The housing sector is a largely untapped opportunity for SMEs. The Procurement Act 2023 looks to change that, however, as social housing authorities are required to remove the barriers that have traditionally kept small businesses out of the market.
Smaller housing associations can also take advantage of the entry of SMEs in the market because it means they can now afford to engage professional companies for a range of services, especially maintenance-related services, that would otherwise be out of reach.
As one of the biggest public sector eProcurement platforms in the UK (and the Republic of Ireland), Supply2Gov (S2G) is the perfect tool for SMEs and subcontractors to find and bid on lucrative social housing contracts. Our support services help suppliers navigate housing association procurement.
Types of Housing Association Tenders
Social housing contracts are diverse, which is great for suppliers, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, who offer fairly niche housing-related services. Some of the most common tenders include:
- Communal cleaning: This applies to indoor and outdoor communal areas, like lobbies, hallways, lounges, courtyards, patios, etc.
- Ground maintenance/landscaping: Things like garden services and tree surgery.
- Security: This includes manned guarding, CCTV, and even concierge services.
- Facilities management: This applies to day-to-day maintenance, like repairs, preventative maintenance, pest control, electrical services, fire safety systems, etc. It also includes maintenance services and voids repairs that adhere to the Decent Homes Standard.
- Health and social care: Important for residents with special needs, physical and mental.
- Supported accommodation: Including things like stair lifts and bathroom aids
- Construction: This applies to architecture, retrofitting for energy efficiency, structural repairs, etc.
- Financial services: This includes processing and managing housing benefits and insurance
- Waste management: This applies to responsible waste disposal, recycling programmes, etc.
Public Funding in Housing Sector Procurement
Housing association tenders are a little more complicated than other sectors because of the variety of public funding available. For example, the Affordable Homes Programme (AHP) 2021 to 2026 provides funding for affordable housing development in England. The aim is for Homes England to deliver at least 100,000 homes by the end of March 2026.
Homes England received just over £8 billion to fund the programme and committed to sourcing new suppliers to add to their existing pool of product and service providers. Suppliers can get their share of funding by responding to tenders made available through the Continuous Market Engagement (CME).
There’s also the Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF), which provides capital grants for infrastructure development and housing regeneration.
As with all public sector contracts, they must comply with the Procurement Act 2023. This means absolute transparency, accountability, and value, especially social value and sustainability.
Why Bid for Social Housing Contracts?
There are many reasons to bid on housing association tenders.
Contract availability
The sheer number of contracts available is reason enough to enter the sector. As we’ve seen, contracts needn’t be construction or building-related. ICT specialists are just as necessary as social care providers.
Opportunities for SMEs
The diversity in contracts, including contract size, is very SME-friendly. Small businesses that specialise in niche products, services, or works will find plenty of opportunities in local markets, as well as neighbouring catchment areas.
Focus on sustainability, innovation, and social impact
The Procurement Act 2023 emphasises sustainability, innovation, and social impact in all public sector procurement exercises and social housing tenders are no different. Suppliers who can provide additional social value (economic, environmental, and social) and sustainability, over and above what is required in the contract, have a competitive edge in the market. Innovative processes, operations, services, and products also set suppliers apart.
Long-term frameworks and repeat business
Frameworks have changed slightly under the new Act. Contracts are shorter and can be divided into lots, giving businesses, especially SMEs, several opportunities to bid for essentially the same contract. One of the advantages is that suppliers have more opportunities to make a good impression and secure repeat business from local councils.
How to Find Housing Association Contracts with Supply2Gov
Supply2Gov has the biggest database of government tenders, bigger even than the government-backed Contracts Finder and Find a Tender. It’s very easy to set up an account. All you have to do is register – for free – and complete your profile to receive daily updates of contract opportunities in your field.
Your profile should contain relevant keywords so you only receive targeted contract notifications rather than random notices that aren’t remotely connected to your business. For example, “construction contracts in Leeds,” “retrofitting social housing in Leeds,” “social home construction and maintenance in Leeds.”
Location is an important identifier, especially if you are on the free local area search package for more accessible, lower-value contracts. You don’t want a flood of contract notices for Manchester if Leeds is your ballpark.
However, our pay-as-you-grow system allows you to add Manchester, Liverpool, and Bristol as you expand your reach. You can upgrade to our paid country package (England or Scotland or Wales or the Republic of Ireland). You can continue to upgrade your paid package as you expand across the UK and the Republic of Ireland, to target larger, higher-value contracts.
How to Win Housing Association Tenders
The steps to successful bidding on housing association contracts are simple in principle, but you need to be dedicated to put them (successfully) into practice.
1) Understand the tender
Simple, yes, until you dig deeper into the finer details, like the full extent of the requirements, complexity of the reporting processes, or exact type of social value project.
Can you deliver on all levels? Be honest. It’s better to pass up a contract than fail in the execution.
2) Demonstrate social value and ESG compliance
Social value and environmental sustainability are becoming increasingly important in public procurement. Start establishing your credentials now. You’ll impress contracting authorities with your forward thinking and be ahead of the game when it comes to delivering social value in the contract.
3) Highlight relevant experience and accreditations
Case studies are most effective in showcasing success stories. Companies new to public sector procurement can use case studies from similar projects in the private sector to boost their cause.
Ensure your accreditations and certifications, like Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus, are prominently displayed and up to date.
4) Track deadlines
Supply2Gov’s tools keep track of important dates, especially final deadlines. You’d be amazed how many suppliers miss out on contracts due to late submissions. Use S2G to ensure you don’t make the same (expensive) mistake.
5) Take advantage of early engagement opportunities
The Procurement Act 2023 actively encourages early engagement between buyers and suppliers – all stakeholders, really. It establishes relationships that can lead to innovative collaborations and opens communication so you can take note of future pipeline opportunities.
Get Started: Register with Supply2Gov
Register now and start receiving free alerts to unlock housing contracts tailor-made for you.