Suppliers sought for £400m green homes drive

The 10 local authorities in Greater Manchester are seeking suppliers for an initial three year contract worth up to £400m for energy efficiency improvements at homes across the region.

Manchester City Council is working on behalf of the Greater Manchester authorities to appoint a panel of three providers onto a services concession framework agreement.

It is anticipated that the Greater Manchester Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation Partnership will run for three years from 2014 to 2017, with an option to extend for a further two years.

The framework tender document states: "This is a significant opportunity for the successful applicants to support some of Greater Manchester's 1.2m households improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

"The overall objective of the programme is to support a minimum of 15,000 households across all tenures – privately owned, private and social rented sectors – to reduce both their household energy bills, and carbon emissions.

"In doing so, GM authorities aim to provide continued support for our most vulnerable households and to catalyse low carbon economic growth, driving business and skills growth in a developing market place."

Successful applicants must be accredited as Green Deal Providers, with this accreditation in place by Sunday 30 June.

Applications from consortia must include one member with Green Deal Provider accreditation in place.

Energy efficiency works to households will be funded through a combination of Energy Company Obligation funding, Green Deal or other available loan finance, and other sources of finance available to the householder.

The programme will be endorsed and supported by each participating local authority, and will benefit from local authority branding, resources and local market intelligence.

The Greater Manchester Energy Advice Service will coordinate the programme, making available its marketing, programme management and customer care services.

The Greater Manchester Authorities are looking for partners who can develop and deliver the following services:

• Support for the GMEAS with marketing, demand creation, customer engagement and customer care services.
• Provision of cost information and financial advice to householders.
• Access to Green Deal or other loan finance, and additional forms of financial support such as ECO on behalf of householders.
• High quality installation of energy efficiency measures, including all measures available and accredited under Green Deal and ECO.
• Liaison with energy companies in relation to Green Deal plans, as required.
• Delivery of the required levels of maintenance and warranty support to householders.
• Support for householders to realise sustained reductions in their energy consumption.
• Programme management and governance expertise to help develop GM's Low Carbon retrofit programme, and drive local innovation and best practice.

Requests to participate and tender submissions should be made through The Chest website here.