The SCP012 - SCAPE Corporate Services Framework is a major public sector opportunity covering England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Published by Scape Procure Limited (trading as SCAPE), the framework has an estimated total value of £1.98 billion including VAT and covers advisory, legal and audit services, along with secondary services.
This is a substantial framework, but it is also a selective one. SCAPE intends to appoint 3 suppliers per lot, giving a total of 9 suppliers across the framework. If you are considering whether to bid, contact Thornton & Lowe for a practical review of lot fit, eligibility and bid approach.
What SCP012 covers
The framework is divided into 3 lots:
- Lot 1 - Group A: Advisory Services
- Lot 2 - Group B: Legal Services
- Lot 3 - Group C: Audit Services
The notice also refers to secondary services. Within Lot 1, the advisory scope is particularly broad, covering:
- Management Consultancy
- Technology, Digital and Data Advisory
- Finance, Accounting and Tax
- Sustainability
That makes Lot 1 much wider than a standard management consultancy framework. Meanwhile, Lots 2 and 3 are clearly aimed at legal and audit providers with the scale and structure to support a national framework.
Entry thresholds and supplier structure
One of the most important parts of this notice is the minimum turnover requirement for each lot:
- Lot 1: £75 million per annum excluding VAT
- Lot 2: £50 million per annum excluding VAT
- Lot 3: £25 million per annum excluding VAT
The notice states that these thresholds can be met by an individual bidder or as a combined total through a consortium, joint venture or associated persons. That is worth highlighting because it creates a route in for bidders that may not meet the threshold on a standalone basis.
Bidders may apply for up to 3 lots and may be awarded up to 3 lots. SCAPE will shortlist the top 5 highest-scoring bidders at PSQ stage for each lot and invite them to tender.
Why this framework matters
This framework is designed for use by a wide range of eligible public bodies across SCAPE’s framework user base in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The coverage is broad, but so is the expectation. SCAPE makes clear that successful delivery partners will be expected to work collaboratively with clients, in-house teams, external consultants and supply chain partners where applicable.
The framework term is also significant. The estimated contract dates run from 15 March 2027 to 14 March 2031, with a possible extension to 14 March 2032. The notice explains that the initial 48-month term may be extended by 12 months if supplier performance remains strong and commercial terms continue to be favourable for clients.
Call-off model: what suppliers should pay attention to
SCP012 is not just a place-on-the-framework exercise. The call-off model matters, and the notice sets out two different routes:
- Objective Mechanism - award without further competition, using an automated scoring model derived from original tender scores
- Competitive Selection Process - award with further competition, using activities such as written questions, case studies, interviews and behavioural assessments
There is an especially important restriction here. During a competitive selection process, clients cannot request fee proposals or price submissions. Pricing evaluation must instead rely on the commercial model already tendered at framework stage. That makes the original framework submission particularly important, because it shapes future award options as well as framework entry itself.
What bidders should focus on
Before committing bid resource, suppliers should test both strategic fit and eligibility.
- Lot fit - make sure your strongest evidence, team structure and references match the lot you are targeting.
- Threshold readiness - check that you can meet the turnover requirement directly or through an appropriate bidding structure.
- Framework-stage pricing - because future pricing requests are restricted in competitive selection, the framework commercial model matters more than usual.
- National delivery expectations - this is a framework covering England, Wales and Northern Ireland, so credible geographic delivery matters.
- Performance management - SCAPE will monitor delivery using performance indicators, and suppliers will need to provide their own performance data.
Evaluation and procurement route
The procurement is being run under a competitive flexible procedure in two stages. First, bidders complete the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) together with SCAPE-specific quality questions. SCAPE will then shortlist the 5 highest-scoring bidders per lot and invite them to tender.
At ITT stage, the evaluation is weighted 70% quality and 30% cost across all three lots. SCAPE will award the three places on each lot to the highest-scoring bidders based on combined quality and price.
Quick facts
- Framework: SCP012 - SCAPE Corporate Services Framework
- Buyer: Scape Procure Limited (trading as SCAPE)
- Total value: £1,980,000,000 including VAT
- Lots: 3
- Suppliers per lot: 3
- Maximum suppliers overall: 9
- Supplier levy: 3%
- Coverage: England, Wales and Northern Ireland
- Framework term: 15 March 2027 to 14 March 2031, with possible extension to 14 March 2032
- Official notice: published notice
Key dates
- Notice published: 7 April 2026
- Enquiry deadline: 22 May 2026 at 11:00am
- Tender submission deadline: 29 May 2026 at 2:00pm
- Estimated award decision date: 1 March 2027
Is SCP012 the right fit for your organisation?
This framework is likely to be most relevant for larger national providers, or for consortia and joint ventures that can meet the turnover thresholds and support wide public sector demand across the covered regions. It may also be attractive for specialist providers with strong niche credentials, provided they can structure their bid credibly and compete on quality.
If you want a clear view on whether SCP012 is worth pursuing, and how to position your bid, speak to Thornton & Lowe.
