---
title: "Sustainable Schools Challenge: Critical Friend and Sustainability Advisor - C194/2024/2025"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05f44b"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05f44b"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05f44b.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05f44b.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "LLYWODRAETH CYMRU / WELSH GOVERNMENT"
published: "2026-03-26"
---

# Sustainable Schools Challenge: Critical Friend and Sustainability Advisor - C194/2024/2025

Buyer: LLYWODRAETH CYMRU / WELSH GOVERNMENT  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05f44b

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05f44b)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05f44b.json)

## Summary

The Welsh Government has completed the Sustainable Schools Challenge, awarding the contract for "Critical Friend and Sustainability Advisor" to Down to Earth Project. This procurement, initiated as an open procedure, involves construction project management services under the CPV classification 71541000. Based in Cardiff, the Welsh Government aims to build three new sustainable schools within Wales, focusing on innovative and collaborative designs. The award was announced on 24 March 2026, with contract activities commencing on 15 April 2026, and the contract spans two years with a potential extension. This procurement aligns with Welsh devolved regulations, applicable under the UKPGA legal framework.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses involved in sustainable construction and advisory services. Given its focus on community engagement and environmental contributions, it appeals to SMEs and VCSE organisations. The selected businesses are expected to attend workshops, contribute to project meetings, and provide expert advice tailored to sustainable school development. This contract is especially suitable for entities experienced in education sector collaborations and those committed to community benefits, offering growth potential in the realm of environmentally driven projects. Consortia bids are welcomed, further enhancing collaborative business expansion possibilities in this sector.

## Notice

The Sustainable Communities for Learning (SCfL) Programme launched an innovative Sustainable Schools' Challenge through the existing Programme and governance framework. Building on the Net Zero Carbon mandate across the Programme introduced in January 2022, the Welsh Government invited applications from local authorities that could demonstrate innovative and collaborative design, development, delivery, and management of initially two new schools that could make a positive contribution to the environment and surrounding landscape. The collaboration expected from the Challenge included learners, staff, parents, community and supply chains through all stages of design, construction and operational life for a truly sustainable school. Aimed at primary schools an allocation of up to PS15 million at 100% intervention was allocated per project. Given the high calibre of entries funding was announced in March 2023 for three new sustainable schools. Campws Cymunedol Bontnewydd Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Rhosafan Glyn-Coch Community Primary School Working with Constructing Excellence in Wales, the successful bidder will be required to attend and participate in joint workshops and attend relevant project meetings to act as a Critical Friend for the design and construction teams and embed themselves in the three projects and being available to project teams for advice. Where necessary the successful bidder will be expected to lead in elements of the workshops, facilitating research for their case studies and conduct mini workshops at local level with the participating projects to obtain sufficient knowledge of the innovation and collaboration being undertaken to inform advice and case studies. Attendance in person will be necessary for most meetings which will take place across Wales. The bidders will need to familiarise themselves with progress of the designs and the work of the Critical Friend during phase1 of the design stage.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Options: An optional extension of 6 months.

Renewal: The Welsh Government wishes to provide for an optional extension period of 6 months, to be determined by the project team at the time.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/027719-2026 |
| Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 26 Mar 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 29 Jan 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 24 Mar 2026 |
| Contract period | 14 Apr 2026 - 14 Apr 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £160,000 |
| Lots value | £160,000 |
| Awards value | £126,500 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | LLYWODRAETH CYMRU / WELSH GOVERNMENT |
| Locality | CARDIFF |
| Post town | Cardiff |
| Postcode | CF10 3NQ |
| Country | Wales |
| ITL 1 | TLL Wales |
| ITL 2 | TLL5 South East Wales |
| ITL 3 | TLL52 Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan |
| Local authority | Cardiff |
| Electoral ward | Cathays |
| Westminster constituency | Cardiff South and Penarth |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | DOWN TO EARTH PROJECT |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

### Codes

- 71541000 - Construction project management services

## Release History

- 26 Mar 2026 at 10:09 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/027719-2026
- 11 Dec 2025 at 16:57 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082214-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/027719-2026
  26th March 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082214-2025
  11th December 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Assets/NoticeBuilder_FileDownload.aspx?id=354882
  ITT
- https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Assets/NoticeBuilder_FileDownload.aspx?id=354903
  Specification

## Notice URLs

- http://www.gov.wales
- https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/search_switch.aspx?ID=115828
- https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/search_switch.aspx?ID=143678
- https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/search_switch.aspx?ID=146544

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05f44b. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05f44b.json.