Pagabo, acting on behalf of The Education Alliance, is developing the third National Framework for Medium Works. The proposed framework is intended to give public-sector organisations across the UK a compliant route to appoint local and national contractors for works projects valued from £0 to £15 million.
This should currently be treated as a planned procurement rather than a standard live tender with a finalised lot structure and submission deadline. Contractors can still use the notice to assess likely fit, register for updates and prepare evidence before the formal tender is released. For an early qualification review, contact Thornton & Lowe.
What is currently known?
The framework is expected to run for four years from January 2027, with no extension proposed in the market-engagement information. It is intended for use across the whole UK public sector and aims to accommodate both local contractors and larger national businesses.
The £15 million upper project value is important, but it does not mean every appointed supplier must be able to deliver at that scale. The eventual lot structure may separate projects by value band, geography, work type or a combination of these. Suppliers should avoid deciding their bid position solely from the headline project range until the full procurement documents are available.
Who is likely to be interested?
Potential bidders include regional main contractors, national construction groups and SMEs with a strong public-sector portfolio. Typical call-off work could include new build, refurbishment, extension, repair and improvement projects across education, local government, health, blue-light and wider public estates.
The best fit will depend on the eventual lot requirements. A contractor with a strong £1 million to £5 million regional portfolio may be highly competitive for one part of the framework but unsuitable for a higher-value or national lot. Early bid qualification should therefore consider project size, geography, financial thresholds, contract forms and delivery capacity together.
What should contractors prepare now?
- Relevant case studies: select examples that match likely public-sector project values and demonstrate measurable results.
- Regional delivery evidence: map directly employed teams, offices, subcontractors and material supply routes.
- Financial information: make sure accounts, turnover data, insurance and credit information are current.
- Core policies: review health and safety, quality, environmental, equality, modern slavery and social value documentation.
- Framework management: explain how opportunities will be assessed, resourced and governed after appointment.
Businesses that are newer to frameworks may find our bidding for beginners guide useful when setting up the portal, qualification and document-review process.
Follow the procurement rather than relying on the planning summary
The market-engagement phase has helped Pagabo shape the procurement. The formal tender was expected in Q3 or Q4 2026, so interested contractors should monitor the current Find a Tender notice and the linked e-tendering portal for updates.
Once the tender pack is released, review the lot structure, selection conditions, fee model, award criteria and call-off approach before allocating a full bid team. The opportunity may be attractive, but only where the available lot aligns with your normal project profile and growth plans.
If you need bid support, Thornton & Lowe can help you track the procurement, qualify the final opportunity and build a structured submission once the documents are live. Speak to our framework bid specialists.
