The entire framework is worth up to £1.42 billion over four years.

The sixth generation of this PfH Scotland framework has two categories focused on supplying Scottish social landlords, using merchants with extensive branch networks across the country. There is also a ‘National Consortia for Independent Merchants’ category, allowing social landlords in Scotland to appoint local suppliers and specialists.

Housing providers can procure plumbing, heating and gas, electrical and building materials, aids and adaptations, through either specialist merchants, managed stores (set up for their sole use) or branch networks. The framework also offers self-serve options, so operatives can pick up materials even when branches are closed.

An ‘on-demand’ category enables Scottish housing associations and councils to use merchant branch networks for ad hoc purchases, when needed. Social landlords can also procure a tech platform that allows direct labour organisations (DLOs) and subcontractors to manage van stock, source products locally and have oversight of all spend across the framework.

The framework links with PfH Scotland’s widespread support for social landlords around asset management, which includes spend analytics reporting and a range of procurement insights delivered through its customer portal.

For the Scottish social housing sector, buying materials for repairs, planned maintenance and retrofit accounts for a significant proportion of their total spend. More than 105 housing providers currently use PfH Scotland’s materials solutions.

Judy Ashcroft, materials category manager at PfH Scotland said: “Rising costs and severe shortages have made the last few years pretty turbulent for social landlords procuring materials. The cost of living crisis is compounding this with housing associations and councils seeing a spike both in demand for homes and their own costs. More than ever, certainty is needed so the sector can meet tough targets on improving stock, but social landlords also need flexible, forward-thinking ways to source materials and deliver insights so they can manage their spend effectively.”