Aspire Housing is planning a six-year open framework for reactive repairs and maintenance across its stock in and around Newcastle-under-Lyme. The estimated value is £23.6 million including VAT, with ten lots covering electrical works, general repairs, groundworks, glazing, voids and kitchen and bathroom works.
Despite the notice title, the work itself is not a planned maintenance programme. Aspire states that call-offs will be entirely reactive and responsive, often involving frequent, lower-value tasks with short turnaround times. If your organisation is assessing the opportunity, speak to Thornton & Lowe about your Aspire framework bid.
Why is Aspire creating the framework?
Aspire has a direct labour organisation of around 130 operatives. Its in-house team is the first route for responsive repairs, voids, grounds maintenance and damp and mould work, but subcontractors are needed when volumes exceed internal capacity. Demand is particularly high from December to April.
This means successful suppliers will need to operate as responsive delivery partners rather than wait for predictable programmes. The ability to accept short-notice instructions, manage fluctuating volumes and close jobs quickly will be central to the service model.
The Aspire planned procurement notice gives an estimated tender publication date of 18 August 2026.
How are the lots structured?
The ten lots are:
- electrical works;
- repairs and maintenance for SMEs;
- repairs and maintenance for non-SMEs;
- groundworks and external repairs;
- glazing and UPVC repairs for SMEs;
- glazing and UPVC repairs for non-SMEs;
- minor and major voids for SMEs;
- minor and major voids for non-SMEs;
- kitchens and bathrooms for SMEs;
- kitchens and bathrooms for non-SMEs.
The dedicated SME lots allow smaller contractors to compete against businesses of a similar scale. Other lots are open to suppliers of any size or are specifically intended for larger providers.
What does the open framework mean?
The framework will operate for six years and is expected to reopen once at the end of year three. Existing suppliers will be able to remain or leave, while new suppliers can apply for admission at the reopening point.
This can create a second route into the agreement, but suppliers ready for the initial competition should not assume that waiting is risk-free. Early appointment may provide access to work and performance evidence before the reopening. Our guide to open frameworks explains how they differ from traditional closed frameworks, how reopening points work and why suppliers need to plan for later entry opportunities.
Evaluation varies by lot
Aspire is not using one quality-price split across the framework:
- Electrical: 60% quality and 40% price.
- General repairs and groundworks: 35% quality and 65% price.
- Glazing and UPVC: 30% quality and 70% price.
- Voids and kitchens and bathrooms: 40% quality and 60% price.
The commercial approach therefore needs to match the chosen lot. In price-led lots, bidders must understand productivity, travel, supervision and material costs in detail. In higher-quality lots, stronger technical explanations can carry more weight, but pricing still needs to be sustainable for short, reactive jobs.
What evidence should contractors prepare?
Useful evidence will include:
- rapid mobilisation and short-notice response;
- right-first-time completion and job closure performance;
- damp, mould, disrepair and HHSRS experience where relevant;
- void turnaround and lettable-standard delivery;
- resident communication and safeguarding;
- workforce competence and trade coverage;
- scheduling, job data and performance reporting;
- capacity management during seasonal peaks.
The tender is currently expected to close on 21 September 2026 at noon. Suppliers should use the period before publication to choose the correct SME or non-SME route, validate rates and prepare examples that show responsive delivery rather than relying on planned-project case studies.
