This public procurement record has 9 releases in its history.

Award

27 Mar 2026 at 12:09

Award

27 Mar 2026 at 12:03

Award

27 Mar 2026 at 11:48

Award

27 Mar 2026 at 11:47

Award

27 Mar 2026 at 11:47

Award

27 Mar 2026 at 11:44

Award

27 Mar 2026 at 10:21

Award

26 Apr 2022 at 12:40

Tender

13 Sep 2021 at 11:25

Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process for a four-year Framework Agreement for the provision of architectural services for new-build housing has been completed. The buyer, Link Group Ltd, has entered into agreements with various architectural firms, awarded across different aspects of the project including architectural and related services. The procurement follows a Restricted Procedure under the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, with contracts valued significantly, ranging up to £50,000,000. The contracts cover various locations throughout the central belt of Scotland, Argyll & Bute, and Highland, with primary aims directed at services for new build housing. The process involved a selection procedure with quality and price as award criteria, and notable contracts were signed with companies like Anderson Bell Christie, Collective Architecture, and DO Architecture. The tender process originally began with the buyer indicating acceptance of electronic bids, culminating in a framework agreement effective March 7, 2022.

This tender represents substantial opportunities for growth within the architectural services industry, particularly for firms accustomed to working in the affordable housing sector and those who can undertake projects including rehabilitation and planned maintenance projects. Successful bidders are expected to have RIBA or RIAS accreditation, which signifies high standards in the field. The contracts, though not guaranteeing consistent work, offer a valuable potential through various project calls, notably serving Registered Social Landlords across Scotland as well as possible projects for external partners. This framework encourages SMEs in architecture with experience in a variety of housing tenures from mainstream to private market and special needs housing to explore further business opportunities with Link Group Ltd’s subsidiaries and partners. Overall, the tender promises a high quality and value-for-money service delivery, opening doors to innovative architectural solutions across varying scopes and scales.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

4 year Framework Agreement for the provision of Architectural services for new build housing

Notice Description

Link is seeking to enter into a four-year Framework Agreement with a maximum of ten suitably qualified Architectural Practices for the provision of architectural services. The services may also include the provision of Principal Designer under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 where the practice can demonstrate it has the relevant experience to provide this role. Successful Architectural Practices should be RIBA or RIAS registered (or their equivalent organisations within the country that your organisation is based). Architects within the successful Practices should be registered with the Architects Registration Board (ARB) or their equivalent organisation within the country that your organisation is based. Link works in partnership with a number of subsidiary companies who will also be entitled to purchase services from the Framework Agreement. The subsidiaries of Link Group include Link Housing Association Ltd, Link Living, Horizon Housing Association Ltd, Larkfield Housing Association Ltd and West Highland Housing Association Ltd. Although it is possible that other organisations may join the Group, becoming subsidiary companies, during the term of the Framework Agreement, and may also wish to "call off" from the Framework. Link also works in partnership with several external organisations, refer to Section 1.1. of the Contract Notice for further details, who will also be entitled to purchase services from the Framework Agreement. It is also intended that any Registered Social Landlord registered and operating in Scotland will be entitled to purchase services from the framework, subject to Link's prior agreement. There is no guarantee of any work, however, it is likely that individual commissions will be "called off" either by direct selection or by mini tendering, within the terms of the Framework Agreement, to identify the most economically advantageous tender. The Framework Agreement will mainly cover the provision of Architectural services for new build housing, however individual projects could include rehabilitation of existing properties, extensions, office accommodation, commercial property, adaptations, and planned maintenance projects. The Framework Agreement may include, where successful Bidders are suitably qualified and experienced, Principal Designer Services on each of the project types listed above. The projects will range in size, tenure and type from mainstream housing to a variety of particular needs housing. The tenure type will cover all affordable tenures, private rented and market sale. Applicants should have experience of projects within the affordable housing sector of between 5 and 500 units including flats, houses and retirement living projects with a mix of tenures. The location of projects will vary but in the main will be located in the Central Belt of Scotland, Argyll & Bute and Highland, however individual projects may be located in any part of Scotland. The total number of units in each of the geographical areas may vary and specific numbers cannot be guaranteed in any area or in total. Although individual projects cannot be guaranteed, Link will expect the successful Architectural Practices to deliver a high quality and value for money service.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Link Group Ltd is undertaking the procurement in accordance with Regulation 29, Restricted Procedure and Regulation 34, Framework Agreements of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulation 2015. A maximum of fifteen bidding organisations that submit a SPD (Scotland) Document v1.2 response and meet the selection criteria will be invited to submit a tender for the Framework Agreement in accordance with Regulation 66 'Reduction of the number of otherwise qualified candidates to be invited to participate'. Additional information: Economic Operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in Regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. SPD (Scotland) Version 1.2 Question2D.1.2- Bidders must provide a separate SPD response (Sections A and B of this Part and Part III) for each subcontractor.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-02dfd2
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/028467-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Dynamic, Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Restricted procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services


CPV Codes

71200000 - Architectural and related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£50,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£50,000,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£50,206,201 £10M-£100M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Mar 20265 months ago
Submission Deadline
13 Oct 2021Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
7 Mar 20224 years ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Th Framework may be renewed in 2026 and a further contract notice published at that time.

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Link Group Ltd
Additional Buyers

Almond Housing Association

Atrium Homes

Berwickshire Housing Association Ltd

Calvay Housing Association Ltd

Cassiltoun Housing Association Ltd.

Cathcart & District Housing Association Ltd

Cernach Housing Association Limited

Clydebank Housing Association Limited

Dunbritton Housing Association

Glasgow West Housing Association Limited

Glen Oaks Housing Association

Govan Housing Association Limited

Govanhill Housing Association

Hanover Housing Association Ltd

Linstone Housing Association

Maryhill Housing Association Ltd

New Gorbals Housing Association

New Gorbals Property Management Ltd

Paragon Housing Association Ltd

Partick Housing Association Limited

Partick Works Ltd

Port of Leith Housing Association Ltd

Queens Cross Housing Association Ltd

Shettleston Housing Association Ltd

Tollcross Housing Association Limited

Trust Housing Association Ltd

Whiteinch & Scotstoun Housing Association Ltd

Yoker Housing Association

Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BERWICKSHIRE
Postcode
FK1 1XR
Postcode Area
Falkirk and Stirling
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM1 East Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM12 Falkirk
Delivery Location
TLM Scotland

Local Authority
Falkirk
Electoral Ward
Falkirk South
Westminster Constituency
Falkirk

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
11
Supplier Names

Anderson Bell Christie

Anderson Bell Christie Limited

Collective Architecture

DO Architecture

Elder and Cannon Architects

Grant Murray Architects Ltd

HYPOSTYLE

MAST Architects

Page \ Park Architects

Reiach and Hall Architects

Stallan-Brand Architecture + Design Ltd

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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