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Energy Centre Cost Consultant

Aston University

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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05 Aug 2026 at 14:17

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Aston University appointed cost consultancy and quantity surveying support for its new Energy Centre at the university’s campus in Birmingham. The work supports delivery of campus-wide energy infrastructure through RIBA Stages 4 and 5, including specialist quantity surveying for borehole works. The scope covers value engineering, cost validation, tender support, preparation of contract documentation and post-contract cost management during construction. The buyer is Aston University, a public university based in Birmingham. This is a professional services requirement for firms providing construction cost management, quantity surveying and commercial support on major energy or infrastructure projects, rather than for the construction works themselves. The selected supplier is MGAC LLP, a large London-based professional services firm.

The procurement has been awarded and the tender is complete. MGAC LLP was selected for the Energy Centre cost consultancy services. The contract was awarded on 20 July 2026 and signed on the same date, at a value of £104,100 excluding VAT. The procurement used a limited procedure and a direct award without a prior call for competition, through the University of Birmingham Build Higher Framework. The framework permitted direct award to an appointed supplier capable of providing the required services. The stated award basis was price. One bid was recorded. The tender included one lot, covering RIBA Stages 4 and 5 cost consultancy and borehole-related quantity surveying; that lot is recorded as cancelled, while the award and contract are recorded as active.

This outcome demonstrates demand from Aston University for specialist cost consultancy during the later design, procurement and construction stages of a complex energy infrastructure project. A credible competing supplier would need strong quantity surveying and construction cost management capability, including value engineering, cost validation, tender and procurement support, contract documentation, and post-contract commercial management. Experience of RIBA Stages 4 and 5 would be directly relevant, as would the ability to assess and manage costs associated with borehole works. Suppliers should also understand how to provide coordinated commercial advice during construction and how to operate through public-sector framework arrangements, including direct-award call-offs where permitted. The requirement is best suited to established firms with the technical depth and capacity to support a university-scale energy project from detailed design through delivery.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Energy Centre Cost Consultant

Notice Description

The appointment of MGAC LLP for the provision of cost consultancy services for Aston University's Energy Centre project. The services will support delivery of the project across RIBA Stages 4 and 5, including additional QS services relating to borehole works.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Aston University is delivering a new Energy Centre to provide campus-wide energy infrastructure. RIBA Stage 3 has identified a cost variance against the approved budget, requiring further cost management and value engineering. MGAC are proposed to be appointed to provide cost consultancy services across RIBA Stages 4 and 5, including additional QS services for borehole works. The total contract value is PS104,100 excluding VAT (PS124,920 including VAT). The scope includes value engineering, cost validation, tender support, contract documentation and post-contract cost management during construction.

Procurement Information

The contract was awarded by way of a direct award under the University of Birmingham Build Higher Framework, a framework agreement that was established in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. MGAC LLP is an appointed supplier under the framework and the framework rules permit direct award for the services required. The contracting authority considered that a further call for competition was not required because the relevant framework agreement contained terms governing the award of the contract and identified the suppliers capable of providing the services. The award was therefore made in accordance with the framework agreement and the applicable procurement regulations. The services comprise specialist quantity surveying and cost consultancy support for Aston University's Energy Centre project, including cost management, value engineering, procurement support and post-contract commercial management. The award to MGAC LLP was made in accordance with the framework provisions and represented a lawful call-off from an existing competitively established framework agreement.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06dc83
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/074243-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

71324000 - Quantity surveying services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£104,100 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
5 Aug 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Aston University
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BIRMINGHAM
Postcode
B4 7ET
Postcode Area
Birmingham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG3 West Midlands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG31 Birmingham
Delivery Location
TLG31 Birmingham
Local Authority
Birmingham
Electoral Ward
Nechells
Westminster Constituency
Birmingham Ladywood

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Robinson Low Francis LLP

Further Information

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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