The Government Commercial Agency has launched RM6390, a new framework for public-sector electricity and gas supply, strategic energy partnerships, bureau services and metering. The framework has a maximum estimated value of £50 billion excluding VAT and is expected to support more than 1,000 organisations, around 90,000 meter points and indicative consumption of 26 TWh.
The headline value includes contingency for energy-price volatility and is not a guaranteed level of expenditure. Suppliers should assess the individual lots and customer requirements rather than treating the total value as an available pipeline.
How RM6390 is divided
The tender notice contains nine lots across three service groups.
Electricity supply
- Lot 1.1: Short and medium-term electricity supply
- Lot 1.2: Long-term electricity supply
- Lot 1.3: Fixed and flexible-price electricity supply
Gas supply
- Lot 2.1: Short and medium-term gas supply
- Lot 2.2: Long-term gas supply
- Lot 2.3: Fixed and flexible-price gas supply
Energy management and support
- Lot 3, Energy Partnership Services: carbon reduction planning, renewable generation, demand-side response and strategic support;
- Lot 4, Energy Bureau Services: bill validation, compliance, consumption reporting and financial forecasting; and
- Lot 5, Metering Services: supply, installation, maintenance and data management for gas, electricity and water meters.
The notice specifically identifies Lots 1.3, 2.3, 3, 4 and 5 as suitable for SMEs. That does not remove the need to demonstrate scale and controls, but it indicates that the framework is intended to accommodate more than the largest utility suppliers.
Suppliers developing a wider public-sector pipeline can also review our energy and environmental tenders guidance and search current opportunities in the sector.
A two-part competition
The procurement uses a competitive flexible procedure. Part 1 covers compliance, exclusion grounds and conditions of participation. Suppliers that do not pass selection will not proceed to Part 2, where final tenders will be assessed against award criteria that have not yet been released.
This structure means bidders should not hold back important evidence for the later stage. The selection response must clearly establish financial, technical and organisational capability for each chosen lot.
Quick facts
- Reference: RM6390
- Contracting authority: Government Commercial Agency
- Estimated value: £50 billion excluding VAT, £60 billion including VAT
- Expected term: 20 February 2027 to 19 February 2031
- Maximum suppliers: Unlimited in the notice
- Enquiry deadline: 21 July 2026 at 3pm
- Tender deadline: 4 August 2026 at 3pm
Key issues for suppliers
Lot selection should be based on the commercial model, customer profile and operational capability required. The electricity and gas supply lots differ by contract horizon and pricing approach, while the partnership, bureau and metering lots need different evidence, systems and delivery teams.
Energy suppliers should be ready to explain purchasing strategy, market risk management, billing, customer service, data accuracy, portfolio reporting and decarbonisation support. Partnership suppliers will need to connect strategic advice to deliverable carbon and energy outcomes. Bureau and metering providers should focus on data governance, integration, validation and service continuity.
The framework also includes fee arrangements that vary by lot, including a levy on some additional services and customer charges linked to meter volumes. These provisions should be reviewed alongside pricing before commercial approval is given.
Thornton & Lowe supports utility, consultancy and technology suppliers with framework bids and complex multi-lot tenders.
