As an ethical organisation, we want our suppliers to reflect our values and help us achieve our corporate, social and economic responsibilities and objectives.
Choice Housing Ireland Ltd works with a diverse range of suppliers who help to support the organisation’s mission statement “to enrich lives through great homes, services and communities’.
Our Vision to 2024 is “to be recognised as the leading housing association group in Northern Ireland”.
Choice has unique and demanding needs that evolve rapidly and to support our business operations, we work with a wide range of suppliers and supply chains at both local and national level.
When selecting who we work with, we want to be transparent throughout the process whilst demonstrating value for money. As an ethical organisation, we want our suppliers to reflect our values and help us achieve our corporate, social and economic responsibilities and objectives.
The need to demonstrate value for money is central to our procurement strategy. We work with our suppliers to deliver contracts which are robust, fit for purpose and maximise value for money for Choice. We also strive to maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of our buying and sourcing solutions.
How we buy
Choice Housing Ireland s Procurement team have embedded electronic tendering in line with current best practice.
The eProcurement system used by Choice is utilised by many Public Sector organisations throughout Northern Ireland – eTendersNI.
Potential suppliers are advised to register on eTendersNI and opt for as many relevant CPV (Common Procurement Vocabulary) codes reflecting their business and types of goods and services that they supply.
eTendersNI will email notifications about current opportunities to suppliers based on their CPV profiles.
Full guidance for suppliers is available through the eTendersNI website, however, any queries about registering on eTendersNI or using the system can be directed to the eTendersNI helpdesk on 0800 240 4545 or email ni-eproc-helpdesk@eurodyn.com.
Above WTO GPA Threshold – Goods, Services and Works
In accordance with current guidance and regulations, for above Threshold procurements, Choice will award contracts on the basis of the Most Economical Advantageous Tender (MEAT).
This is in line with The Agreement on Government Procurement of the World Trade Organization (WTO), commonly known as the GPA, Thresholds for Works and Goods and Services procurements.
These contracts will be advertised on eTendersNI and the Official Journal of the European Union.
Below WTO GPA Threshold
For the majority of construction projects below WTO GPA Threshold, Choice currently operates a Procurement Strategy for its construction work and services in accordance with the Simplified Approach to Procurements Over £30,000 and Under Thresholds as Procurement Guidance Note (PGN) 05/12.
Opportunities will be advertised on eTendersNI
For non-construction projects below Threshold, Choice will adopt two procurement strategies. Below £30,000 will be either advertised via E Tenders or for specialist requirements, it will invite a select list of suitably qualified suppliers to tender. All projects with an estimated value over £30,000 will be advertised via e Tenders NI.
How we evaluate
Supplier selection is based on overall value for money to ensure the most economically advantageous contracts are put in place and to maintain surety of supply. There are a number of other criteria we evaluate including quality, reliability, safety, service, maintenance and social value.
Potential suppliers must demonstrate their financial, commercial and technical capability to meet our contractual requirements. We also look for a clear demonstration of commitment to social value in line with Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 01/21 Scoring Social Value.
