Liverpool City Council is tendering an open framework for the infrastructure and specialist suppliers needed to support Culture Liverpool's events programme. The framework spans 18 lots, not 19, and is designed to bring together a wide range of event supply, production, safety and operational services.
The estimated value is £38.4 million including VAT over eight years. Because the framework ranges from power and barriers to medical services, security, staging, screens and pyrotechnics, the most relevant suppliers are specialists within individual event disciplines rather than only full-service event agencies. If you are assessing which lot fits your business, contact Thornton & Lowe.
An 18-lot event supply framework
The lots include event power, crowd barriers and fencing, production and site support, medical services, portable cabins, toilets, PA/AV/lighting, traffic management infrastructure, security and stewarding, traffic management stewarding, trackway, marquees, safety management, hostile vehicle mitigation, staging, screens, catering and pyrotechnics.
This breadth means suppliers should resist trying to present themselves as suitable for areas outside their core capability. Stronger bids will align directly to the technical, staffing, equipment, safety and service requirements of the lot being pursued.
Framework access and call-offs
The framework is open, with an unlimited number of suppliers and a 0% supplier fee. Pricing will be set at framework level for a specified group of lots and can be used for direct awards; other requirements can be awarded through further competition. The notice therefore records the call-off method as either with or without competition.
The framework can be used by Liverpool City Council and a number of other Merseyside public bodies, including St Helens, Sefton, Knowsley, Wirral and Halton Councils and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.
Quality will carry most of the score
The headline award weighting is 80% quality and 20% price. For event suppliers, quality evidence should be operational and specific: mobilisation, equipment availability, competence, maintenance, contingency, event-day communication, safety, licensing and how issues are resolved under time pressure.
Social and community considerations may also need to be reflected where the tender documents ask for them. Thornton & Lowe's guide to social value in tenders is a useful starting point, but commitments should always be tailored to the event service and local delivery context.
Key dates and facts
- Estimated value: £38.4 million including VAT
- 18 lots
- Framework dates: 1 February 2027 to 31 January 2035
- Open framework, unlimited suppliers, 0% fee
- Enquiry deadline: 18 September 2026 at 12:00pm
- Tender submission deadline: 9 October 2026 at 12:00pm
- Headline evaluation: 80% quality, 20% price
Review the Liverpool Events Support Services Framework Find a Tender notice and the lot-specific tender documents before submitting.
Event framework bid support
Thornton & Lowe can help specialist event suppliers interpret the lot requirements, organise technical evidence and produce a compliant, clear submission. Speak to our bid team about the Liverpool framework.
