SCAPE Procure Limited is continuing market engagement for a proposed Defence and Complex Environments Framework covering construction works and related services across the UK. The current notice gives the framework an estimated value of £8.5 billion excluding VAT, or £10.2 billion including VAT.
The planned structure is geared towards organisations that can manage complex, operational or security-sensitive environments, either as framework suppliers, consortium or joint-venture members, or through the successful suppliers' delivery chains.
If you are assessing whether this opportunity fits your business, speak to Thornton & Lowe for an objective bid/no-bid review and practical support with the next steps.
The Proposed Two-Lot Structure
SCAPE has now provided much more detail than was available in the earlier engagement stage. It currently envisages two UK-wide lots:
- Lot 1: capacity of £500m, intended for call-offs from £0 to £15m.
- Lot 2: capacity of £8bn, intended for call-offs from £10m to £8bn.
SCAPE currently expects to appoint six suppliers in total, three to each lot. The anticipated annual turnover requirement is £10m for Lot 1 and £150m for Lot 2, including associated suppliers. These figures make the likely route to participation much clearer: Lot 2 in particular is designed for organisations, consortia or joint ventures with the scale to lead very substantial programmes.
SCAPE has said it wants the framework to facilitate SME engagement through successful bidders' supply chains, and it is open to bids from consortia or joint ventures in which SMEs may participate. For smaller specialist businesses, that supply-chain or partnership route may be more realistic than seeking a prime framework place.
Who Should Be Interested?
The scope covers construction works and services in complex environments, including but not limited to Defence. Relevant businesses may include major building and infrastructure contractors, engineering and maintenance providers, organisations experienced in secure or operational estates, and specialist suppliers that can contribute to multidisciplinary delivery teams.
Defence experience will be valuable where relevant, but the notice does not say that the framework is restricted only to traditional defence contractors. Businesses considering this market can also review our guide to winning UK defence contracts for wider context on positioning, evidence and procurement routes.
What to Prepare Before the Tender
- Be realistic about your route to market. The turnover expectations and limited prime supplier places mean some businesses should plan for a consortium, JV or supply-chain role.
- Evidence complex delivery. Build case studies around live operational sites, security-sensitive environments, programme controls, stakeholder management and continuity of operations.
- Show how your supply chain will work. For prime bidders, supply-chain depth, specialist coverage and SME engagement are likely to be material to the delivery proposition.
- Prepare for scale. Lot 2 could cover very large call-offs. Governance, commercial management, risk, mobilisation and resource capacity need to be credible at that level.
Quick Facts
- Buyer: SCAPE Procure Limited
- Estimated value: £8.5bn excluding VAT / £10.2bn including VAT
- Coverage: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
- Proposed lots: Two
- Anticipated framework suppliers: Six, three per lot
- Anticipated annual turnover: £10m for Lot 1; £150m for Lot 2
- Current stage: Preliminary market engagement
- Engagement deadline: 25 September 2026
- View the official Find a Tender notice
Use the Engagement Period Well
The framework structure is still being developed, so suppliers should treat current values, thresholds and arrangements as planned rather than final. This is the right point to decide which lot and delivery role are credible, identify partnership needs and prepare the evidence that will be required when the formal tender is published.
If you want an independent view of your positioning before committing bid resource, contact Thornton & Lowe. We can help with bid/no-bid decisions, consortium strategy and the written submission once the competition goes live.
