HCC April 2026 Framework for Building Cleaning Services: What Cleaning Contractors Should Know

The HCC April 2026 – The Provision of a Framework for Building Cleaning Services is a high-value public sector opportunity from Hertfordshire County Council. With an estimated total value of £96 million including VAT over 4 years, the framework is intended to cover building cleaning services across a wide range of sites throughout the county.

The notice explains that the framework will be used by all departments of the Council, including schools, fire stations, disused sites, day centres and libraries. It may also be used for work requested by HFS partners and customers, which in some cases may be outside Hertfordshire. If you are considering whether to bid, contact Thornton & Lowe for a practical review of your fit, likely competitiveness and submission approach.

What this cleaning framework covers

Hertfordshire Full Stop Facilities Management Services, the trading organisation of Hertfordshire County Council, is seeking to appoint competent and cost-effective organisations to its Building Cleaning Framework. The framework is expected to become the main route for commissioning building cleaning services for the Council.

This is a single framework rather than a multi-lot structure, and it is designed for use across a varied property estate. That means bidders should be ready to demonstrate experience across multiple building types and operational settings, rather than relying on one narrow cleaning specialism.

What makes this opportunity commercially important

The notice states that the Council intends to award the framework to between 7 and 10 contractors. It also makes clear that the framework comes with no exclusivity and no guarantee of work, even though it is expected to be the Council’s main route for commissioning building cleaning services.

For suppliers, that means the decision to bid should take account not just of the framework value, but of how competitive you are likely to be at call-off stage and whether your delivery model works in a mini-competition environment.

Framework operation and bidding model

Call-offs under the framework will be carried out by mini-competition, and the award method is with competition. The framework has a maximum of 10 suppliers and a 0% supplier fee.

The framework is listed as being for the establishing party only, although the notice also says it may be used for works outside the Council as requested by partners and customers. Suppliers should therefore focus first on the Hertfordshire core requirement, while recognising there may be some wider use during the framework term.

What cleaning providers should focus on before bidding

This opportunity is likely to suit providers that can manage multi-site service delivery, workforce planning and quality assurance across public sector environments.

• Estate coverage - show that you can deliver consistently across schools, operational buildings, community sites and other council premises.
• Workforce model - recruitment, induction, training and absence management are all specifically weighted in the evaluation.
• Operational resilience - demonstrate how you will maintain quality across a varied building portfolio.
• Public sector understanding - relevant local authority or education cleaning experience will strengthen your case.
• Commercial realism - because there is no guarantee of work, bidders should assess whether the framework is worth pursuing on that basis.

Evaluation: where the marks are

The award criteria give a clear picture of what Hertfordshire County Council wants from bidders. Price carries 40%, while the remaining 60% is spread across operational and quality factors:

• Recruitment Policy - 10%
• Staff Inductions and Training - 10%
• Absenteeism Procedure - 10%
• Quality Standards - 10%
• Continuous Improvement Plan - 5%
• Project Delivery (Workflow) - 5%
• Environmental Impact - 5%
• Contractors Equipment - 5%

That tells you this is not simply a lowest-price framework. Hertfordshire is also looking for credible workforce systems, dependable service delivery and evidence of quality control.

A practical point bidders should not ignore

The notice flags local government reorganisation in Hertfordshire as a known contract risk. If changes go ahead, they are currently expected to take effect in April 2028, and this could affect the structure, scope or continuation of the contract beyond that point. Existing contracts are expected to transfer to successor authorities, but the Council does not guarantee this at this stage.

This does not make the framework unattractive, but it is something bidders should be aware of when assessing long-term planning assumptions.

Is this the right framework for your business?

This framework is likely to suit established cleaning providers with strong staffing systems, multi-site delivery capability and experience in public buildings. If your business is weighing up whether this is the right opportunity, the key questions are whether you can compete strongly on workforce quality as well as price, and whether the framework model works for you commercially.

For a straightforward view on fit and bid strategy, speak to the Thornton & Lowe team.

For the official documents, review the notice link and associated tender information before preparing your response.