Link14 Construction & Building Services Framework: Supplier Guide

The Link14 Construction & Building Services Framework is offering construction contractors and building services providers the opportunity to compete for places on a new £1 billion public sector framework. Covering seven lots across several English regions, the framework will support projects ranging from smaller refurbishments and building installations to major construction works.

Procured by Concertus Suffolk Limited, Link14 is particularly relevant to contractors seeking access to public sector building programmes. The competition is underway, with a deadline for requests to participate of 5 November 2026 at 9am.

For businesses considering an application, understanding the lot structure and initial selection requirements will be essential. The procurement will take place in two stages, meaning suppliers must first demonstrate their suitability before being invited to submit a full tender.

Link14 framework at a glance

The framework is intended to provide public sector customers with access to construction and building services contractors across East Anglia, the Home Counties, the Midlands and the West Country, alongside a larger-project construction lot covering the Central Belt of England.

The proposed scope includes construction, refurbishment, building installation, maintenance, site preparation and associated specialist services. Suppliers can review the official Link14 Find a Tender notice for the published procurement information.

What are the seven Link14 framework lots?

One of the framework's most significant features is how it separates opportunities by both geographical area and project value. This allows contractors to identify the categories most closely aligned with their operational coverage and experience, rather than treating the framework as a single competition for projects of every size.

Lots 1 and 3: Construction projects up to £2 million

These lots cover smaller construction projects in their respective regions. The anticipated works include refurbishments, remodelling, extensions and demolition works involving existing buildings.

For regional contractors, these categories may provide an accessible route into public sector frameworks without requiring the scale of resources associated with major capital projects. However, applicants will still need to demonstrate that they satisfy the financial, technical and procurement-specific selection requirements.

Lots 2 and 4: Construction projects from £2 million to £14 million

These lots cover larger or more complex construction projects, including refurbishment, remodelling, extensions, demolitions and new-build works. They may be suitable for established regional contractors with experience of managing multidisciplinary projects, subcontractors and more demanding construction programmes. Businesses should consider whether their previous projects, management resources and financial capacity align with the relevant requirements before choosing to apply.

Lot 5: Major construction projects valued at £12 million or more

Lot 5 covers larger construction works across the framework's Central Belt geographical area. The higher project values make this category particularly relevant to main contractors capable of delivering complex programmes, coordinating multiple specialist trades and managing substantial commercial and operational risks. Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate experience appropriate to the scale of work anticipated.

Lots 6 and 7: Building Services projects up to £3 million

These lots focus on building services projects in East Anglia and the Home Counties, and across the Midlands and West Country respectively. The framework's overall scope includes the installation and maintenance of electrical and mechanical equipment, alongside other building installation and maintenance services.

These categories could interest mechanical and electrical contractors, specialist installation businesses and building services providers. Suppliers should consult the detailed specifications to establish which activities are included and whether their experience meets the relevant criteria.

Is the Link14 framework suitable for SMEs?

The published notice identifies small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as particularly suitable for all seven lots. The inclusion of construction categories covering projects up to £2 million and building services categories up to £3 million is especially relevant to smaller and regional contractors. Unlike frameworks focused exclusively on major national construction programmes, Link14 provides separate routes for businesses delivering lower-value projects.

Nevertheless, smaller project values do not automatically mean that qualification will be straightforward. Applicants will be assessed against financial criteria, minimum requirements, the Common Assessment Standard and procurement-specific questions. Contractors must therefore demonstrate that they have the experience, resources and systems appropriate to the lots they select.

Selecting a realistic lot may be more valuable than applying for every available category. A contractor with strong refurbishment experience across the Midlands, for example, may be better positioned to compete for Lot 3 than for a major construction lot requiring evidence of much larger projects. The same principle applies to specialist building services businesses deciding whether to pursue regional opportunities.

How will suppliers be selected?

Link14 is being procured using a competitive flexible procedure with two principal stages.

Stage 1: Participation and supplier selection

At the first stage, suppliers must complete the Common Assessment Standard Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (CAS PSQ) and the procurement-specific questions relevant to their selected lots. The assessment includes mandatory and discretionary requirements, financial criteria and other minimum conditions.

Suppliers passing the applicable requirements will then be evaluated against the procurement-specific questions. To be eligible for shortlisting, bidders must achieve at least 50% across the procurement-specific questions and fall within the applicable down-selection range. The notice sets out the following maximum numbers of suppliers that may be invited to tender:

These are shortlisting limits, not guaranteed numbers of final framework appointments. For suppliers, the immediate priority is therefore preparing a strong first-stage application. A business that does not meet the selection requirements or achieve a sufficiently competitive score may not progress to the full tender stage.

