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BHTA members involved in home adaptations, moving and handling equipment, and accessibility solutions are encouraged to review this new tender opportunity from Chesterfield Borough Council for the supply and installation of stairlifts and ceiling track hoists in domestic properties.
The contract is intended to support the provision of equipment in homes across Chesterfield. It covers both stairlift installations and ceiling track hoist systems, with separate lots for each requirement.
This is an open procedure tender notice published under the Procurement Act 2023. The council has stated that options are included to allow additional purchases while the contract is valid, and to increase scope or value, or novate the contract as part of the upcoming local government reorganisation.
The tender is divided into two lots.
Lot 1 covers the design and installation of straight and curved stairlifts in domestic properties, with an estimated value of up to £1,400,000 excluding VAT over the maximum contract duration.
Lot 2 covers the design and installation of ceiling track hoists in domestic properties, with an estimated value of up to £100,000 excluding VAT.
This tender is suitable for SMEs and VCSEs, as well as other providers able to deliver domestic stairlift and hoist design and installation services.
The evaluation weighting is 60 percent for quality, 30 percent for price, and 10 percent for social value.
Tenders must be submitted electronically via Proactis Due North by 12pm on 28 April 2026.
The council’s estimated award decision date is 11 May 2026. Access to the full tender documentation is available through the portal link above.
Enquiries can be directed to: procurement@chesterfield.gov.uk
For 2026-2027, the UK Government has confirmed £723 million for the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) to enable older and disabled people to live safely, independently, and comfortably at home.
DFGs enable vital home adaptations, including installing equipment like level-access showers, grab rails, stairlifts, ramps, homelifts, and ceiling track hoists, so that people can live in their own homes independently.
For BHTA members installing adaptation equipment, this DFG announcement is welcome, as it means there is more money available in local authorities to facilitate these life-changing installations and improve individuals’ quality of life.
Home adaptations also play a crucial role in supporting the NHS by preventing falls and other accidents in the home, speeding up hospital discharges, and reducing admissions, all of which ease pressure on the health service and help to shift care out of hospital and into the community.
According to the government, the DFG supported around 60,000 people last year.
Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock, said: “We are putting more money into funding life-changing home adaptations so older and disabled people can live safely and independently.”
The 2026 to 2027 DFG allocations are:
East Renfrewshire Council has announced a new framework opportunity for the supply, delivery, and installation of internal and external hand/grab rails and minor adaptations for homeowners and council tenants. The framework may be of particular interest to BHTA members operating in the daily living aids and home adaptations sectors.
The contract, titled ‘Framework – Supply, Delivery & Installation of Internal & External Hand/Grab Rails & Minor Adaptations’, has an estimated value of £336,000 (excluding VAT). It will run for an initial period of 24 months, with the option to extend for up to two additional 12-month periods. The procedure will follow an open, single-supplier framework.
The contracting authority is East Renfrewshire Council, and the notice reference is ERC000696 / 2025/S 000-079654.
Bidders must demonstrate relevant professional qualifications, financial stability, and appropriate insurance coverage. All staff working on the contract must hold an SVQ in Carpentry and Joinery (Construction) at SVQ Level 3 / SCQF Level 6 or equivalent, and all personnel must have completed PVG Disclosure checks.
Applicants should have a minimum annual turnover of £168,000 over the past two years. Required insurance levels include Employers’ Liability of £10 million, Public Liability of £5 million, and either Professional Indemnity or Contractors All Risk cover of £2 million.
Tenders will be evaluated on both price and quality, with a 60/40 weighting respectively. Quality criteria will consider methodology, client interaction, onsite housekeeping, complaints handling, warranties, contingency planning, and community benefits.
Community benefits are a mandatory component of this tender, with a minimum threshold of 60 points required.
Full tender documentation and submission details are available through the Public Contracts Scotland portal at https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk. The project code is 30528.
The deadline for tender submissions is 12pm on 12 January 2026.
For further information, contact May Harvey-Welsh at East Renfrewshire Council via email at may.harvey-welsh@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk or by telephone on +44 141 577 3669.
The British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) is calling on the UK Government to deliver fair and sustained investment in the healthcare and assistive technology sectors ahead of the Autumn Budget, due to be announced on 26 November 2025.
The BHTA is urging government to act on the findings of the recent All-Party Parliamentary Group for Access to Disability Equipment report. The report highlights systemic failures leaving thousands without the essential equipment they need. Targeted, long-term investment from the government in community equipment services would ensure that people receive timely support, while reducing pressure on hospitals and enabling more individuals to live independently at home.
A recent BBC article exposed widespread delays in NHS wheelchair services, leaving many people waiting months or even years for appropriate equipment. BHTA and industry partners have called for increased funding for Personal Wheelchair Budgets, to ensure individuals can get access to the right chair for their needs.
BHTA members that provide wheelchair services to the NHS are constantly battling underfunding and increased service demand, which impacts their ability to deliver timely, high-quality care. Increased government funding would not only ease this pressure but also enhance the overall efficiency and sustainability of these vital services.
The BHTA continues to lead the national call to remove VAT on public access defibrillators through its Scrap the Heart Restart Tax campaign. This is a simple, cost-effective measure that would immediately make life-saving equipment more accessible in communities across the UK.
The issue is also gaining political momentum, following a recent debate in Parliament where MPs voiced strong support for removing the tax. The association welcomes this cross-party attention and urges the government to act swiftly to implement this crucial reform.
The BHTA also calls for greater funding for home adaptations. Evidence from an Age UK report highlights that delays in home adaptations are forcing older people into residential care unnecessarily, demonstrating that timely adaptations help people remain safe and independent in their homes for longer. Increasing Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) funding would allow more people to access high-quality adaptation equipment suited to their needs – from stairlifts and homelifts to accessible bathing solutions and grab rails – reducing long-term costs for the NHS and social care systems.
David Stockdale, Chief Executive of the BHTA, commented: “We can’t build a fair and sustainable health system without investing in the organisations that make it possible.
“From ensuring access to life-saving defibrillators to funding the right wheelchair for every person in need, these aren’t luxuries – they’re essentials.
“The Autumn Budget is the government’s opportunity to show that it values ethical innovation, fair access, and the health of every individual.”