Hyde Housing Association has published the tender for its Protect Framework, a large property compliance services arrangement with an estimated value of £3.2256 billion including VAT. It is designed for Hyde and a broad range of authorised public-sector users, with regional and national routes covering multiple compliance workstreams.
The opportunity is best viewed as a framework for specialist property compliance contractors, rather than a general health and safety consultancy panel. Suppliers need to match their accreditations, technical capability and delivery footprint to the relevant workstream and lot. Contact Thornton & Lowe if you want help deciding where your business fits.
Eight workstreams, 141 lots
The notice describes eight workstreams, labelled A to H, split across four regional areas and a national region. In total, the framework comprises 141 lots. This is an important distinction: there are not simply eight lots, and suppliers should not plan their bid around the workstream headings alone.
The four regional areas cover London, the South East and East of England; South Wales and the South West; the East and West Midlands; and North Wales and the North of England. A fifth route provides national coverage. The detailed tender documents set out the precise compliance disciplines, with the notice showing specialist work such as electrical testing and remedials and other property inspection, servicing, maintenance and installation requirements.
Hyde anticipates appointing ten suppliers to each regional workstream lot and twelve to each national workstream lot, although the authority reserves flexibility in the final awards. The notice gives an overall maximum supplier count of 1,428 across the framework structure.
How the framework will operate
The initial framework term is four years, with an option to extend for up to two further years. Individual call-off contracts can run beyond the framework term and may last up to 15 years including extensions. Awards can be made with or without further competition, depending on the relevant framework and call-off provisions.
The maximum supplier fee stated in the notice is 3.5%. As with any framework, the headline value is an estimated aggregate figure and does not guarantee spend to an appointed supplier. Businesses should therefore assess the commercial case at lot level, including likely local demand, call-off competition and the operational cost of maintaining compliance.
For contractors weighing the wider benefits of public-sector framework routes, our Community Housing Planned Works Framework guide is a useful comparison for suppliers assessing large, multi-lot housing and property framework opportunities.
Participation requirements
The notice identifies the framework as suitable for SMEs and VCSEs. However, suitability will still depend heavily on the technical requirements of each workstream. Relevant accreditations and certifications are pass/fail conditions, so suppliers should check them before investing heavily in the quality submission.
Quick facts
- Authority: Hyde Housing Association
- Estimated value: £2.688 billion excluding VAT / £3.2256 billion including VAT
- Structure: 8 workstreams and 141 lots
- Framework term: 1 February 2027 to 31 January 2031, with possible extension to 31 January 2033
- Maximum supplier fee: 3.5%
- Tender deadline: 21 September 2026 at 12:00pm
- Evaluation: 60% quality / 40% price
Suppliers should use the Protect Framework Find a Tender notice alongside the full procurement documents when selecting workstreams and lots.
Where to focus your bid
A strong submission will need to show more than technical eligibility. Suppliers should prepare evidence on mobilisation, resident communication, compliance reporting, asset data, quality control, service continuity, escalation, workforce competence and performance management. Where a workstream is safety-critical, examples should demonstrate how defects and risks are identified, prioritised and closed out.
The lot structure also makes bid discipline important. Target the regions and workstreams where you have credible capacity and evidence, rather than treating the theoretical framework value as a reason to bid everywhere.
Need help with the Protect Framework?
Thornton & Lowe can support lot selection, evidence planning, quality responses and final bid review. Discuss your Protect Framework bid with our team.
