---
title: "Science Estates Delivery Framework"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06c33b"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06c33b"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06c33b.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06c33b.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH AGENCY"
published: "2026-07-03"
---

# Science Estates Delivery Framework

Buyer: ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH AGENCY  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06c33b

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## Summary

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), operating under the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), is in the planning stage of a significant procurement project, titled the "Science Estates Delivery Framework". This project aims to establish a framework that supports the APHA site at Weybridge, providing a flexible and expert route to market for high containment building requirements and related services. The planning stage includes a premarket engagement phase, where Defra is seeking expressions of interest from potential service providers by 1st September 2026. The framework focuses on life sciences construction and infrastructure at the Weybridge site, with potential applicability across other Defra locations. The procurement, valued at approximately £300 million, falls under the 'works' industry category and is set to commence on 1st September 2027, with a potential contract period extending until 2035.

This tender presents a substantial opportunity for companies involved in construction, infrastructure, engineering, laboratory, and containment environments, as well as those specialising in project and programme management, and commercial and technical services. Businesses, especially those that are Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with expertise in high containment environments, are encouraged to engage in the premarket consultation process. Engaging with this contract could significantly bolster a company's portfolio by being part of a major government framework focusing on scientific and technical advancements in the UK's government infrastructure. The dynamic purchasing system allows businesses of varying capacities to partake, paving the way for small and large firms to showcase their specialities and secure long-term collaborations with a central government authority.

## Notice

Defra is developing a new Science Estates Delivery Framework to support the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) site at Weybridge and provide a flexible, expert and accessible route to market for high containment building requirements at Weybridge. The framework is expected to provide access to a broad range of life sciences construction, infrastructure, construction professional services and specialist services supporting the refurbishment and development of both high-containment and non-containment facilities, primarily utilised at the Weybridge site (though may be available across Defra Group locations and projects). APHA Weybridge is one of the United Kingdom's most significant science and research campuses, providing nationally important capabilities in animal health, plant health and biosecurity. The framework is intended to support a long-term unique and technically complex estate and programme. Prior to initiating any procurement, Defra wishes to engage with the market to better understand supplier market capability and capacity. Feedback received through this engagement will help inform procurement and contract decisions including potential lotting arrangements. The framework may include a range of construction works and services, and the areas identified within this notice are indicative only and have been included to support market engagement. The final scope, procurement strategy and lot structure have not yet been determined and will be developed following engagement with the market. The framework may include the below services. It should be noted that these services and Lots structures are subject to change. The service scope includes, but is not limited to: - Construction Works: High and Low Containment facility construction; Mechanical & Electrical works; Demolition and enabling works; Civil engineering; Infrastructure works; Utilities works; Building fabric works; Refurbishment works; New build construction; Professional and Technical Services; Multi-Disciplinary Design Services; Lead Designer Services (Life-Sciences, Architectural, Civils, Structural, MEP); Project Management (Design Management, Contract Administration, Planning and Scheduling); PMO Services (incl Project Controls); Cost/Commercial Management; Building Surveying; NEC Supervisor services; Project Controls; Risk Management; Principal Designer Activities (CDM & BSA); Health & Safety; Commissioning and Validation; Building Control / Inspector services Specialist Services: High-containment specialist consultancy; Acoustic consultancy; Environmental consultancy; Technical assurance; Digital / BIM services; Move Management; Strategic estate planning; Fire safety & Building Safety; Ground investigation and geotechnical works. REQUEST FOR INFORMATION/EXPRESSION OF INTEREST Defra is seeking feedback and request for information prior to the procurement of this opportunity. The request for information is to organisations with experience in complex construction, infrastructure, engineering, laboratory and containment environments, as well as those providing project and programme management, commercial, technical and high containment specialist services. If you wish to express your interest in this opportunity and be involved in the market exploration prior to the opportunity, please provide the following information to nbcpcommercial@defra.gov.uk * Company name * Point of contact and contact details * Lots and services you are interested in bidding for * If you are an SME (Small Medium Enterprise) * If you have experience working in a high containment laboratory environment

### Planning Information

Defra (the Authority) would like Service Providers to express their interest in premarket engagement before 01 September 2026 by sending a confirmation message via email to NBCPCommercial@defra.gov.uk>. 
Please include the following detail in your message: -
• Company name
• Point of contact and contact details
• Lots and services you are interested in bidding for 
• If you are an SME (small Medium Enterprise)
• If you have experience working in a high containment laboratory environment 
In return we will list your interest in future planned market engagement. 
This Notice is for information only.
The information contained in this notice, including information relating to the nature and scope of the requirements, the estimated value, the service classification of this requirement and the list of CPV codes, is only indicative of current thinking and is neither exhaustive nor binding and the Authority reserves the right at its absolute discretion to amend it at the time of issue of any further notices or at any other time. The publication of this notice in no way obliges the Authority to commence any competitive tender process. The Authority is not and shall not be liable for any costs incurred by those expressing an interest in participating in this premarket engagement exercise.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/062704-2026 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Dynamic |
| Procurement category | Works |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 3 Jul 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 11 Jan 2027 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 31 Aug 2027 - 31 Aug 2034 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £250,000,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planning |
| Lots status | Planning |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH AGENCY |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South West London |
| Postcode | SW1P 4DF |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West |
| ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London |
| Local authority | Westminster |
| Electoral ward | St James's |
| Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster |
| Delivery location | TLJ South East (England) |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 45 - Construction work
- 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

### Codes

- 45000000 - Construction work
- 45100000 - Site preparation work
- 45200000 - Works for complete or part construction and civil engineering work
- 45300000 - Building installation work
- 45400000 - Building completion work
- 71200000 - Architectural and related services
- 71300000 - Engineering services
- 71400000 - Urban planning and landscape architectural services
- 71500000 - Construction-related services
- 71520000 - Construction supervision services
- 71530000 - Construction consultancy services
- 71540000 - Construction management services
- 71541000 - Construction project management services
- 71600000 - Technical testing, analysis and consultancy services
- 71700000 - Monitoring and control services
- 71900000 - Laboratory services

## Release History

- 3 Jul 2026 at 10:40 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/062704-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/062704-2026
  3rd July 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## 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-06c33b. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06c33b.json.