CDS Cooperatives has published a live tender for Lot 1 of its Open Framework for Repairs & Maintenance and Planned Works Services, with Plentific acting as managing agent. The framework is designed to give housing providers, public sector bodies and other authorised users access to suppliers through the Plentific platform for repairs, maintenance, compliance, planned works and related property services.
The total estimated value across the open framework is £10bn excluding VAT, or £12bn including VAT. Lot 1, which is the only lot currently open for applications, is valued at £2.5bn excluding VAT.
For contractors working in housing repairs, planned works, M&E, compliance, retrofit or property maintenance, this should be treated as one of the most significant framework opportunities currently available.
What is being procured?
The current tender is for Lot 1: Repairs & Maintenance and Planned Works.
The scope is broad and includes responsive repairs, planned works, void property works, mechanical and electrical services, gas servicing, electrical testing, lift servicing, fire safety works, drainage, adaptations, compliance activity and retrofit programmes. The framework is intended to support domestic and commercial properties, including co-operative housing schemes, blocks of flats, bungalows, community buildings and office properties.
Future lots are also planned, although they are not currently open for bids. These are expected to cover:
- Professional services
- Technology and digital solutions
- Materials
For now, contractors should focus on Lot 1 and check whether their trade coverage, accreditations and housing maintenance experience match the requirements.
Why this framework stands out
The most important feature is that this is an open framework. Under the Procurement Act 2023, open frameworks are designed to reopen at set points, allowing new suppliers to apply during the life of the arrangement rather than being locked out for the full term.
CDS also states that the maximum number of suppliers is unlimited. That does not mean entry will be easy, but it does make the opportunity more accessible than heavily capped frameworks where only a small number of contractors can be appointed.
The framework can be used by a wide range of authorised users, including registered social landlords, local authorities, NHS bodies, emergency services, education providers, charities and other contracting authorities. Call-offs may be made through direct award or mini-competition, depending on the buyer’s requirements and the pricing route used.
For suppliers, this means a place on the framework could create access to a long-term pipeline of public sector and housing-sector work. It will still be important to compete effectively after appointment, but framework access gives contractors a route into future opportunities that may otherwise be harder to track and influence.
Key details
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Framework authority: CDS Cooperatives
Managing agent: Plentific Ltd
Framework type: Open framework
Total estimated framework value: £10bn excluding VAT
Lot 1 estimated value: £2.5bn excluding VAT
Open framework end date: 29 June 2034
Submission deadline for Lot 1: 26 June 2026, 11:59pm
Estimated award decision date: 23 July 2026
Supplier cap: Unlimited
Suitable for SMEs and VCSEs: Yes
Suppliers can view the official Find a Tender notice for full details of the opportunity, including the scope, conditions of participation, submission process and current deadline.
What suppliers should prepare
Although the framework is open and supplier numbers are unlimited, the published evaluation structure shows a strong compliance requirement. Contractors should expect pass/fail checks across areas such as VAT registration, CIS registration, asbestos training declarations, DBS declarations, waste carrier licensing, SSIP accreditation, work areas, services and business verification.
There are also requirements around Central Digital Platform details, associated persons, subcontractors, exclusion grounds, UK GDPR, health and safety, modern slavery, business information, economic and financial standing, accreditations and regulation.
The quality assessment covers areas such as organisational structure and workforce, turnover and operational capacity, experience in housing maintenance, delivery approach, resident engagement, quality control and social value.
This is important because a supplier’s framework submission is not just an admin exercise. The information provided will help shape how contracting authorities assess and appoint suppliers through the platform. Contractors should therefore treat the submission as both a compliance gateway and a positioning exercise.
Bid considerations for contractors
A strong submission should make it easy for CDS, Plentific and future buyers to understand what the contractor can safely and reliably deliver.
- For housing maintenance contractors, the evidence should be practical and contract-specific. Case studies should show experience with occupied homes, resident communication, responsive repair timescales, voids, compliance-led activity, planned works, supply chain control and quality assurance.
- For M&E, gas, electrical, fire safety, lift and compliance providers, accreditations and technical controls will need to be presented clearly. Buyers will want confidence that works can be delivered safely, documented properly and reported in a way that supports landlord compliance.
- For contractors covering retrofit and planned works, the submission should explain how programmes are surveyed, planned, sequenced and delivered with minimal disruption to residents. Evidence around customer care, access, complaints, defect management and social value is likely to be particularly useful.
If you are also monitoring construction tenders or wider framework agreements, this opportunity is worth reviewing alongside your existing pipeline. The scale of the framework is significant, but the right decision still depends on your capacity, compliance position and ability to convert framework access into call-off work.
How Thornton & Lowe can support contractors
Thornton & Lowe supports contractors with bid writing, framework submissions and public sector tender strategy. For this CDS Cooperatives framework, our team can help you assess fit, identify evidence gaps, improve your written responses and prepare a submission that is clear, compliant and focused on buyer priorities.
We also help contractors strengthen responses around resident engagement, quality assurance, social value, mobilisation, compliance and contract delivery. These areas can make a major difference on housing and property maintenance frameworks where evaluators need confidence that suppliers can deliver consistently across live residential environments.
A place on a framework only creates value if your business is ready to use it. For many contractors, the best approach is to treat the framework bid and future mini-competitions as part of the same growth plan.
