Innovation Chain North Framework (Also known as "ICN")

Great Places Housing Group (GPHG) is a forward-thinking, inclusive and successful organisation which exists to improve the lives of the thousands of people living in our 25,000+ homes across the North West and Yorkshire. The purpose of this Prior Information Notice (PIN) is to engage with suppliers that may be interested in the upcoming tender opportunity for the new Innovation Chain North (ICN) framework. The total framework value is estimated to be in the region of £1.5Bn over four years. ICN enables a compliant procurement route to the delivery of high quality, sustainable homes that meet the current and future needs of our residents. We encourage innovation, benefit from collaborative working, achieve efficiencies and aim to deliver consistent and sustainable job creation and training in the communities that we work, for the benefit our residents. GPHG wishes to conduct soft market testing (SMT) with construction suppliers and consultants. The purpose of this SMT is to ensure that the new framework provides a robust and relevant offer for all ICN clients and ICN framework suppliers through to Summer 2028. As part of the SMT, ICN has consulted all of our existing suppliers and clients but would welcome the opportunity to meet with prospective new suppliers and clients at our Supplier Engagement Day. ICN is ensuring that this SMT process is run in a fair and transparent manner. Any relevant information made available in this process will also be made available during the procurement process. Potential suppliers should understand that this notice does not commit ICN to proceeding to procurement at the time indicated or at all. If there are any queries about the process, please contact bryan.simmons@greatplaces.org.uk. Our Supplier Engagement Day will be held on the morning of Tuesday 20th June 2023 at 09:00. The location for this event is GPHG’s Head Office (Address: 2A Derwent Avenue, Didsbury, Manchester, M21 7QP). The objectives of the Supplier Engagement Day are as follows:

1. Provide an overview of ICN and the performance of the current framework;
2. To outline the proposed changes which may be implemented in the new framework;
3. To receive feedback on the current proposals;
4. To provide the opportunity for all parties to ask any questions and provide comments;
5. Gauge market interest and understand any potential barriers to tendering. Please RSVP by contacting bryan.simmons@greatplaces.org.uk. For the avoidance of doubt, attendance at the Supplier Engagement Day is not a pre-requisite to apply for the tender opportunity.