National Framework for Civil Engineering & Infrastructure Works 2026: Supplier Guide

The National Framework for Civil Engineering, Infrastructure and Enabling Works 2026 is now open for tender applications, creating a major opportunity for contractors across civil engineering, infrastructure, demolition, land preparation and enabling works.

The framework is being procured by YPO, with Pagabo acting as agent. It is expected to run for four years, from 7 September 2026 to 6 September 2030, with an estimated total value of £5 billion including VAT. The framework will be available across the UK and is open to public sector bodies looking to procure a wide range of works.

For suppliers, the scale of the opportunity is significant. However, the timetable is tight, the lot structure is broad and quality carries a higher weighting than price. Contractors will need to make quick, well-evidenced decisions about which lots to pursue and how to present their experience clearly

If you're considering bidding, Thornton & Lowe can rapidly assess whether this framework fits your business objectives. Contact our team today.

Key Details and Deadlines

• Opportunity: National Framework for Civil Engineering, Infrastructure and Enabling Works 2026
• Contracting authority: YPO
• Procurement agent: Pagabo
• Estimated value: £5 billion including VAT
• Procedure: Open procedure
• Framework type: Closed framework
• Estimated term: 7 September 2026 to 6 September 2030
• Enquiry deadline: 1 June 2026, 12:00pm
• Tender submission deadline: 12 June 2026, 12:00pm
• Estimated award decision date: 24 August 2026
• Evaluation weighting: 60% quality, 40% price
• Submission portal: Pagabo In-Tend

As this opportunity is being procured by YPO with Pagabo acting as agent, bidders should consider how their response aligns with both organisations’ approach to framework procurement. Thornton & Lowe provides dedicated YPO bid writing support and Pagabo bid writing support for suppliers bidding for places on public sector frameworks.

Why This Framework Matters

This framework brings together two existing routes: the National Framework for Civils and Infrastructure and the National Framework for Demolition and Land Preparation. The new framework combines these areas into a single, UK-wide agreement covering both major infrastructure works and enabling works. That makes it a significant route to market for contractors working across public sector infrastructure.

The scope includes:

• civil engineering and infrastructure works
• highways, rail, water, maritime, energy and aviation infrastructure
• nuclear and defence infrastructure
• demolition, asbestos removal, decontamination and decommissioning
• land remediation, groundworks, piling, drainage and substructure preparation
• full enabling works, including utility diversions and early infrastructure

Although the framework agreement is governed by English law, the notice states that the contracting authority may introduce Scottish law into the framework terms and conditions during the first two weeks of the tendering period. Contractors targeting work in Scotland should monitor clarification updates and review any amendments before submission.

For contractors, this is a major route to market. Frameworks can reduce procurement timescales for public sector buyers, provide access to pre-approved suppliers and support call-offs either with or without further competition. Thornton & Lowe’s guide to construction frameworks explains how these agreements work and why they can be valuable for suppliers in the built environment sector.

About YPO and Pagabo

YPO is a public sector buying organisation that delivers procurement solutions for public sector bodies. Its frameworks are used by a wide range of organisations, including local authorities, education providers, housing organisations, emergency services, NHS bodies and other publicly funded organisations.

Pagabo is acting as agent for YPO on this procurement. It manages public sector frameworks across construction, infrastructure and related services, giving public sector clients access to appointed suppliers through structured framework routes.

For contractors, this means the bid needs to do more than demonstrate technical capability. It should also show an understanding of framework delivery, public sector priorities, value for money, social value, sustainability and the need for reliable performance over the full term of the agreement.

The 13 Framework Lots

The framework is split into 13 lots. These cover collaborative partner roles, civil engineering and infrastructure delivery lots, and enabling works lots.

Lot 2 is the largest individual lot by stated value and is likely to attract strong interest from suppliers delivering highways and civil engineering tenders.

Lot 3 and Lot 9 will be particularly relevant to suppliers with rail infrastructure and systems capability, including those already bidding for rail tenders. Lot 9 has a specific self-delivery requirement, so bidders will need to show direct capability rather than relying on a subcontracting delivery model.

