the YORbuild Framework a fee is charged for each project called off. The access fee is added to the capital cost of the project and then paid by the selected Framework Contractor to YORbuild after the first application for payment has been processed in pursuit of the delivery of the works. Access fees are very competitive indeed and are much less that the cost of managing a complaint procurement process which in many cases would not achieve the value added benefits of accessing the YORbuild Framework.

Due Diligence

The YORbuild Framework has been procured using a restricted procedure in compliance with The Public Contract Regulations 2006. Four OJEU Notices representing each of the sub-regions of Yorkshire and the Humber were posted on 9^th December 2009 with the procurement process being hosted on SCMS. The OJEU Notices can be accessed by clicking on the foregoing link however the headline information in the notices is set out below:

OJEU Notice wording:

“This Framework Agreement is … established to provide all public sector bodies and third sector organisations in the Region with access to quality contractors under best practice partnering arrangements. Such access will be subject to approval by the YORbuild Framework Management Team. These public sector bodies include Central Government Departments and their Agencies, NHS bodies, Local Authorities including Unitary Authorities, Police Authorities, Fire Authorities, other Emergency services and educational Establishments”

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV) codes:

• 45000000 Construction work
• 45100000 Site preparation work
• 45200000 Works for complete or part construction and civil engineering work
• 45300000 Building installation work
• 45400000 Building completion work
• 71000000 Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

NUTS codes:

UKE

Call Off Options

The YORbuild Framework offers its users great flexibility in terms of calling projects off with five different call off methods to suit users individual needs which can be administered in a matter of weeks as the requirements of OJEU have already been met through the framework procurement process. The five call of methods include:

1. Quality Initiated Call Off. A Framework Contractor is directly selected from the respective lot of the framework without competition based upon qualitative criteria. A tender price is then either developed with the selected single Framework Contractor and any subsequent call off contract is awarded, or awarded based upon a detailed quotation.
2. Price Mini Competition (single stage): A number of Framework Contractors submit competitive quotations for the award of a call off contract by means of a price competition only.
3. Quality Mini Competition (two stage): A number of Framework Contractors return submissions for the award of a call off contract by means of a quality competition only. A full Tender price is subsequently developed with the selected Framework Contractor and any subsequent call off contract is awarded.
4. Price / Quality Mini Competition (single stage): A number of Framework Contractors submit competitive quotations for the award of a call off contract by means of a price & quality competition. Note that the framework has been set up to permit variance in the balance of price/quality assessments which can range from 30/70 to 90/10.
5. Price / Quality Mini Competition (two stage): A number of Framework Contractors submit competitive quotations for the award of a call off contract by means of a partial price & quality competition. A full Tender price is subsequently developed with the selected Framework Contractor and any subsequent call off contract is awarded. Note that the framework has been set up to permit variance in the balance of price/quality assessments which can range from 20/80 to 80/20.

The Price v Quality Selection Options

Users accessing the YORbuild Framework will enter into an Access and Confidentiality Agreement with YORbuild represented by the respective Contracting Authority for sub-region of the framework being accessed.