Planning

Collaborative Delivery Framework 2

ENVIRONMENT AGENCY

This public procurement record has 5 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

27 Feb 2026 at 13:36

PlanningUpdate

27 Feb 2026 at 13:09

Planning

27 Feb 2026 at 13:08

Planning

10 Oct 2025 at 10:54

Planning

23 May 2025 at 08:47

Summary of the contracting process

The Environment Agency is progressing with the planning stage for the Collaborative Delivery Framework 2, aiming to deliver asset management activities across its infrastructure, including flood and coastal risk management, navigation, and biodiversity assets. Scheduled to commence on 16th March 2026, this open framework opportunity, valued at approximately £5 billion GBP, will utilise a competitive flexible procurement procedure. The framework is divided into three lots and will be managed through geographic hubs across the North, Midlands and Southwest, and East and Southeast of the United Kingdom. The deadline for expressions of interest is set for 27th April 2026, with the award period concluding on 19th October 2026.

This tender represents significant opportunities for firms specialising in strategy, appraisal and design services, engineering works, construction consultancy, and site supervision services. Companies with expertise in developing both nature-based solutions and traditional hard engineering are well-placed to benefit from contracts ranging from £1 million to £150 million GBP. With flexible competition allowing up to 16 participants, honing in on the requirements and providing standout solutions during the tender stages could yield long-term collaborative engagements with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and associated bodies. Businesses eager to expand into new markets or consolidate their presence in asset management and construction within the UK will find the framework particularly appealing.

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Notice Title

Collaborative Delivery Framework 2

Notice Description

CDF2 will deliver asset management activities across the whole of the EA's asset base including Flood and Coastal Risk Management, Navigation and Water Land and Biodiversity assets. The framework will provide both appraisal, design, technical support, and construction works that support the EA's asset management, maintenance, refurbishment and construction programmes of work. The Framework will be required to develop, design and deliver nature-based solutions and more traditional hard engineering solutions. The framework will be used for construction projects in the range of PS1m to PS150m. This opportunity will be organised into three technical Lots, and three geographic Hubs. - Lot 1: Strategy, appraisal and design services. - Lot 2: Detailed design services and construction works (design and construction contract value <~PS5m) -Lot 3: Detailed design services and construction works (design and construction contract value ~PS5m-PS150m). CDF2 will have three distinct geographic Hubs: - North Hub - Midlands and Southwest Hub - East and Southeast Hub. All opportunities will be awarded via the Competitive Flexible Procedure, which will commence on the 16th March 2026. The commencement of the tender process will be advertised via a separate notice.

Lot Information

Strategy, appraisal and design services.

Strategy, appraisal and design services (all values)

Detailed design services and construction works (

Detailed design services and construction works (design and construction contract value <~PS5m)

Detailed design services and construction works (>PS5m)

Detailed design services and construction works (design and construction contract value ~PS5m-PS150m).

Planning Information

Made available alongside this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice are draft versions of our completed framework deed and schedules, and our draft bidder pack including tender questions, for review, clarification and comment. This will be shared via Quatrix - a secure, cloud-managed platform for file transfers. In order to access Quatrix, you will be required to create a free account by inputting an email address and password. To request access to Quatrix please contact cdfreplacement@defra.gov.uk. The draft framework schedule and deeds are available via Quatirx now. The draft tender documentation including bidder pack and tender questions, for review and comment, and a presentation regarding the CDF2 model and tender process, will be uploaded week commencing 13/10/2025. We have made every effort to ensure these documents are as close as possible to the final versions that will be formally shared with our Invitation to Tender, however as internal approvals are still pending, we cannot guarantee that minor changes will not be required. This is an opportunity for interested suppliers to familiarise themselves with these key documents, provide feedback on concerns with specific wording and clarify any ambiguities. We are not looking for further feedback on the fundamental elements of the model, however we will be looking for feedback to understand if any elements of the model, as articulated in these documents, would prevent or dissuade any suppliers from bidding, who had previously been interested. Interested suppliers are invited to view a presentation included in the documents shared explaining the CDF2 model and tender process. In-person feedback sessions will be held on Tuesday 21st October at Mary Ward House, Tavistock Place, London, WC1H 9SN and online sessions will be held on Tuesday 4th November. To ensure all interested parties have the opportunity to seek feedback and clarity, a maximum of two representatives from each interested party will be invited to attend an agreed slot at one of these sessions and a pre-registration link will be shared alongside the first upload of documents. To receive an invitation to the event, and the link to access the shared documents, please contact CDFreplacement@defra.gov.uk.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-052024
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017927-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Works
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services


CPV Codes

45220000 - Engineering works and construction works

71530000 - Construction consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£5,000,000,000 £1B-£10B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Feb 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
16 Mar 20262 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
15 Feb 2027 - 14 Feb 2035 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
ENVIRONMENT AGENCY
Additional Buyers

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

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

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 4DF
Post Town
South West London
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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