Question: Can we use JCT?

Answer: Yes!

Whilst YORhub recommends the use of NEC4 forms of contract, in line with various best practice guidance from organisations such as the Cabinet Office’s Government Construction Board, our YORbuild frameworks are priced for both NEC and JCT. For those wanting to use JCT we provide a list of standard amendments in a call-off supplement to be included within your contracts.  And our YORconsult framework supports any form of contract.

For those interested in using NEC but needing additional support we also offer free NEC training.

Question: Can we do price-only mini-competitions?

Answer: Yes!

Price-only tenders are possible and indeed used through all YORhub frameworks.

Question: Can we change the price/quality weightings?

Answer: Yes!

Our YORhub frameworks have been designed to be flexible in accepting a wide variety of price/quality weightings, for example on YORbuild3 you can select any weighting from 100% price to 30% price / 70% quality.

Question: Can we choose how many quality questions to ask?

Answer: Yes!

Our templates include a suite of customisable quality questions to choose from. We encourage you to choose the relevant quality questions for your project from the suite. Each quality question can be weighted up to 50% so on a price/quality exercise two quality questions is acceptable or if they are not needed, you can tender on a price-only basis.

Question: Can we amend how we score quality questions?

Answer: Yes!

While the title of the quality question should not be changed (eg Tender Programme, Outline method statement for the project etc) the bullet points within these are flexible. You can amend them to reflect your project-specific requirements. For example, where a scheme requires a Construction Environmental Management Plan to satisfy planning requirements, you can alter the bullet points under the method statement question to capture this need.

Likewise, the number of bullet points can be amended and you can amend the Scoring Guide to suit.  All we ask is that you ensure that the score guide is open and transparent and can be clearly understood by both the evaluation panel and prospective tenderers.

Question: Can we alter the social value weightings?

Answer: Yes!

Our frameworks have standard quality questions, 2 of which are focused on Social Value. The weightings of our quality questions are flexible and can be varied. Any question can form up to 50% of the overall quality score, so between the two questions you can put the entire quality scoring to social value if you so wish. We are happy to talk to users about weighting options on all of your tender opportunities.

Question: Can we alter the employment and skills outputs to fit our organisational or project-specific requirements.

Answer: Yes!

We offer standard employment & skills outputs on call-offs over £100k as a matter of course, the targets can be varied by each authority depending on their own requirements. This flexibility enables project specific requirements to be considered so any targets set are appropriate and achievable. We recommend these are developed in conjunction with the YORhub Employment & Skills Manager or Framework Manager.

Question: Can we use our own templates?

Answer: Yes!

Many prefer to use our templates as YORhub has passed numerous external audits confirming compliance of our template documents with procurement regulations; however you are welcome to use your own documentation as long as framework-specific requirements are included. Any framework specific requirements can be provided as a separate call-off supplement. Our only advice is to check to make sure that there are no ambiguities between the framework-specific requirements and your own contractual requirements.

Question: What value scheme can we put through YORhub?

Answer: Any!

We’ve had schemes ranging from under £2,000 up to over £100m through our frameworks.

Question: Can we have a catchup meeting with YORhub?

Answer: Yes!

We’re very happy to meet face to face or virtually. This could be to provide free training or to talk through how you can make the frameworks work for you.  Your regular contacts within the framework management teams are available to meet you, alternatively Mike Raven’s new appointment as the YORhub Performance & Improvement Manager means that he is now available to meet at your convenience.

Would you like a one-to-one discussion about YORhub in person or over Teams to find out more or to feedback your experiences?  Please get in touch with Mike Raven, YORhub Performance & Improvement Manager who will be happy to come and see you and talk through how best to make the frameworks work for you.