Cambridge City Council is preparing a replacement Action on Energy Cambridgeshire Retrofit Framework with an estimated value of £120 million excluding VAT. The agreement will support energy-efficiency and renewable-energy improvements across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
The proposed framework is expected to appoint no more than six suppliers and could run for eight years. Tenders are currently expected at the end of October 2026, with market engagement taking place during September.
If your business can deliver whole-house retrofit at scale, speak to Thornton & Lowe about your framework readiness, evidence and bid strategy before the tender is issued.
A whole-house, fabric-first delivery model
The Cambridgeshire Energy Retrofit Partnership wants suppliers that can provide a whole-house, fabric-first approach in accordance with PAS 2035:2023. This is not simply an installation-only framework.
Appointed suppliers are expected to provide teams covering promotion and lead generation, whole-house retrofit assessment, retrofit coordination, installation and handover of energy-efficiency and renewable measures, and evaluation and monitoring.
Why the integrated scope matters for bidders
A supplier may be technically strong in individual measures but still need to show how the complete resident and property journey will work. The bid will need to connect customer engagement, assessment, design, coordination, installation, quality assurance and post-installation performance.
Partnership and supply-chain arrangements may therefore be important for organisations that do not deliver every element directly. Any proposed model should have clear accountability rather than relying on loosely connected subcontractors.
Up to six suppliers across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
The framework will cover the geographical boundaries of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough partner authorities. Cambridge City Council is the lead authority and currently plans to contract with no more than six suppliers.
The procurement is expected to use a competitive flexible procedure. Final qualification criteria, evaluation weightings and call-off arrangements have not yet been published, so these should be checked when the tender documents go live.
What retrofit suppliers should prepare
Useful pre-tender evidence includes:
- PAS 2035-compliant retrofit delivery and coordination.
- Whole-house assessment and measure-selection methodology.
- Resident engagement, vulnerability and customer-care processes.
- Installation quality, inspection, testing and handover.
- Renewable-energy and low-carbon technology capability where relevant.
- Supply-chain and installer competence management.
- Funding-scheme or publicly funded retrofit experience.
- Data collection, monitoring and evaluation.
- Carbon, energy-cost and comfort outcomes from completed schemes.
- Mobilisation and capacity across multiple local authority areas.
Engagement and key dates
A supplier event is scheduled for 18 September 2026, with registration requested by 16 September. The formal engagement deadline is 18 September. The tender notice is currently estimated for 31 October, with shortlisting expected around December and contract award anticipated in February 2027.
The official Find a Tender notice contains the current scope and engagement timetable. Suppliers should use the market-engagement documents to test any assumptions about the proposed delivery model.
Look beyond installation experience
Publicly funded retrofit programmes combine construction delivery with compliance, resident experience and measurable energy outcomes. Bidders should make sure their evidence covers the whole service rather than presenting a catalogue of installed measures.
Our article on commercial retrofit procurement provides further context on the evidence and delivery issues that can arise in public sector retrofit opportunities.
Prepare the integrated delivery model now
The framework’s six-supplier cap and eight-year potential term make it worth serious preparation. Map the full customer and property journey, identify where partners are needed and assemble PAS 2035 evidence before the October competition begins.
Thornton & Lowe supports construction, energy and retrofit suppliers with framework bids and competitive tenders. Contact our team if you want support preparing for the Action on Energy Cambridgeshire Retrofit Framework.
