Westmorland and Furness Council has gone out to tender with a contract for Professional Services 2026-2030 with an estimated value of £14.4 million (inc VAT).

The Authority is looking to establish a Closed Framework for the provision of multidisciplinary

professional services across three Lots for Westmorland and Furness Council, with up to 7 suppliers appointed for each Lot.

The contract is being tendered in the following Lots:

Lot 1 Property (£4.8 million)

• Consultancy services to deliver a range of projects, including:
• Architecture (related to schools and corporate buildings)
• Property related engineering and infrastructure development
• Land remediation and landscaping development and designs
• Planned maintenance survey, development and design
• Mechanical and electrical design
• Carbon Management and decarbonisation projects

Lot 2 Civils and Infrastructure (£4.8 million)

• Consultancy services including:
• General civil engineering and infrastructure projects (including new works, improvement, refurbishment and maintenance schemes related to roads, bridges, other structures and drainage projects)
• Land remediation and landscaping
• Early Contractor involvement on civil engineering and remediation projects
• Flood defence or alleviation
• Tidal Work, Marine or Harbour projects
• Habitat Creation and biodiversity improvement/gain
• Decarbonisation and renewable energy projects

Lot 3 Planning, Growth and Sustainability(£4.8 million)

• Consultancy services for a range of services and projects, which are managed and delivered by the Council's Infrastructure Planning Team:
• Architecture (related to schools and corporate buildings)
• Infrastructure Planning
• Transport Planning
• Economic Appraisal
• Local Plans
• Town Planning Advice
• Environmental Impact Assessment
• Project and Programme Management
• Carbon management and Decarbonisation Projects

The framework will run for 48 months - current estimated start and end contract dates are 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2030.

Contracts will be awarded under the framework via mini-competition call-offs which include qualitative and

commercial submissions.

Contracting authorities that may use the framework are Westmorland and Furness Council, Cumberland Council, and Cumbria Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA).

Deadline for submission of enquiries about the tender is 4:00pm 4 December 2025, and tender submission deadline is 2:00pm on 12 December 2025,

The Council is now inviting suppliers to express an interest and obtain access to the tender documents via The Chest, the North West's Local Authority Procurement Portal (www.the-chest.org.uk) and click on current opportunities from the navigation area on the left of the screen.

On the next screen suppliers should enter the contract Reference (DN796034) in the box labelled 'contains' then click search and click on the blue link for the contract title to view the opportunity. Suppliers who want to express an interest will need to login. Suppliers who are not already registered on www.the-chest.org.uk will need to return to the home page and click on Register. Register FREE link in the navigation area on the left of the screen. Registration is free of charge and a username and password will be emailed to suppliers.

Westmorland and Furness Council is reserving the right not to award any contract as a result of the procurement process and to make whatever changes it may see fit to the content and structure of the tendering competition.

The Council emphasises that in no circumstances will it be liable for any costs incurred by the candidates.

Westmorland and Furness Council expects to announce the award decision date in April 2026.