The Environment Agency (EA) is seeking early supply chain engagement beginning with a free to attend webinar later this month ahead of tendering a £5.5 billion contract for its Collaborative Delivery Framework 2 in July 2025.

The EA has published a Prior Information Notice seeking expressions of interest and pre-market engagement from suppliers for its Collaborative Delivery Framework (CDF) 2.

CDF2 will deliver asset management activities across the whole of the EA's asset base including Flood and Coastal Risk Management, Navigation and Water Land and Biodiversity assets. The framework will provide both appraisal, design, technical support and construction works that support the EA’s asset management, maintenance, refurbishment and construction programmes of work. The Framework will be required to develop, design and deliver nature based solutions and more traditional hard engineering based solutions.

The framework will be used for construction projects in the range of £1million to ~£75 million (upper limit still tbc).

Construction and detailed design services will be split across multiple lots which will be divided by value.

Interested suppliers are being invited to attend a Market Engagement Webinar at 13:30 – 15:30 on 23rd January 2025 which will provide an overview of the proposed CDF2 framework model and the draft contracting, pricing and incentivisation approach.

The webinar will then be followed by in-person engagement days in Leeds on 30th of January 2024 and in Central London on 4th and 5th February 2025 (locations tbc).

Suppliers will be asked to attend only one of the in-person events – the sessions will give interested parties the opportunity to engage further on the proposed Framework model and request clarity and provide feedback on the proposed opportunity, ahead of the tender process commencing in the expected date of July 2025. Further market engagement and an issue of the draft tender pack will be undertaken prior to the tender date commencing.

The Agency currently expect the framework to be divided into the following three Lots:

• Lot 1 - will provide strategy, appraisal and design services.
• Lot 2 - suppliers will be expected to provide simple appraisal and business case services, early supplier engagement to support business case and outline design development, detailed design services, and construction works from a value of £1m to ~£5m.
• Lot 3 - suppliers will be expected to provide business case development services, early supplier engagement to support business case and outline design development, detailed design services, and construction works from a value of ~£5m+. All Lot 3 suppliers will also be required to have operational capability on a national basis.

The EA expect that all services in Lots 2 and 3 will be procured through a single contracting entity. Other key requirements will include:

• All lots will be awarded on a geographic basis which is expected to be across 3 regional hubs.
• All suppliers will also form part a pool to deliver nationally commissioned work. 
• All Lots will include the option for the Environment Agency to run competitions for certain projects.

It is anticipated that the Framework will also be open to use by other Public Contracting Authorities.

Detailed below is an indicative, average annual spend profile the EA anticipate for a supplier appointed onto one space within each individual Lot - the profile will fluctuate depending on geography.

The figures are based on previous spend together with projections for future budget profiles. The figures are based on an assumed cost model, and maybe subject to change.

.The Environment Agency is not committing to the figures set out below – the information is provided to enable suppliers to understand the value and scale of the relative Lots. Please note that as per HM Treasury policy, bidding entities will be required to demonstrate annual turnover equal or greater to 200% of the annual average framework value per single supplier within the relevant lot/hub, at the time of bidding for the framework.

Lot 1 

• Annual Average Framework Value, per supplier - £8m
• Annual average number of contracts, per supplier – 13
• Average Contract Value £0.6m

Lot 2

• Annual Average Framework Value, per supplier - £40m
• Annual average number of contracts, per supplier – 30
• Average Contract Value £1.3m

Lot 3 

• Annual Average Framework Value, per supplier - £78m
• Lot 3 - Annual average number of contracts, per supplier – 9
• Lot 3 – Average Contract Value £8.7m

The Environment Agency is now inviting suppliers to register their interest for this opportunity by emailing their company name, and contact details for a single point of contact within their organisation to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Suppliers who register their interest will be invited to attend the market engagement Webinar on the 23rd of January 2025 and to the follow up sessions on the 30th of January 2025 (Leeds) and the 4th and 5th of February (London).

Suppliers who view the Prior Information Notice after 23rd January 2025, will still be able to register their interest via email and all suppliers who register their interest will be contacted about any future market engagement events or initiatives. Suppliers who have already registered their interest do not need to re-register.

Click here to access the Prior Information Notice documentation.