Become a supplier: achieve success together with PfH

Suppliers join PfH agreements by completing a formal application that demonstrates their technical competence, experience, financial standing, and compliance with relevant legislation. Evidence typically includes audited accounts, health and safety documentation, quality management processes, and sector-specific accreditations. Applications are evaluated against predefined criteria under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and Procurement Act 2023. Successful suppliers gain access to housing providers across the UK through direct award or mini-competition opportunities, depending on the agreement. PfH does not guarantee work, but joining gives suppliers a compliant, visible route to market within the social housing sector.

Opportunities vary by agreement but generally include direct award requests, invitations to mini-competitions, market engagement discussions, technical clarifications, and early visibility of procurement activity. PfH promotes suppliers to housing providers through category teams, supplier directories, and structured competitions. Opportunities are driven by buyers’ requirements rather than PfH assigning work, so performance, responsiveness, and clear value propositions significantly influence which suppliers are approached or shortlisted by members.

PfH provides access to a concentrated member base of UK housing associations, local authorities, and public bodies. Suppliers benefit from reduced bidding effort, shorter procurement timelines, and visibility via a nationally recognised contracting authority. Because PfH frameworks are quality-weighted, they favour suppliers with strong technical delivery, compliance records, and social value outcomes. This reduces the risk of being undercut purely on price and helps position high-performing suppliers more competitively in the sector.

Strong performance in mini-competitions typically comes from clearly articulated technical solutions, transparent pricing, and evidence-based delivery claims. Housing providers respond well to tenders that demonstrate understanding of resident priorities, regulatory obligations, lifecycle requirements, and project-specific constraints. PfH encourages suppliers to provide case studies, methodology statements, risk management approaches, and measurable social value commitments. High-quality, compliant responses increase the likelihood of being shortlisted by buyers.

Assessment criteria vary by agreement but always follow the latest procurement legislation such as Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and Procurement Act 2023. Evaluation includes financial checks, health and safety arrangements, sector-specific competence (e.g., technical standards or accreditations), environmental and social value approaches, and quality of service delivery. Unlike typical open-market tendering, PfH uses a consistent, transparent scoring approach that prioritises technical merit. This ensures suppliers are evaluated fairly and based on demonstrable capability rather than marketing claims.

Suppliers are expected to maintain the standards demonstrated in their application and comply with all contractual, regulatory, and safety obligations. PfH monitors performance through member feedback, our spend and contract management platform Qunatum, KPIs, contract management discussions, and evidence of continued accreditation. Consistent delivery, transparent communication, and responsiveness to member needs strengthen a supplier’s reputation and increase future competition invitations.

Social value is increasingly gaining priority by housing providers. PfH supports suppliers by setting clear social value expectations within competitions and asking for measurable, contract-specific commitments rather than generic pledges. Suppliers can demonstrate value through local employment, skills development, community investment, environmental improvements, or carbon-reduction initiatives. Strong, evidenced commitments often score highly in mini-competitions and help suppliers stand out within a competitive supplier market.

PfH’s procurement teams guide suppliers through the competition process, providing clarification windows, structured tender documents, compliance checks, and fair evaluation processes. PfH cannot advise suppliers on how to improve competitiveness within an individual tender, but it ensures all suppliers receive equal information, transparent scoring criteria, and compliant timelines. This governance protects suppliers from unfair advantage and ensures competitions meet procurement regulations.

Suppliers can increase visibility by maintaining up-to-date company profiles, engaging with PfH category managers, sharing accredited case studies, and responding promptly to member enquiries. PfH promotes its suppliers through category expertise, buyer engagement sessions, our member account teams and our online procurement solutions. Clear communication, strong project outcomes, and proactive sector engagement significantly improve supplier visibility among members.

Suppliers who perform best combine technical competence, regulatory assurance, strong delivery records, and a resident-focused approach. Housing providers value contractors and consultants who offer transparent pricing, well-evidenced methodologies, robust health and safety processes, and credible social value plans. Because PfH competitions are quality-weighted, suppliers who can articulate how they deliver safe, compliant, and community-centred services often outperform those relying primarily on low pricing strategies.