The planned SCAPE Construction Works and Services Framework is shaping up to be a major upcoming public sector opportunity, with an estimated total value of £12 billion including VAT and a potential duration of up to 6 years. Published by Scape Procure Limited (trading as SCAPE), the framework is intended to cover construction works and services across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
At this stage, though, suppliers should note that this is a preliminary market engagement notice, not a live tender. SCAPE is using this period to gather feedback and brief potential bidders ahead of a future procurement. If you are assessing whether this could be the right framework for your business, contact Thornton & Lowe for an early-stage readiness review.
What SCAPE is planning
The notice says SCAPE is considering a framework agreement for construction works and services and has already undertaken pre-market engagement, with further engagement still to come before the formal tender notice is issued.
The framework is currently envisaged to include 6 lots:
- Lot 1: England | Construction Works & Services
- Lot 2: EWNI | Complex Environments, including Defence & Nuclear
- Lot 3: England & Wales | Residential: Decarbonisation, Retrofit, Repair & Maintenance
- Lot 4: Wales | Construction Works & Services
- Lot 5: Northern Ireland | Construction, Housing, Works & Services £0-£15m
- Lot 6: Northern Ireland | Construction, Housing, Works & Services £10m+
This lot structure is one of the most useful early indicators in the notice. It suggests SCAPE is aiming to accommodate both broad national construction capability and more defined regional or specialist delivery models.
Why this framework is worth tracking now
Even though the procurement is not live yet, the market engagement notice gives suppliers a strong sense of likely entry thresholds and framework shape. SCAPE currently anticipates appointing 18 suppliers in total, with 3 suppliers on each lot.
The anticipated annual turnover requirement for suppliers, including associated suppliers, is currently set at:
- Lot 1: £150m per annum
- Lot 2: £150m per annum
- Lot 3: £75m per annum
- Lot 4: £75m per annum
- Lot 5: £20m per annum
- Lot 6: £75m per annum
SCAPE also states that it intends to facilitate SME engagement through successful bidders’ supply chains and is open to bids from consortia or joint ventures. For some businesses, that may create a route in even where the turnover thresholds are too high on a standalone basis.
What suppliers should be doing now
Because this is still pre-market engagement, the focus should be on preparation rather than submission.
- Assess lot fit - identify which lots genuinely align with your geographic reach, project scale and specialist experience.
- Review threshold readiness - check whether you can meet the anticipated turnover requirement directly or through a consortium or JV structure.
- Map your evidence - prepare project examples relevant to the lots you may target, especially in complex environments, decarbonisation, retrofit or regional construction delivery.
- Consider supply chain strategy - if you are not a prime candidate, there may still be opportunities through partnership or supply chain positioning.
- Engage intelligently - use the market awareness events and webinar to understand how SCAPE is shaping the framework and where your offer may fit best.
Market engagement dates and events
SCAPE is holding a series of market awareness events for potential bidders. These are intended to explain the framework, give an overview of SCAPE, and set out the expected procurement process and timeline.
- Market Awareness Event | London AM - 29 April 2026, morning, Kings Place, London
- Market Awareness Event | London PM - 29 April 2026, afternoon, Kings Place, London
- Market Awareness Webinar - 6 May 2026 at 10:00am
- Engagement deadline - 15 May 2026
The notice also says that details of questions raised and answers given will be added to a Q&A document and issued with the future tender notice, with all feedback reviewed equally so that no bidder gains an advantage from participation.
What makes this framework different
One useful feature of this notice is that it gives suppliers an unusually clear early picture of framework structure before the tender notice is released. That allows businesses to make an earlier bid or no-bid decision than usual, especially where turnover thresholds, regional coverage or specialist lot requirements are likely to be decisive.
The estimated framework term is 2 August 2027 to 1 August 2031, with a possible extension to 1 August 2033. The estimated publication date of the tender notice is 13 July 2026, so suppliers have time now to assess readiness properly.
Quick facts
- Framework value: £12,000,000,000 including VAT
- Buyer: Scape Procure Limited (trading as SCAPE)
- Status: Preliminary market engagement notice
- Lots envisaged: 6
- Suppliers anticipated: 18 total, 3 per lot
- Coverage: England, Wales and Northern Ireland
- Estimated tender notice publication: 13 July 2026
Key dates
- London market awareness events: 29 April 2026
- Webinar: 6 May 2026 at 10:00am
- Engagement deadline: 15 May 2026
- Estimated tender notice publication: 13 July 2026
For the source notice and event details, review the full notice.
How to use this stage well
This is the point at which suppliers should be testing assumptions, checking thresholds, reviewing partnership options and deciding whether the likely lot structure really suits their business. The framework may be large, but not every lot will be realistic for every contractor or delivery model.
If you want an early view on where you may fit, and whether this is worth preparing for now, reach out to Thornton & Lowe.
