Procurement Puzzles

One of the (many) complexities in the whole ECO landscape is how different organisations are procuring ECO.  I know of a few RPs where the Energy Companies have been brought in through a relationship with the R&M contractor which obviates the need for a procurement process.  Another popular route seems to be the frameworks like Re:New.  Of course, it’s the usual players on the frameworks.  Finally there’s going the OJEU way – but with the time scale of ECO who wants to spend months tied up in competitive dialogue?  For all this, what we are seeing most of is procurement being done through good, old fashioned contacts and customer management without a formal procurement process.  It’s worth remembering that in effect the energy companies are giving away cash.  As one industry insider said to us last week “Why would I pay (through a tender) to give you money?”  So, too early yet to tell what the preferred way of getting hold of ECO funds is.  As always, we’d love to hear your opinions, thoughts and ideas.

ECO early movers get great deals

On the face of it, it’s a great opportunity.  I’m talking about the £1.3bn ECO fund which launched to much fanfare back in January.  To date, I think most people have been keeping their powder dry and watching what the market will do.  From talking to Registered Providers across the UK many are still unsure if they have schemes which will work, some are waiting to get the 2013/14 capital budgets approved and others are waiting to see what level of contribution they could expect to get.  It’s our view that organisations that move early will get some great deals from the energy companies.  There are schemes available with 100% funding – genuinely 100% including all the associated making good and other works after the measures have gone in.  We working with 40 RPs at the moment and the number is growing by the week.  To find out more about what we’re doing click over here and see for yourself.