Planning

CHIC Merchants Framework [1] 2026-34

  • Communities and Housing Investment Consortium Limited (CHIC)

UK2: Preliminary market engagement notice - Procurement Act 2023 - view information about notice types

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-067851

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-052589 (view related notices)

Published 23 October 2025, 2:18pm



Scope

Reference

4

Description

CHIC, acting on behalf of its Members (and others in other Consortia or as individuals who become CHIC Members over time) is procuring a Framework for supply, delivery of building materials which may include but not limited to those used for: plumbing and heating, retrofitting, painting and decorating, ironmongery, timber, flooring, glazing, roofing general building, retrofitting, electrical products, painting and decorating, including distribution, with the options to provide managed stores, van stock and tools & plant hire.

Commercial tool

Establishes a framework

Total value (estimated)

  • £1,945,000,000 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 2 April 2026 to 2 April 2034
  • 8 years, 1 day

Main procurement category

Goods

CPV classifications

  • 44100000 - Construction materials and associated items

Contract locations

  • UK - United Kingdom

Engagement

Engagement deadline

30 June 2024

The engagement was carried out before this notice was published.

Engagement process description

The merchants and material supply sector has faced disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic and increased UK import costs, leading to raw material price hikes and market volatility. The merchant market has evolved in recent years through mergers and consolidations, reducing the number of merchants but strengthening some specialised solutions.

CHIC and EN have therefore started to shape a new merchants framework to be procured later this year and to be fully operational from 2026. We wanted to consult out stakeholders to test whether the lot structure of the framework and the procurement process are reflective of current needs and expectations.

We therefore hosted two roundtable market consultation events during 2024:

• Rotherham - Tuesday 11th June

• Milton Keynes - Thursday 13th June

These were attended by a range of consortia stakeholders, including:

• Members

• National merchants

• Regional / Local merchants

• Materials manufacturers

• Distributors or other suppliers

After a summary of the utilisation of the current framework, there was a briefing of forthcoming changes arising from the Procurement Act 2023, which became operational in February 2025. Delegates were asked to consider and advise on a range of specific questions.

The context will be a single framework, procured by CHIC for its own members and those of EN, where framework support - the consortia managed services - is a combined service.


Participation

Particular suitability

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)


Submission

Publication date of tender notice (estimated)

24 November 2025


Contracting authority

Communities and Housing Investment Consortium Limited (CHIC)

  • Companies House: 07266506

84 Spencer Street

Birmingham

B18 6DS

United Kingdom

Contact name: CHIC Procurement

Email: tenders@chicltd.co.uk

Website: http://www.chicltd.co.uk

Region: UKG31 - Birmingham

Organisation type: Public undertaking (commercial organisation subject to public authority oversight)


Other organisation

These organisations are carrying out the procurement, or part of it, on behalf of the contracting authorities.

Efficiency North

Summary of their role in this procurement: Partner Framework Provider

  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PNVB-9265-PNNN

Collaboration Works, 2 Carbrook St, Carbrook,

Sheffield

S9 2JE

United Kingdom

Region: UKE32 - Sheffield


Contact organisation

Contact Communities and Housing Investment Consortium Limited (CHIC) for any enquiries.