Three of the UK's most active procurement consortia, NEUPC Ltd, NWUPC Ltd, and SUPC Ltd, have jointly published a new Security & Cleaning Services framework agreement, valued at £24,000,000 including VAT over four years. The framework covers security services, cleaning services, or a combined offering, giving providers genuine flexibility in how they position their bid.
This is a joint framework serving universities, colleges, and associated public sector bodies across England. For established security and cleaning companies looking to build a foothold in the higher education and wider public sector market, the breadth of potential call-off clients makes this one of the more commercially significant opportunities published this month.
Unsure whether to invest time in a bid? Contact Thornton & Lowe for a quick, honest assessment. You can also explore our tips on improving your tender response scores if you're working on a submission.
Why This Framework Is Worth Considering
NEUPC, NWUPC, and SUPC collectively represent a substantial network of higher education institutions and public sector bodies across the North, East, and South of England. A place on this framework could open doors to preferred supplier status across a diverse range of sites, from large civic universities to smaller specialist colleges and associated bodies.
The structure deliberately accommodates both specialist providers and integrated operators. You can bid for security only, cleaning only, or as a combined service provider, which reduces the risk of over-committing to service lines you cannot sustain, while still rewarding organisations with integrated capabilities.
Who Should Be Looking at This?
While the consortia sit within the higher education sector, their member organisations span a wide range of settings. The strongest candidates for this framework include:
- Security companies with experience in campus environments, large public buildings, or multi-site public sector contracts
- Commercial cleaning contractors with a track record in education, healthcare, or similar regulated settings
- Integrated FM providers capable of delivering both security and cleaning under a single contract
- Regional operators with capacity to service multiple sites across England's North, East, or South
If your experience skews heavily towards retail, logistics, or private sector sites, it's worth thinking carefully about how you'll evidence transferable capability in a public sector context; evaluators will be looking for this.
Key Details at a Glance
- Framework title: Security & Cleaning Services
- Lead authorities: NEUPC Ltd, NWUPC Ltd, SUPC Ltd
- Estimated value: £24,000,000 including VAT
- Scope: Security services, cleaning services, or combined
- Duration: 4 years
- Submission deadline: 26 May 2026
- Find a Tender notice: View the official notice here
What to Focus on in Your Bid
- Map your offer to the lot structure: Review the published tender documents carefully to understand how the framework is divided. Bidding into the correct service category, and staying within your proven capability, will be critical.
- Evidence multi-site delivery: The consortia's members are geographically spread. Demonstrate your capacity to mobilise and manage across multiple locations consistently.
- Show financial stability: A four-year, £24 million framework will attract scrutiny on financial standing. Ensure your accounts and supporting documents are current and clearly presented.
- Demonstrate sector understanding: Universities have distinct operational needs: term-time peaks, public access areas, specific safeguarding requirements. Tailor your case studies accordingly, even if your experience comes from adjacent public sector settings.
Refer to the notice for current documentation and any updates ahead of the May deadline. With less than a month to submission, now is the time to make your go/no-go decision.
If you want experienced bid writers who understand the public sector security and FM market, connect with Thornton & Lowe. We can help you put forward a compelling, fully compliant submission in the time available.
