Launching this week, consultancies and contractors have until March 16 to apply to be part of the ASC1 (Asset Safety and Compliance) Framework, delivered by public sector construction framework provider LHC.

Designed to help the public sector meet building life safety and maintenance government guidelines and legal responsibilities, ASC1 will provide a full suite of asset safety and compliance services.

LHC is now welcoming applications for property protection and associated services; asbestos management; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning-related services; water testing, treatment and management; and electrical testing and relevant support.

Available nationwide, the framework is worth up to £100m in England, £20m in Scotland and £15m in Wales. It covers all five LHC Group business units including the Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA) in Scotland, the Welsh Procurement Alliance (WPA) in Wales, South West Procurement Alliance (SWPA) across the South West of England, Consortium Procurement Construction (CPC) across the Midlands and North of England, and London and South East (LSE) for London and the South East of England.

Dean Fazackerley, head of technical procurement at LHC, said: “This framework has been developed in direct response to our discussions with housing associations, local authorities, schools and healthcare clients, who expressed a need for long-term compliance-related expertise to help them meet asset maintenance and management requirements.

“We are now looking for contractors and consultants to apply to be part of ASC1’s pool of specialists the public sector can draw upon. We’d encourage experts in property protection, asbestos removal, water testing and maintenance, gas safety and heating systems, ventilation and air conditioning systems, and electrical testing to apply.

“This framework groups several specialisms together in a bid to encourage more collaboration across the marketplace. We hope will increase the visibility of companies on the framework and open more opportunities for public sector contracts, especially for regional suppliers and SMEs.”

There are five workstreams to apply for under ASC1, including:

• Workstream 1 Asbestos Consultancy, Surveys and Removal
• Workstream 2 Property Protection and Associated Services
• Workstream 3 Water Testing, Treatment and Management
• Workstream 4 Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Compliance, Servicing and Maintenance
• Workstream 5 Electrical Testing and Associated Services

There will be six to eight spaces available dependent on the Lots.

Tender documents are now available at LHC’s eTendering Portal with applications open until 16 March 2023. A tender briefing webinar running Wednesday 8 February is also open for registrations via the eTendering Portal.