CWAS3 (Construction Works & Associated Services 3): What Construction Suppliers Must Do Now

The ITT for Construction Works and Associated Services 3 (CWAS3) opened on 27 March 2026. The submission deadline falls on 21 May 2026. If you're a construction firm and haven't started your bid, you need to act immediately.

Government Commercial Agency (previously Crown Commercial Service) has now brought Construction Works and Associated Services 3 including ProCure24 (RM6320) to market, creating a major live framework opportunity for suppliers working across public sector construction, infrastructure and associated services. With an estimated total value of £120 billion excluding VAT and a proposed term running from 21 January 2027 to 20 January 2035, this is a significant opportunity for businesses looking to strengthen their public sector pipeline.

For suppliers already tracking CWAS3, this is the point where preparation needs to become action. This is a major pan-government framework covering a wide range of public sector construction works and associated services, with an estimated total value of £120 billion excluding VAT and a proposed term running from 21 January 2027 to 20 January 2035.

CWAS3 is designed to give central government and a wide range of public sector bodies access to construction works and associated services through a single commercial vehicle. As a result, it will sit at the centre of public sector construction buying for years to come.

What is CCS CWAS3?

CWAS3 is a major public sector construction framework being established by Government Commercial Agency (previously Crown Commercial Service). It creates routes to market across general construction, civil engineering, offsite solutions, healthcare, defence, international projects and nuclear works.

CWAS3 replaces the following frameworks:

• RM6088 Construction Works and Associated Services
• RM6267 Construction Works and Associated Services 2 (CWAS2) / ProCure 23 (P23)
• RM6184 Offsite Construction Solutions

That breadth is one of its biggest strengths. This is not a framework built around one type of supplier. It opens the door to regional contractors, specialist infrastructure providers, offsite and MMC businesses, defence and healthcare specialists, and suppliers with niche technical expertise. For many businesses, the real opportunity will come from identifying the lots that genuinely reflect their experience and delivery model rather than trying to cover everything.

Key dates

The procurement timetable is now clear:

• Enquiry deadline: 30 April 2026 at 3:00pm
• Tender submission deadline: 21 May 2026 at 3:00pm
• Estimated award decision date: 11 January 2027
• Estimated framework start date: 21 January 2027

That means suppliers need to be moving now. Lot selection, internal bid planning, project evidence and submission reviews all take time, especially on a framework of this scale.

The framework structure at a glance

The tender notice sets out 7 core lots, with 5 of those further divided into sub-lots.

Lot 1: Construction Works – General Projects

This covers general construction projects across a series of value bands, from projects below £5 million up to projects above £250 million.

Lot 2: Civil Engineering and Infrastructure

This lot is aimed at infrastructure delivery, again split by project value, and also includes a specific demolition element.

Lot 3: Offsite Solutions

This includes offsite and modern methods of construction, with sub-lots covering built estate projects, hire, health, justice, defence and education hire.

Lot 4: ProCure24

This is the healthcare-focused element, covering construction and ancillary projects for NHS England and associated healthcare bodies in England.

Lot 5: Defence

This lot covers defence-related works, including general projects, maritime, airfields, United States Visiting Forces and defence nuclear.

Lot 6: International

This covers worldwide delivery of construction and civil engineering projects for the built estate and infrastructure.

Lot 7: Nuclear

This lot applies to construction and infrastructure projects located within regulated nuclear sites.

For most suppliers, the practical question is to identify which lot or sub-lot best matches your contract history, operating geography, sector experience and project values.

A major framework opportunity

At £120 billion over 8 years, CWAS3 is set up to be one of the most important public sector construction frameworks in the market. The longer term is especially relevant. It gives buyers and suppliers more continuity, more room for investment and more opportunity to build long-term delivery relationships across the life of the framework. It is also intended to support alignment with the Construction Playbook and industry “Gold Standards”.

That longer duration makes a place on the framework especially significant. For successful suppliers, this is not simply a short-term route to market. It is a potential position on a high-profile public sector commercial vehicle that may shape project access over much of the next decade.

How contracts may be awarded

CWAS3 offers flexibility in how work may be awarded, with scope for contracts to be let either through further competition or without competition in some circumstances.

That flexibility matters because it affects the commercial value of a framework place. The businesses that get the most from frameworks like this are usually the ones that think beyond the initial bid. Winning a place matters, but so does being ready for the call-off stage, understanding buyer needs and staying visible once the framework is up and running.

Is CWAS3 open to SMEs?

Yes, and many SMEs should see this as a genuine opportunity.

One of the most encouraging features of CWAS3 is its scale and structure. With an unlimited maximum number of suppliers and a lot model that includes regional, lower-value and specialist routes, there is clear room here for smaller and mid-sized businesses that can show strong, relevant experience.

For SMEs, that matters. You do not need to be a national tier one contractor to have a place on this framework. If your business has a strong delivery record in a particular region, value band or specialist area, there may be a very credible fit. In fact, frameworks like this often work well for SMEs that stay close to their strengths, choose their lots carefully and present clear evidence of performance, quality and reliability.

The key is not size for its own sake. It is relevance, capability and positioning. A well-prepared SME bid that is tightly aligned to the right lot can be far more persuasive than a broader submission that tries to stretch beyond genuine experience.

This is exactly where smaller contractors and specialists can compete well. If you know your niche, understand your market and can evidence successful delivery, CWAS3 is the kind of framework that is worth serious consideration.

