Procurement for Housing (PfH) has launched a new £80 million Communal Doors and Door Entry Systems Framework, offering opportunities for manufacturers, installation contractors and specialist access control businesses working in the social housing sector.
The framework covers communal entrance doors manufactured from aluminium, steel, stainless steel and timber, alongside wired and wireless audio/video door entry systems. It is divided into nine lots, with separate routes for manufacturers and contractors, and is intended to support housing providers across the UK.
The tender submission deadline is 9am on 14 December 2026. Suppliers considering an application should review the distinctions between lots carefully and prepare evidence of their technical capabilities, installation standards, quality assurance and experience delivering similar projects.
PfH Communal Doors Framework overview
Procurement for Housing is a national procurement consortium supporting social housing organisations with the purchase of goods, works and services. Its frameworks provide participating housing providers with access to suppliers across a wide range of categories, including property maintenance, building improvements and specialist systems.
The new Communal Doors and Door Entry Systems Framework will provide an agreement through which housing providers can procure the supply, installation and maintenance of communal entrance doors and associated access systems.
Detail |
Information |
|---|---|
Contracting authority |
Procurement for Housing Ltd (t/a PfH Scotland) |
Framework reference |
CDDES/2026 |
Estimated value |
£80 million excluding VAT |
Framework structure |
Nine lots |
Initial duration |
Two years |
Extension options |
Two additional one-year periods |
Evaluation |
70% quality, 30% price |
Maximum lots per tenderer |
Five |
Submission deadline |
14 December 2026, 9am |
The framework covers services throughout the United Kingdom, despite the contracting organisation being identified as PfH Scotland in the published notice. The initial term is two years, with the possibility of extending the agreement for a further two years through separate one-year extensions.
What does the PfH framework cover?
The framework is intended to support work involving communal entrances in residential blocks and other shared housing environments. This includes the survey, design, supply, installation, commissioning, handover and maintenance of relevant doors and door entry systems.
It encompasses different door materials and access technologies, recognising that housing providers may have varying requirements relating to durability, security, appearance, accessibility and ongoing maintenance.
Importantly, the published scope excludes non-communal doors, including individual house front doors and fire doors. Businesses should therefore check that their products and services fall within the precise specifications before committing resources to a tender.
How are the nine lots structured?
PfH has separated the procurement into manufacturer-only and contractor-only lots, with an additional lot covering door entry systems. This creates different bidding routes depending on whether a business specialises in manufacturing doors, delivering installation works or providing access control technology.
Lot |
Category |
Eligible supplier type |
|---|---|---|
1 | Aluminium communal doors and door entry systems | Manufacturers |
2 | Steel communal doors and door entry systems | Manufacturers |
3 | Stainless steel communal doors and door entry systems | Manufacturers |
4 | Timber communal doors and door entry systems | Manufacturers |
5 | Aluminium communal doors and door entry systems | Contractors |
6 | Steel communal doors and door entry systems | Contractors |
7 | Stainless steel communal doors and door entry systems | Contractors |
8 | Timber communal doors and door entry systems | Contractors |
9 | Door entry systems | Specialist systems suppliers |
Lots 1–4: Manufacturers
The first four lots focus on manufacturers of communal entrance doors made from different materials. The associated scope includes audio and video entry systems, with both hard-wired and non-wired GSM solutions identified in the procurement.
Manufacturers should assess how they will demonstrate product quality, design capability, installation or delivery arrangements, commissioning and aftercare. Where delivery involves installation partners or subcontractors, the tender response should explain how responsibilities and quality standards will be managed.
Lots 5–8: Contractors
Lots 5 to 8 provide separate routes for contractors delivering communal door and access system projects. These cover the same four principal door materials, with the emphasis on the contractor's ability to manage survey, design, supply, installation, commissioning and maintenance activities.
Contractors should prepare examples from occupied residential buildings and similar operational environments. Housing providers are likely to require works to be completed safely while minimising disruption to residents and maintaining secure access arrangements throughout installation.
Lot 9: Door entry systems
Lot 9 covers audio and video door entry access systems, including hard-wired and non-wired GSM technology. Its scope includes survey, design, supply, installation, commissioning, handover and maintenance.
