Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has published early details of the forthcoming NRW Forestry Infrastructure Construction & Maintenance FWA 2026, a major public sector framework covering the construction and maintenance needs of Welsh forestry sites. With an estimated value of £48,000,000 including VAT and a scope that spans the entirety of Wales, this is a significant opportunity for specialist providers of construction, civil engineering and maintenance services with experience in forestry, rural or environmental projects.
Thinking about bidding for this framework? Contact Thornton & Lowe for a fast, honest assessment on whether this opportunity aligns with your business objectives. Our expert team can help you strategise your approach for maximum impact.
About the NRW Forestry Infrastructure Construction & Maintenance FWA 2026
This upcoming framework agreement, officially titled the NRW Forestry Infrastructure Construction & Maintenance FWA 2026, is designed to meet Natural Resources Wales' extensive needs for both construction and maintenance across Wales' forestry network. This is expected to include forest roads, timber haulage routes and related access infrastructure. The framework is structured into four lots by region: North Wales, Mid Wales, South West Wales and South East Wales. Successful suppliers will support NRW in maintaining and enhancing critical forestry infrastructure, ensuring public accessibility, commercial viability and ecosystem health throughout Wales.
Securing a place on any or multiple lots means the chance to collaborate over a four-year period with a key Welsh public authority dedicated to sustainable land management.
Benefits and what to consider when bidding
- Regional lot structure: Choose the area where you have the strongest presence or specialist knowledge. This division lets bidders focus geographically, increasing relevance and win potential for regional specialists and larger providers alike.
- Comprehensive scope: With the framework covering the entirety of Wales and embracing forestry infrastructure construction and maintenance, there is broad applicability and room for diverse construction, civil engineering and maintenance companies.
- Public sector partnership: Working with Natural Resources Wales brings reliability, sustainability focus and long-term collaboration opportunities. Bidders should be ready to demonstrate their alignment with public sector values, health and safety compliance and environmental management credentials.
- Significant value: At £48 million including VAT over four years, the framework provides real scale, supporting stable revenues for suppliers who secure a spot.
Quick facts
- Framework type: Multi-lot public sector framework agreement
- Value: £48,000,000 including VAT
- Buyer: Natural Resources Wales
- Coverage: All Wales, split into 4 geographic lots
- Term: 4 years
- Notice Stage: Pipeline (advance information prior to formal tender)
Tips for potential bidders on this framework
- Carefully review the lot structure and assess which region(s) align best with your organisation's experience and delivery network. Bidding on the right lots can be crucial to eventual success.
- Prepare evidence of capability in forestry-related construction and maintenance, focusing on work delivered in challenging or rural environments, and demonstrate local supply chain reach if addressing specific lots.
- Stay alert for the formal tender documents. Pipeline notices are an early signal: use this time to ensure all accreditations, insurances and references meet typical public sector requirements for works of this scale and nature.
- Since this is a framework, consortium bids or partnerships may be appropriate, especially for smaller or niche providers aiming to cover more than one region. Our guide to bid writing skills covers how to present a strong joint submission.
Before investing time in the submission, map the requirement against your strongest evidence, named team, accreditations, delivery model and pricing position. Our groundworks framework bidding guidance can help you shape that decision and avoid spending time on a framework that is not commercially realistic.
How Thornton & Lowe can help
Thornton & Lowe supports suppliers with bid/no-bid decisions, framework strategy, compliance checks, response planning and full bid writing. We can help you decide whether this opportunity is worth pursuing, identify the strongest lot or route, and turn your evidence into a clear, evaluator-focused submission.
This pipeline notice is your chance to position your construction business at the forefront of Welsh environmental infrastructure delivery. Review the full notice at Find a Tender to keep up with key updates as publication approaches. If you want a confidential, expert review of your readiness or bid strategy, contact Thornton & Lowe today and access proven support for construction sector frameworks.
