National Grid has published plans to establish a new Property Refurbishment, Construction and Maintenance Qualifying Utilities Dynamic Market (QUDM), creating potential opportunities for construction contractors, refurbishment specialists and facilities maintenance providers.
The dynamic market is intended to support work across National Grid's operational and corporate property portfolio, including offices, depots, workshops, training centres, welfare facilities and other specialist infrastructure buildings. It covers three main categories: property refurbishment, property construction and property maintenance.
The arrangement is expected to begin on 23 November 2026 and will remain open-ended. There is no estimated contract value or fixed application deadline in the published notice, making this an opportunity for suppliers to assess their eligibility and prepare for future procurement activity.
National Grid Property Refurbishment Dynamic Market overview
National Grid is establishing a Qualifying Utilities Dynamic Market to create a pool of suppliers with the capabilities required to deliver property-related works across its estate. The intention is to provide a structured route for identifying businesses that meet appropriate financial, legal, safety and technical requirements.
The dynamic market may subsequently be used to establish a Property Refurbishment, Construction and Maintenance (PRCM) Framework, which National Grid expects to become a principal route for purchasing these services.
However, suppliers should distinguish between applying to join the dynamic market and bidding for contracts or any subsequent framework. Admission to the market would not itself constitute an award of work.
Detail | Information |
|---|---|
Contracting authority | National Grid UK Limited |
Procurement arrangement | Qualifying Utilities Dynamic Market (QUDM) |
Estimated value | Not stated in the notice |
Work categories | Property refurbishment, construction and maintenance |
Intended start date | 23 November 2026 |
Duration | Open-ended |
Application deadline | No fixed deadline published |
Supplier membership fee | None stated |
Notice reference | 104899-2026 |
What work will the dynamic market cover?
National Grid has divided the proposed arrangement into three parts, reflecting different aspects of its property requirements. These are categories for the dynamic market rather than confirmed lots for a subsequent framework tender.
Part 1: Property refurbishment
The refurbishment category covers improvements, upgrades and alterations to existing National Grid buildings. This includes work intended to modernise facilities, improve operational efficiency, support staff wellbeing and maintain compliance with relevant building standards.
Indicative activities include office and depot refurbishments, workplace transformation, building fabric improvements, internal remodelling, fit-out projects and upgrades to kitchens, welfare facilities and sanitary accommodation.
The scope also includes accessibility improvements, energy efficiency upgrades, lighting replacement, fire safety improvements and associated mechanical and electrical refurbishment works.
Depending on project requirements, work may be procured nationally, regionally or for individual sites. Contractors should consider how their delivery experience and geographical coverage align with these different potential arrangements.
Part 2: Property construction
The construction category focuses on new buildings, extensions, significant alterations and associated infrastructure works. National Grid's estate includes operational facilities with requirements that may differ from those of conventional commercial buildings.
Potential projects include:
- New operational buildings, warehouses and logistics facilities
- Office accommodation, welfare facilities and staff amenities
- Building extensions, alterations and redevelopment
- Design and build projects
- Civil engineering, groundworks and drainage
- Demolition and enabling works
- External access, parking and security infrastructure
- Sustainable construction and low-carbon building initiatives
This category could be relevant to main contractors, design and build businesses and civil engineering specialists with experience delivering construction projects in operational environments.
For suppliers considering construction tenders involving utilities infrastructure, relevant experience should demonstrate not only technical delivery but also the ability to coordinate work around ongoing operations and site-specific requirements.
Part 3: Property maintenance
The maintenance category covers planned preventative maintenance, statutory compliance activities and reactive repairs across National Grid's property estate. It includes work that helps buildings remain safe, operational and suitable for their intended use.
Planned maintenance may involve building fabric inspections, mechanical and electrical systems, HVAC equipment, water hygiene, fire safety systems, security systems, lifts, roofing, drainage and external grounds maintenance.
Statutory compliance activities include electrical testing, emergency lighting inspections, gas safety, legionella management, pressure systems, lifting equipment inspections and building compliance assessments.
The reactive maintenance scope includes emergency repairs, mechanical and electrical breakdowns, plumbing, security system failures and general building repairs. Suppliers should therefore consider their ability to respond to different types of work, including requirements that may arise unexpectedly.
Organisations experienced in facilities management tenders may be particularly interested in this category, provided they can demonstrate the required technical capabilities and service coverage.
Where could the work take place?
The notice describes work across National Grid's operational, corporate and specialist property estate, principally referring to England and Wales. However, its published list of geographical regions also includes Scotland, so interested suppliers should confirm the intended coverage of their services with National Grid.
The buildings potentially covered include offices, operational sites, depots, workshops, stores, training facilities, control facilities and ancillary buildings associated with substations and other infrastructure.
Requirements may arise from National Grid Electricity Transmission, National Grid Electricity Distribution and National Grid Ventures. The notice also allows for other National Grid group companies to use the arrangement, although no minimum volume of work is guaranteed.