This lot may appeal to businesses specialising in access control, electronic security and communal entry technology. Relevant evidence could include system integration, reliable operation, resident accessibility, fault resolution and ongoing maintenance arrangements.
How will tenders be evaluated?
All nine lots have the same headline evaluation weightings, with quality carrying a substantial majority of the available marks.
Criterion | Weighting |
|---|---|
Quality | 70% |
Price | 30% |
The 70% quality weighting means suppliers should focus closely on demonstrating the technical and operational strengths of their proposals. Competitive pricing remains important, but the written submission provides a significant opportunity to establish how the proposed solution meets customer requirements.
The exact quality questions, minimum requirements and pricing schedules should be confirmed through the procurement documents. Businesses should also consider the limit of five lots per tenderer when selecting where they have the strongest proposition.
What should suppliers prepare for their bids?
Demonstrate relevant product and installation experience
The strongest examples will come from projects involving communal entrances, shared residential buildings or comparable access control installations. Suppliers should explain the project's scope, their responsibilities, technical challenges and outcomes achieved.
For installation contractors, relevant experience may include working in occupied properties, coordinating with housing managers and maintaining safe access for residents. These considerations are important across many construction tenders, particularly where works take place in operational buildings.
Show how quality and compliance are controlled
Manufacturers and contractors should explain how they ensure products meet the applicable specifications and how installation quality is checked. This may involve product testing, manufacturer standards, inspection procedures, competent personnel and clear handover arrangements.
Suppliers should avoid making assumptions about particular certifications or technical standards until they have reviewed the full tender documentation. Their evidence should address the requirements applicable to the materials and systems covered by their selected lots.
Address resident safety and customer communication
Communal entrance projects can affect how residents access their homes. A credible delivery approach should explain how work will be planned, communicated and managed to reduce disruption while maintaining appropriate safety and security arrangements.
Contractors may wish to draw on experience coordinating works with landlords, residents, managing agents and specialist subcontractors. Clear procedures for managing appointments, unexpected conditions, complaints and defects can also strengthen the service proposition.
Demonstrate maintenance and aftercare
The procurement includes ongoing maintenance alongside supply and installation. Suppliers should therefore consider how they will manage warranty responsibilities, servicing, repairs and faults after installation, particularly for electronic access systems.
Examples of service response arrangements, spare parts availability, technical support and performance monitoring may be valuable. The objective is to show that customers can rely on the solution throughout its operational life rather than simply during installation.
Prepare community benefit commitments
The notice confirms that community benefits form part of the procurement, with detailed requirements included in the tender documents. Depending on those requirements, suppliers may need to consider local employment, apprenticeships, training or other benefits connected with delivering the framework.
These commitments should be achievable and supported by appropriate monitoring. Establishing measurable social value commitments at bid stage can also help ensure that successful suppliers are prepared to deliver them throughout the contract.
Check lot selection and commercial assumptions
Suppliers can tender for a maximum of five lots, so businesses operating across several categories will need to prioritise. Relevant considerations include product range, experience, operational coverage and the resources available for preparing multiple submissions.
A structured bid management process can help coordinate evidence and maintain consistency across different lot responses. Commercial submissions should also reflect the full cost of product supply, installation, commissioning and any ongoing service obligations.
How to apply for the PfH Communal Doors Framework
The procurement is being managed through PfH's Panacea eTendering platform under reference CDDES/2026. Interested suppliers should register, review the relevant lot requirements and complete the technical and commercial schedules.
Completed tenders must be submitted by 9am on Monday 14 December 2026. The framework is being procured through an open procedure, and suppliers should follow the instructions in the tender pack regarding eligibility, submission requirements and the applicable procurement rules.
Suppliers should use the procurement documents to confirm the full technical requirements, lot eligibility rules, evaluation methodology and submission instructions before finalising their bids.
Preparing a competitive communal doors framework bid
The PfH Communal Doors and Door Entry Systems Framework creates opportunities for specialist manufacturers and contractors seeking work within the social housing sector. With nine lots and a 70% quality weighting, the ability to demonstrate relevant experience, technical compliance and reliable delivery will be central to a strong submission.
Thornton & Lowe supports construction, property maintenance and specialist installation businesses with tender strategy, evidence development, technical responses and bid reviews. Our team can help suppliers prepare competitive applications that communicate their strengths and address the specific requirements of their chosen lots.
