Orbit Group has published a preliminary market engagement notice for a major planned programme of property improvement works across its homes in the Midlands, South and East of England. This is an early-stage opportunity, but it’s a meaningful one for contractors delivering planned works and wider asset investment programmes in social housing.
Orbit is reviewing its planned improvement works operating model to explore long-term partnerships that improve value, efficiency, innovation and customer outcomes. The notice makes clear that this engagement is designed to inform the final scope and procurement approach before any tender is published.
Key facts and timeline suppliers should note
Orbit anticipates a procurement exercise in 2026/27, run using a Competitive Flexible Procedure under the Procurement Act 2023, with the process currently programmed to commence in October 2026 and contracts planned to be awarded by the end of September 2027. Orbit also recognises the value of allowing at least a six-month mobilisation period within the timetable.
The notice indicates the planned start date for the new contracts is 1 April 2028. It also includes an estimated total value of £500,000,000 including VAT (and £416,666,666 excluding VAT). Estimated contract dates are shown as 2 April 2028 to 1 April 2033, with a possible extension to 1 April 2038.
For the market engagement itself, the engagement deadline is 19 March 2026. Orbit expects to hold up to 20 one-to-one discussion sessions, either in person or via MS Teams, and encourages early responses. Expressions of interest and information are submitted via the ProContract (Due North) portal linked in the notice.
What work may be included
While Orbit stresses the final scope is still being shaped, it signals a broad planned works programme. Indicative trades include kitchens, bathrooms, roofing, external works, windows, doors, decorations, flooring, and mechanical and electrical installations. Orbit also references potential inclusion of fire safety remediation works (non-urgent FRA actions and external wall remediation), retrofit and decarbonisation works, plus requirements linked to building safety, carbon reduction, and golden-thread data.
This mix is important. It suggests the eventual procurement will not be won on rates alone. Contractors may need to show credible delivery across compliance-led workstreams, resident experience, supply chain resilience, and data management alongside core planned maintenance capability.
What Orbit is seeking from the market
Orbit sets out themes for the engagement that signal what the eventual evaluation may lean towards: strategy, cost and commercial, quality and technical, supply chain and materials, and contract management and supplier relationships. It also highlights objectives such as establishing a sustainable long-term delivery model, meeting statutory and regulatory requirements (including Section 20), improving customer experience aligned to Orbit’s programmes, and minimising disruption during transition and mobilisation.
A useful takeaway is that Orbit is trying to balance operational efficiency with a “resident-first” delivery culture. For bidders, that usually means method statements should connect operational controls (planning, supervision, QA, reporting) directly to what residents experience day to day.
Practical preparation steps for contractors
Start with a mobilisation and transition plan that feels real
Orbit explicitly references the value of a mobilisation period. Use this time now to map how you would stand up delivery: resident comms, surveys, scheduling, supply chain onboarding, IT/reporting, and KPIs.
Build evidence around compliance-led outcomes
Fire safety remediation, external wall considerations, and golden-thread data expectations are strongly signposted. Even if your core strength is kitchens and bathrooms, you will likely score better if you show how you manage compliance, documentation, and handover quality.
Treat materials and supply chain as a scored topic
With “Supply Chain and Materials” called out as a theme, contractors should get ahead on availability risks, substitution controls, responsible sourcing, lead times, and how you protect programme certainty.
Don’t leave retrofit positioning until the tender drops
If you intend to bid for decarbonisation and retrofit workstreams, align your approach now (PAS/quality controls where relevant, resident engagement, aftercare, performance reporting) so you’re not building this at the last minute.
How Thornton & Lowe can support
Thornton & Lowe supports contractors bidding for planned works and social housing investment programmes by helping you shape a clear, evidence-led submission strategy and turning technical delivery into evaluator-friendly responses.
For this opportunity, we can help you build a strong planned works narrative and bid plan through our construction tenders bid writing support. If your offer includes retrofit and carbon reduction elements, we can also help you position those workstreams and supporting evidence through our decarbonisation tenders support.