Stage 2: Invitation to Tender

Suppliers selected following Stage 1 will be invited to submit responses to the Invitation to Tender (ITT) questions and pricing schedules for their shortlisted lots.

The published notice indicates that negotiations may take place following the initial ITT assessment, with final tenders requested where necessary.

This means contractors should prepare for a potentially more involved procurement process than a conventional single-stage tender.

How will Link14 framework tenders be evaluated?

The published award criteria specify the following weightings:

The 70% quality weighting is particularly important for businesses preparing for the second stage. While pricing will remain significant, suppliers must be able to demonstrate the quality and credibility of their proposed delivery arrangements. The detailed tender questions will determine precisely what evidence is required. However, construction contractors should consider preparing information covering the following areas.

• Relevant project experience: Examples of successfully delivered projects similar in type, scale and complexity to the chosen lot.
• Delivery methodology: How works are planned, resourced, coordinated and managed, including arrangements for dealing with project risks.
• Health, safety and quality management: Appropriate systems, competent personnel, supervision arrangements and procedures for maintaining delivery standards.
• Programme and resource management: Evidence of sufficient labour, management capacity, subcontractor arrangements and reliable supply chains.
• Performance and customer outcomes: Relevant examples demonstrating delivery against programme, cost, quality and client requirements.

These should be treated as practical preparation areas rather than confirmed individual scoring questions. Suppliers must follow the published procurement documentation when determining the precise requirements.

At Thornton & Lowe, our bid writing specialists help contractors translate their experience into clear, structured responses that address evaluation criteria and demonstrate the strength of their delivery approach.

How will contracts be awarded through Link14?

The framework is designed to offer public sector customers flexibility in how they procure individual projects. The published notice identifies both direct awards and mini-competitions as potential routes to awarding work. It also allows for different contractual arrangements, including NEC, JCT, ICE and ICC forms of contract, together with bespoke terms where appropriate.

For contractors, there are two important considerations. First, securing a framework place does not itself guarantee a particular volume of work. Suppliers will need to remain commercially competitive and capable of meeting individual customer requirements. Second, framework performance could influence future opportunities. The published arrangements include mechanisms that can take account of supplier ranking, quality, price and performance against framework KPIs. Businesses should therefore consider both their immediate tender response and their longer-term approach to delivering and managing framework contracts.

How to prepare for the Link14 framework application

With the first-stage deadline approaching, suppliers should focus on the requirements that determine whether they can progress to the ITT.

Confirm your preferred lots and geographical coverage

Review the seven lots against your previous experience, resources and operational locations. Consider whether your business can demonstrate the capacity to deliver throughout the relevant region and across the specified project values. If applying for multiple lots, check whether separate evidence or procurement-specific responses are required.

Review your Common Assessment Standard information

The initial stage requires completion of the CAS PSQ. Businesses should ensure their company information, financial details, policies, certifications and relevant supporting evidence are current and consistent. Where clarification is needed about mandatory requirements, raise it before the enquiry deadline.

Select strong construction project examples

The procurement-specific questions will play an important role in determining which suppliers progress. Identify projects that closely match the lot being pursued. Consider the relevance of contract values, building types, geographical delivery, project complexity and your organisation's responsibilities. Examples should demonstrate what the business actually delivered, how challenges were managed and what outcomes were achieved.

Prepare for the quality-focused ITT

Although the full ITT follows shortlisting, suppliers can begin gathering supporting evidence now. Relevant material might include delivery methodologies, organisational structures, health and safety arrangements, subcontractor management processes and performance data. The aim is to have reliable, specific evidence available when detailed tender questions are issued.

Check the submission instructions carefully

Suppliers wishing to access the procurement documentation must register and become associated with the project. The notice instructs applicants to email tenders@concertus.co.uk with:

• Company name
• Key contact name
• Email address, preferably a shared mailbox
• Contact telephone number

The procurement documents will then be available through the Prologic eSourcing portal.

Bidders should maintain their portal registration to receive relevant notices, updates and clarifications. The enquiry deadline is 23 October 2026 at 5pm, and requests to participate must be submitted by 5 November 2026 at 9am.

How Thornton & Lowe can support your Link14 application

The Link14 Construction & Building Services Framework offers opportunities for contractors of different sizes, but its two-stage procurement process makes early preparation particularly important. With a limited number of suppliers progressing to the ITT stage, applicants need to ensure their initial submissions demonstrate the relevant experience, capability and compliance requirements.

Thornton & Lowe supports construction businesses with bid writing and tender management, from reviewing procurement documentation and preparing selection responses to developing competitive quality submissions.

If you're planning to apply for the Link14 framework, contact Thornton & Lowe to discuss how we can support your application ahead of the November deadline.