Data from market engagement

CCS received 141 responses to their initial survey - 66 from existing suppliers (18% SMEs) and 75 from potential new suppliers (55% SMEs). This suggests new SMEs see real opportunity in the framework.

The regional coverage data is particularly telling. The East Midlands shows the strongest supplier representation at 60% (with 20% being SMEs), while Northern Ireland has just 23% coverage (11% SMEs). These gaps could present opportunities for firms with regional strengths.

Customer engagement has mainly been through strategic forums with Central Government (44%) and Local Authorities (19%). For sector specialisms, Commercial & Retail and Education lead supplier capabilities, while minor works, demolition and nuclear top customer priorities.

Interest levels are high

The engagement appetite for CWAS3 is remarkably strong with 86% of SME suppliers, 79% of larger suppliers and 78% of customers saying they're likely to use the framework.

Market priorities revealed in CCS data

The numbers tell an interesting story about what matters most:

For suppliers, their top priorities are:

1. Direct Award procedure
2. Lot structure
3. CCS/Client collaboration
4. Framework pricing
5. Further competition procedure

For buyers, speed and quality lead the way:

1. Speed of procurement options/route to market
2. Pre-assured suppliers (Quality)
3. Reduced risk of procurement non-compliance
4. Pre-assured suppliers (Financially)
5. Procurement flexibility

The biggest headaches for suppliers are:

1. Pipeline visibility
2. Early Contractor Involvement
3. Tender documents & quality criteria
4. Sustainability and policy targets
5. Specification

While buyers struggle most with:

1. Cost & funding constraints
2. Engagement in tendering
3. Sustainability targets
4. Embedding social value
5. Procurement/commercial capacity

What suppliers should focus on now

For most businesses, the next step is straightforward: decide whether the framework is right for you, choose the right lots and prepare properly.

1. Choose the right lot
   Your lot strategy should reflect your real strengths, including delivery history, geography, sector experience and typical project values.
2. Check your evidence base
   Strong bids will need strong examples. Make sure your project case studies, policies, financial information and supporting evidence line up with the lots you want to pursue.
3. Build a strong submission plan
   A framework of this size needs proper bid management. The most effective submissions are usually the ones that are planned early, reviewed carefully and built around persuasive evidence rather than generic claims.
4. Think beyond framework award
   A framework place creates access, but access alone is not enough. Suppliers should also think ahead to how they will stay visible, target relevant opportunities and compete effectively at call-off stage.

How Thornton & Lowe can help

Winning a place on CCS Construction Works and Associated Services framework 3 (CWAS3) represents a major opportunity for construction businesses. It's 3 frameworks combined and with some of the benefits of the new Procurement Act!

Thornton & Lowe supports suppliers with framework selection, bid strategy, tender writing, evidence development and tender review across major public sector opportunities.

For CWAS3, that support is especially useful where businesses need to sharpen their lot strategy, strengthen their responses or make sure they are presenting the best possible evidence in a competitive process.

Thornton & Lowe Construction Experience

Construction works and professional services are a key area of strength for Thornton & Lowe. We have delivered tailored bid writing courses, provided bid writing services and framework compliance to organisations large and small. We have successfully work on the previous 3 frameworks, as well as many more CCS frameworks! In addition to this we have also successfully helped our clients win places on construction frameworks with Fusion21, LHC, Pagabo, NWCH and NWUPC. See more examples below.

As well as our core SME clients, we've supported and trained the likes of:

• Balfour Beatty
• BAM Construction
• Kier
• Novus
• Eric Wright Construction
• Anglian Group

Our training sessions are interactive, practical, and designed around the specific needs of each organisation. For example, Jodie Boast, Bid & Proposals Coordinator at Eric Wright Construction, said:

“Charles provided some bid training at our company for the bid team and directors. I thought the training was fantastic. It flowed well, and Charles kept it interactive and informative. It really helped the team understand the bid processes that sometimes can be missed. Charles explained the importance of bidding and showed us how some vital things that can be overlooked can lead to the winning bid. Friendly and approachable - a great session!”

"I would like to take the time thank you and your team for all the support with the Tender Bid. You have some talented people working for you and they are credit to your business." - Martin Tweddle, General Manager, DSD Construction

We also partner with the National Federation of Builders to provide bid writing courses, support and tender writing to their members.

Construction Client Wins - Examples

Our clients have achieved success in construction, infrastructure, and utilities bids for organisations including Transport for Greater Manchester, North West Construction Hub, Peak District National Park, NHS SBS, ESPO, Fusion21, Crown Commercial Service (CCS), central government buyers such as HMRC, as well as numerous local authorities including Manchester City Council, Birmingham City Council, Sunderland Council, Lancashire County Council, and housing associations such as Bolton at Home, Your Housing Group, Together Housing Group, and utilities companies such as United Utilities, Northumbrian Water, Thames Water, Yorkshire Water, and Severn Trent Water.

Final thoughts

CCS Construction Works and Associated Services 3 including ProCure24 is a major live framework opportunity with real long-term potential. Its scale, structure and range of lots create opportunities for a broad mix of suppliers, from regional contractors and SMEs through to larger national and specialist businesses.

For suppliers that can identify the right fit and put forward a strong, well-evidenced bid, this is a framework well worth pursuing.