Compliance Solutions framework

The framework was procured as an open procedure under the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, advertised via the Find a Tender Service and Public Contracts Scotland. It’s available to Scottish housing associations, local authorities, ALMOs, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue, universities and further education establishments, registered charities, and subsidiaries of the above. All suppliers were evaluated on a 70% quality, 30% price basis with a minimum quality threshold of 50%, reflecting the safety-critical nature of compliance services. PfH Scotland can advise on whether your organisation qualifies to use the framework. 

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 apply across Great Britain and place a duty on anyone responsible for the maintenance or repair of non-domestic premises to manage asbestos. For social landlords, this means maintaining an asbestos register for communal and non-domestic areas, conducting management surveys before any planned maintenance or refurbishment, and ensuring that licensed contractors are engaged for notifiable works. Properties built before 2000 should be treated as potentially containing asbestos-containing materials until confirmed otherwise. The framework’s Lots 1a and 1b provide access to UKAS-accredited surveyors and licensed removal contractors. Lot 1c offers a fully managed service for organisations that want a single contractor to handle the entire asbestos management cycle, from register maintenance to removal and documentation.

Unlike in England, Awaab’s Law does not currently apply in Scotland. However, the Scottish Social Housing Charter requires landlords to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard and to manage their stock so that it is free from serious disrepair. The Scottish Housing Regulator monitors landlord performance against Charter outcomes, and damp and mould sits squarely within the Regulator’s expectations around property condition and tenant health and safety. Where damp or mould is reported by tenants, landlords are expected to investigate promptly, identify the cause, and deliver a lasting remedy rather than a cosmetic fix. This framework provides access to surveyors who can diagnose root causes and contractors who can deliver compliant, documented treatment programmes, giving landlords the evidence trail needed to demonstrate a robust response to the Regulator. 

Scotland doesn’t yet have mandatory EICR legislation equivalent to the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, but electrical safety remains a core Repairing Standard obligation under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006. Landlords must ensure that electrical installations are in a reasonable state of repair and in proper working order. The Scottish Government has signalled intent to strengthen electrical safety requirements, and many Scottish landlords now carry out five-yearly EICRs as standard practice to demonstrate compliance. The interlinked smoke and heat alarm requirements under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2022 also have an electrical component where hardwired systems are installed. Lot 3a provides access to NICEIC-accredited contractors for EICR testing, PAT testing, and associated remedial works. Lot 3c offers a fully managed electrical compliance service for organisations wanting consolidated testing and security system management. 

Lifts in social housing are subject to the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER), both of which apply in Scotland. LOLER requires thorough examination of lifting equipment by a competent person at prescribed intervals, with passenger lifts typically requiring examination every six months. Records of inspections must be kept and defects addressed promptly. For landlords with high-rise stock, lift reliability is also a resident welfare issue, and the Scottish Housing Regulator monitors landlord performance in maintaining communal facilities. Lot 4 provides access to specialist lift contractors covering servicing, maintenance, refurbishment, and installation across all lift types present in Scottish social housing. 

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 place a duty on employers and those in control of premises to manage legionella risk. HSE’s Approved Code of Practice L8 provides the practical guidance. For social landlords, this means conducting written legionella risk assessments for all water systems, implementing control measures, and keeping records of monitoring and treatment. Void properties carry particular risk because stagnant water in heating and plumbing systems can allow legionella bacteria to proliferate. Before a void property is re-let, water systems should be flushed and temperatures checked. Lot 5 provides access to accredited legionella specialists for risk assessments, routine monitoring, remedial treatment, and documentation across all relevant water system types. 

Yes. The framework covers the full range of Scottish social housing stock, including high-rise dwellings, low-rise flats, houses, specialist accommodation, and other assets. The geographic structure across seven Scottish regions means suppliers are assessed on their capability in the areas they’re appointed to, including more remote and rural locations where national contractors may have limited operational capacity. For organisations with complex or mixed portfolios, the fully managed lots (1c, 2d, and 3c) offer a single-contractor approach that reduces the coordination burden and provides a clearer accountability structure. PfH Scotland can help you identify the most appropriate lot and procurement route for your specific portfolio mix. 

Compliance services are safety-critical. A contractor who prices keenly but lacks the technical capability, proper accreditations, or robust documentation processes creates regulatory and reputational risk for the landlord, and potentially physical risk for residents. The 70% quality weighting means suppliers were assessed primarily on their service delivery capability, health and safety practices, environmental approach, and social impact. Price matters, but it was evaluated in the context of demonstrated quality. The minimum quality threshold of 50% across all lots means no supplier was appointed purely on the basis of commercial competitiveness. Members can rely on this pre-assessment rather than needing to repeat detailed due diligence for each call-off. 

All suppliers confirmed they meet the minimum standards of accreditation, registration, and qualification required for their specific lot before appointment, and may be asked to provide evidence of current membership during the framework term. For asbestos lots, this includes UKAS accreditation for surveyors and HSE licensing for removal contractors. Electrical contractors hold NICEIC or equivalent accreditation. The evaluation also assessed lot-specific quality criteria including health and safety track record, service delivery methodology, environmental management, and social impact. Suppliers were additionally checked for appropriate insurance and financial standing. 

The Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 requires contracting authorities to consider how procurement can improve economic, social, and environmental wellbeing, and the Scottish Government’s Fair Work First policy expects public contracts to reflect fair employment practices including payment of the real Living Wage. The framework’s evaluation included assessment of suppliers’ social impact and approach to supply chain management. When running mini-competitions, members can incorporate Fair Work First criteria and additional social value requirements into their call-off tender documentation. PfH Scotland can advise on how to structure these requirements proportionately, in line with Scottish Government guidance.

PfH Scotland’s role doesn’t end at framework award. The team provides procurement consultancy, specification support, tender evaluation assistance, and ongoing contract management support throughout the life of a call-off contract. For members who want a more comprehensive service, PfH Scotland can act as a fully outsourced procurement function, managing the entire process from requirement definition through to contract award and performance monitoring. The Capital Works DPS is also available for projects that fall outside the framework’s scope or require a more flexible competitive pool.