Major Construction Framework Announced!

Crescent Purchasing Consortium have gone to market with their £9.5bn Construction & Capital Works framework. We break down what they’re looking for, why you should bid and how to maximise your chances of framework success.

Who are Crescent Purchasing Consortium?

Crescent Purchasing Consortium (CPC) are a purchasing consortium, owned and run by the Further Education sector. Traditionally their frameworks were setup for use by educational institutions (schools, colleges, universities, academies, multi-academy trusts) but are increasingly being used by other public sector bodies including central and local government as well as Scottish public sector organisations.

What are they looking for?

A comprehensive construction framework agreement covering various types of building and engineering projects using multiple contract forms:

• JCT contracts: Minor Works (MW), Intermediate Building Contract (IC), Design & Build (D&B), and D&B with Pre-Construction Services Agreement (PCSA)
• NEC4 contracts: Engineering and Construction (Short and Standard), with Professional Services options, and with D&B
• Demolition contracts: National Federation of Demolition Contractors Direct Form

Where?

UK-wide coverage, divided into 5 geographical regions with 45 separate Lots:

• England North (Lots 1a-1i)
• England Midlands (Lots 2a-2i)
• England South (Lots 3a-3i)
• Wales (Lots 4a-4i)
• Scotland (Lots 5a-5i)

Each region has 9 Lots covering different contract types.

Who should bid on it?

• Construction contractors with experience in building works
• Engineering and construction firms familiar with NEC contracts
• Design & Build specialists
• Demolition contractors (specifically NFDC-qualified)
• Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) – explicitly encouraged
• Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs) – explicitly encouraged

Bidders should have relevant technical ability, financial capacity, and regional presence in their target areas.

Why bid?

Scale of opportunity:

• Total value: £9.5 billion
• Each Lot estimated at £211 million

Duration & stability:

• Initial term: 2 years (May 2026 – April 2028)
• Potential extensions: Up to 3 x 24-month extensions (maximum 8 years until 2034)
• Provides long-term revenue pipeline and business stability

Strategic advantages:

• Access to public sector construction projects across UK
• Framework membership reduces future bidding costs
• Multiple Lots allow geographic/expertise targeting
• Encourages SME/VCSE participation (lower barriers to entry)
• Quality based framework (70% Quality, 30% Price) so suppliers won’t be racing to the bottom

How to maximise your chance of success?

1. Target the Right Lots Strategically

Don’t bid on everything, focus on Lots where you have genuine capability and regional presence. Evaluate each Lot against your:

• Geographic coverage: Can you realistically deliver in that region with local resources or partners?
• Contract type expertise: Only bid on contract forms (JCT, NEC4, etc.) you’ve successfully delivered before
• Capacity: Consider the estimated Lot value, can your business handle projects of that scale?

Pro tip: Bidding on fewer Lots with stronger, tailored responses is far more effective than spreading yourself thin across multiple Lots with generic submissions.

2. Build Your Case Studies Library Now

Framework assessments heavily weight quality criteria (70% in this case) over price. You’ll need compelling evidence of:

• Relevant past performance: Projects of similar scope, value, and contract type
• Social value delivery: Environmental initiatives, local employment, apprenticeships, community benefits
• Problem-solving ability: Examples where you’ve overcome challenges or added value

Pro tip: Start gathering testimonials, KPIs, and project data immediately. Include measurable outcomes (cost savings, early completions, carbon reductions) rather than just describing what you did.

3. Respond to What They’re Actually Asking

Framework buyers use scoring matrices, your answer must directly address each evaluation criterion:

• Read the pre-market engagement documents carefully to understand priorities and pain points
• Structure responses around their criteria: If they ask for “customer service approach,” don’t bury it in a paragraph about project management
• Use their language: Mirror terminology from the specification (e.g., if they reference “NEC4 ECC,” use that exact term)
• Word count matters: Stay within limits but use your full allocation—too brief suggests lack of capability

Pro tip: Create a compliance matrix mapping every question to your response section. Have someone unfamiliar with the bid review it—if they can’t quickly find answers to specific questions, neither can the evaluators.

Bonus insight: For this £9.5bn framework, the 30% price weighting means you won’t win on cost alone. Invest time in demonstrating quality, social value, and reliability, that’s where frameworks are truly won.

Next steps:

• Register Interest: https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/061802-2025
• Qualify your bid: Do you meet the minimum requirements? Are you able to create a winning submission? Do you have time to write your submission?
• Deadline: 30 October 2025, 5:00pm

Remember – This is a major UK public sector construction framework offering significant opportunities for contractors across all sizes and specialisms and has the potential to last up to 8 years in length so is a great marketplace for anyone in this industry. But, getting on to the framework isn’t the end of the hard work, it’s only the beginning. Once you’ve been awarded a place on a Framework make sure that your work winning team are engaging with and building relationships with buyers. Relying on Buyers coming to you is a poor choice of strategy, especially as we’re seeing an increase in Direct Awards post PA23.

Need help? Speak with our team.