Lots 11 and 13 are especially important for demolition and enabling works contractors. The notice states that appointed suppliers for these lots must be licensed to remove asbestos and be members of a recognised registration body, such as the National Federation of Demolition Contractors, for the duration of the framework. Suppliers active in asbestos tenders should make sure their licensing, accreditations and registration body evidence are current and clearly presented.

Collaborative Partner Lots

Lots 1 and 10 are different from the standard delivery lots. They are intended to appoint organisations that can act as strategic partners to the framework, rather than simply deliver individual projects.

For England and Wales, three collaborative partner positions are available in each of these lots, focused on delivery, sustainability and quality. Scotland and Northern Ireland will each have one collaborative partner position.

The notice states that collaborative partners will be expected to work closely with framework stakeholders, support a long-term partnership approach and drive performance in areas such as quality, digital delivery, innovation, environmental outcomes, social outcomes, economic outcomes, value for money and whole life asset performance.

This means bidders for Lots 1 and 10 should evidence partnership working, governance, stakeholder engagement, continuous improvement, innovation, sustainability, social value and knowledge sharing.

Choosing the Right Lots

The breadth of the framework creates opportunity, but it also increases the risk of over-bidding. Contractors should avoid applying for every lot that looks broadly relevant unless they can evidence the full scope, standards and delivery requirements.

A good lot strategy should consider:

• where you have recent, directly comparable project evidence
• whether your accreditations and licences match the lot requirements
• whether you can evidence self-delivery where required
• if your team has the capacity to produce multiple tailored submissions
• whether your pricing position is competitive for the lot
• whether the framework route aligns with your target clients and regions

Thornton & Lowe supports suppliers with framework agreement application support, including bid/no-bid decisions, lot strategy, compliance reviews and quality response development.

Quality, Price and How to Strengthen Your Submission

The tender is weighted 60% quality and 40% price. This creates a strong opportunity for bidders who can demonstrate a clear, credible and well-evidenced approach to delivery.

A 60% quality weighting means suppliers should not rely on price alone. The response needs to show how the contractor will deliver works safely, efficiently and consistently across the framework. It also needs to explain how the bidder will manage risk, protect public sector clients, work with stakeholders and deliver wider value.

Strong submissions are likely to need:

• lot-specific evidence, rather than generic construction examples
• clear mobilisation and delivery planning
• strong health and safety, quality and environmental controls
• relevant method statements
• evidence of stakeholder management and communication
• social value and sustainability commitments that are practical and measurable
• clear evidence of specialist licences, registrations and accreditations

Thornton & Lowe’s construction bid writing support is designed for suppliers bidding for construction, infrastructure and built environment contracts, including frameworks where quality responses need to be carefully planned, evidenced and reviewed.

Method Statements and Delivery Evidence

For a framework of this scale, method statements and delivery responses need to do more than describe standard processes. They need to show how the bidder will control live works, manage interfaces and give public sector clients confidence that projects will be delivered safely and reliably.

The level of detail should be proportionate to the lot. A highways response may need to focus on traffic management, public interface, surfacing quality and programme constraints. A demolition response may need to focus on asbestos controls, exclusion zones, structural sequencing, dust, noise, vibration and protection of adjacent assets. A water and environmental response may need to focus on resilience, habitat protection, flooding impacts and regulatory interfaces.

Thornton & Lowe’s guide to construction method statements provides useful background for contractors looking to strengthen this part of their submission.

Practical Bidding Tips for this Framework

The submission deadline is 12 June 2026, so bidders have a limited window to review the documents, confirm their lot strategy and prepare responses.

Suppliers should prioritise the following:

1. Register on the portal and access all documents
   Do not leave portal registration, access checks or document downloads until the final stages.
2. Create a compliance matrix
   Map every requirement, question, attachment, certificate, declaration and upload requirement before drafting starts.
3. Confirm your lot strategy
   Decide which lots you can evidence properly. Avoid spreading your bid team too thinly across lots where your evidence is weaker.
4. Build lot-specific evidence
   Tailor case studies and examples to each lot. A rail systems response should not feel like a lightly edited highways response.
5. Review pass/fail requirements early
   Licences, insurance, accreditations, memberships and minimum standards should be checked at the start.
6. Plan time for review
   A rushed final review often catches formatting errors, but not deeper issues such as weak evidence, unclear methodology or missing evaluator prompts.

