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ECS6 Framework

Natural England

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

22 Oct 2026 at 17:08

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Natural England plans to establish the ECS6 framework for advisory, facilitation and training services supporting environmental and land-management projects across Natural England and the wider Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs group. Services span water and air quality, environmental management, farming and forestry prosperity, agricultural regulation, natural capital and nature recovery, climate change and carbon accounting, soil management, training and accreditation, freshwater resources and flood risk, and programme delivery support. The framework is intended to provide integrated, consistent and targeted support. It will be organised by geographical requirements to cover England. Natural England is the buyer; Defra Group Commercial is leading the procurement on its behalf.

This is at the planning stage: the buyer has stated its intention to procure, but has not yet invited tenders. The buyer expects a framework agreement, with the next notice anticipated by 30 November 2026. A supplier webinar is planned for 5 November 2026; the date is provisional and may change before the tender is issued. The framework is due to start on 1 August 2027 and run for seven years, with a one-year extension option. It is described as a nil-value contract, while the stated estimated value is £100 million excluding VAT (£120 million including VAT). The procurement is planned as one lot, with the framework covering England. No evaluation criteria or participation requirements are set out at this stage.

The framework is intended to appoint a broad range of suppliers able to deliver services across one or more of its ten subject areas, rather than a single provider covering every service. It is explicitly considered suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises, and the buyer expects geographical requirements to be handled at lot level. Relevant providers may include environmental and land-management advisers, facilitators, training and accreditation organisations, and specialists in water, air, farming, forestry, regulation, nature recovery, carbon, soils and flood risk. The buyer is seeking high-quality, targeted and cost-effective support that can work consistently across Natural England and other Defra group bodies. Suppliers can use the planned market-engagement webinar to understand the emerging requirements and prepare for the later tender.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

ECS6 Framework

Notice Description

The ECS6 Framework is a flexible procurement tool used by Natural England and other Defra group bodies to contract in services from vetted and approved Suppliers. The Framework is due to launch on 1st August 2027 and will operate over a 7-year period, with a 1-year option to extend. ECS6 will follow on from the current Environment, Training, Advice and Facilitation (ETAF) Framework and will support projects across Natural England and the wider Defra Group. The main objectives of the Framework are to provide a range of advisory support, facilitation activities, and training services through an integrated, consistent, targeted, high quality, and cost-effective framework. We are looking for Suppliers who are able to provide these services in one or more of the following topic areas: 1. Water Quality and Protection, & Air Quality and Ammonia Reduction 2. Environmental Management 3. Farming and Forestry Prosperity and Investment 4. Agricultural Regulatory Baseline 5. Natural Capital and Nature Recovery 6. Climate Change adaptation and mitigation and Carbon Accounting 7. Soil Management and Protection 8. Training and Accreditation 9. Freshwater Resources and Flood Risk Management 10. Natural England Programme Delivery Support The ECS6 framework is designed to be a NIL value contract and will include a wide range of Suppliers who will be able to provide the range of services required, covering the whole of England at a Lot level basis to meet agreed geographical requirements and objectives.

Planning Information

A webinar will be held for prospective bidders at 13:30 on Thursday 5th November 2026. Supplier's wishing to attend can do so via the link below https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/b3dbda08-0086-45b8-9b38-4ace397830c0@770a2450-0227-4c62-90c7-4e38537f1102?source=copyLinkOneEventsShareDialog A copy of the specification can also be provided on request. This is provisional and may be subject to change prior to the tender being issued.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078e53
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/100186-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

CPV Codes

90710000 - Environmental management

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£100,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Oct 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
30 Nov 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Aug 2027 - 31 Jul 2034 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Natural England
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
Postcode Area
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

JSON Markdown

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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