How does a Qualifying Utilities Dynamic Market work?
A Qualifying Utilities Dynamic Market is a procurement arrangement used by qualifying utilities to establish a pool of eligible suppliers. Businesses seeking membership must demonstrate that they satisfy the relevant conditions, allowing the utility to identify suitably qualified organisations for future procurement activity.
Unlike a conventional framework tender with a single closing date, a dynamic market is designed to remain available for supplier admission during its operation, subject to its published membership rules.
Once admitted, suppliers may become eligible to receive notices for opportunities procured through the market. The National Grid notice states that tender notices issued through this dynamic market will be provided only to market members.
National Grid may also use the arrangement to establish a subsequent PRCM Framework. That would involve a further procurement stage, rather than an automatic award to every business admitted to the dynamic market.
For organisations already bidding for utilities tenders, early engagement with the market could help ensure they are positioned to respond when relevant opportunities are released.
What are the membership requirements?
The published notice identifies legal and financial capacity requirements alongside technical capability conditions. These apply across all three work categories, although further details may be provided through the associated membership documentation.
Legal and financial capacity
Suppliers will need to demonstrate financial stability and satisfy National Grid's defined legal and compliance requirements. The notice also refers to the relevant exclusions and supplier provisions under Schedules 6 and 7 of the Procurement Act 2023.
Businesses should prepare current financial and corporate information and review any declarations requested during the application process. The detailed evidence requirements should be confirmed through National Grid's documentation.
Technical ability and safety
Technical capability will be assessed in relation to safety and the relevant areas of refurbishment, construction and maintenance. National Grid identifies validation as the method for checking these requirements.
Suppliers should consider how they can demonstrate relevant work experience, competent personnel, established health and safety systems and appropriate operational procedures. Examples involving utilities sites or other complex operational estates may be useful where they match the category being pursued.
How should contractors prepare for the dynamic market?
Identify the most suitable work categories
The first step is to assess which categories align with the organisation's experience and delivery model. A business specialising in mechanical and electrical maintenance may have a strong fit with Part 3, while a general contractor with major construction experience may be more suited to Part 2.
Businesses with capabilities spanning several categories should consider whether their evidence and available resources support a wider application. The published notice does not confirm the structure of any subsequent PRCM Framework, so suppliers should avoid assuming the final procurement will replicate the dynamic market categories exactly.
Prepare relevant project evidence
National Grid's property portfolio includes a mixture of operational and conventional buildings. Suppliers should prepare examples that demonstrate how they have delivered comparable work safely, managed site constraints and met customer requirements.
Evidence may include project values, programme performance, safety results, quality inspections, successful mobilisation and examples of coordinating delivery around ongoing operations. Strong case studies should explain the supplier's role and the measurable results achieved.
Review workforce and delivery capacity
Depending on the category, future work may require specialist qualifications, regional coverage, emergency response arrangements or coordination between multiple trades. Contractors should consider whether they can mobilise suitable personnel and maintain performance across different sites and project types.
For maintenance providers, this may involve out-of-hours support, planned inspection programmes and responsive repairs. Construction businesses may need to demonstrate project management resources, technical supervision and the ability to coordinate specialist subcontractors.
Strengthen compliance and quality systems
Suppliers should review the evidence available to support their legal, financial, technical and safety capabilities. Keeping this information organised can make it easier to respond to membership requirements and later tender opportunities.
A consistent bid management process can also help businesses monitor future notices, coordinate contributors and prepare stronger submissions when specific requirements are published.
Consider longer-term framework opportunities
Because the QUDM may be used to establish a future PRCM Framework, suppliers should take a longer-term view of the opportunity. Preparing evidence, assessing geographical coverage and understanding National Grid's operational requirements now could support more effective responses when further procurement information becomes available.
However, the current notice does not provide a confirmed framework timetable, value or supplier appointment structure. Businesses should avoid committing significant bid resources based on assumptions about those future arrangements.
How to register interest with National Grid
National Grid has provided an online Microsoft Forms link for suppliers interested in the proposed dynamic market. The intention notice identifies an estimated start date of 23 November 2026, with the dynamic market expected to remain open-ended.
No fixed closing date is included in the notice. Suppliers should check the official information and any subsequent instructions to establish the membership process, required evidence and timing of future procurement activity.
Before registering, businesses should review the published categories and assess whether they can demonstrate the relevant financial, technical and safety capabilities. Further documentation may be required as the market is established.
Get support with National Grid procurement opportunities
National Grid's proposed Property Refurbishment, Construction and Maintenance Dynamic Market provides a potential route into future works and services opportunities across its property estate. The three broad categories may interest a range of contractors, from specialist refurbishment businesses to construction and maintenance providers.
Thornton & Lowe helps suppliers prepare for utilities procurement, framework applications and competitive tenders. Our team can support businesses with opportunity assessments, evidence development, qualification responses and tender strategy as further requirements become available.