Our framework agreement tips guide provides further advice on preparing for framework submissions.

Common Risks for Bidders

The most common risks are likely to come from poor planning, weak evidence or generic responses.

Bidders should avoid:

• applying for too many lots without enough relevant evidence
• using the same generic response across multiple lots
• treating collaborative partner lots like standard delivery lots
• making broad sustainability or social value claims without evidence
• relying on subcontracted delivery where self-delivery is required
• leaving licence, accreditation and registration checks too late
• allowing too little time for review before upload

With a 60% quality weighting, bidders should allow enough time to improve the substance of responses, not just proofread them.

How Thornton & Lowe Can Support Your Bid

Thornton & Lowe works with contractors, infrastructure suppliers and specialist construction businesses bidding for public sector frameworks and tenders.

For this framework, we can support with bid/no-bid reviews, lot selection, compliance matrices, tender planning, quality response writing, method statement development, case study development, social value responses, sustainability responses, draft reviews and final submission checks.

We have experience supporting suppliers with YPO frameworks, Pagabo frameworks and the full breadth of construction and civil engineering tenders, from highways and rail through to enabling works and specialist environments.

This framework has a short submission window and a high quality weighting, so planning is important. Whether you need full bid writing support or a review of your draft responses, our team can help you shape a compliant, focused and evidence-led submission.

FAQs

What is the National Framework for Civil Engineering, Infrastructure and Enabling Works 2026?

It is a UK-wide public sector works framework covering civil engineering, infrastructure, demolition, land preparation and enabling works. It replaces and combines the existing Civils and Infrastructure Framework and the Demolition and Land Preparation Framework.

Who is procuring the framework?

The contracting authority is YPO. Pagabo Limited is acting as agent for YPO.

Is this a YPO or Pagabo framework?

YPO is the contracting authority, while Pagabo Limited is acting as agent for YPO. Bidders should review the tender documents carefully and follow the instructions issued through the Pagabo In-Tend portal.

What is the value of the framework?

The estimated total value is £5 billion including VAT.

When is the tender deadline?

The tender submission deadline is 12 June 2026 at 12:00pm. The enquiry deadline is 1 June 2026 at 12:00pm.

How many lots are included?

The framework is split into 13 lots, covering collaborative partner roles, highways, rail, water and environmental works, maritime, energy, aviation, nuclear and defence, rail systems, demolition, land remediation and full enabling works.

Can suppliers bid for more than one lot?

Yes, bidders may submit responses for one or more lots where they meet the requirements. Each lot should be considered carefully to make sure the bidder has the right experience, accreditations and evidence.

What does closed framework mean?

A closed framework means suppliers are appointed through the current procurement process, and new suppliers are not expected to join during the framework term. This makes the initial tender stage important for contractors that want to secure a place.

How is the tender evaluated?

The tender is evaluated on 60% quality and 40% price.

What happens after appointment?

Appointed suppliers may be able to access call-off opportunities through the framework, either with or without further competition depending on the framework rules and buyer requirements. Appointment provides a route to compete for work, but it does not guarantee volume.

Can Thornton & Lowe help with this framework bid?

Yes. Thornton & Lowe can support with lot strategy, bid planning, quality response writing, method statements, social value, sustainability responses, compliance checks and final review.

Bidding for the YPO and Pagabo Civil Engineering Framework?

The National Framework for Civil Engineering, Infrastructure and Enabling Works 2026 is a major opportunity for contractors across the UK. With a £5bn estimated value, 13 lots and a 60% quality weighting, bidders need a clear strategy and strong evidence from the start.

Thornton & Lowe can help you assess the opportunity, choose the right lots and prepare a compliant, high-scoring submission.