Scope
Description
Hampshire County Council and Devon County Council (the Authorities) will be re-procuring the Southern Construction Framework in early 2026.
The fifth generation Southern Construction Framework currently in place is due to expire 1st May 2027. As with previous generations, this framework will predominantly support contracting authorities with construction delivery across the Southeast, Southwest and London regions, however the new framework will be open to all Public Sector Bodies in England should they wish to use it.
It is intended to operate for all projects above £1m and will be split into geographic and value-based lots.
The previous generation had a framework cap of £4.5bn with an anticipated workload of £1.92bn over the 4 years it is set to operate. As of July 2025, SCF has achieved a workload of £1.59bn (83% of turnover target at 54% of framework duration). It is anticipated that the SCF6 framework cap will be revised up to reflect both the performance and an increase in scope it covers.
Southern Construction Framework 6 (SCF6) will be procured by Devon and Hampshire County Councils (the Authorities) in the next 18 months, due to go live from May 2027. We are keen to get early engagement from interested suppliers to help steer and shape our initial set of proposals for the market.
Commercial tool
Establishes a framework
Total value (estimated)
- £4,500,000,000 excluding VAT
- £5,400,000,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 4 May 2026 to 3 May 2031
- 5 years
Main procurement category
Works
CPV classifications
- 45000000 - Construction work
Contract locations
- UKJ - South East (England)
- UKK - South West (England)
- UKC - North East (England)
- UKD - North West (England)
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
- UKH - East of England
- UKI - London
- UKF - East Midlands (England)
- UKE - Yorkshire and the Humber
- UKL - Wales
Engagement
Engagement deadline
22 October 2025
Engagement process description
The Southern Construction Framework (SCF) has traditionally operated supporting projects over £4m, with both councils having domestic frameworks supporting the delivery of projects below this value. In the last 4 years, these domestic arrangements have been brought under the SCF brand, and it is a desire of the Authorities to combine these procurements for SCF6, creating efficiencies and also reduce bidding costs across the supplier base.
As part of the evolution of the SCF brand, and the requirements of some clients, the framework team is considering how they can support clients across their geography in these lower value bands, rather than just providing domestic frameworks for the authorities. It should be noted that whilst the new Framework will be opened up nationally to other public bodies, it remains intended predominantly for use in the South East, South West and London, and there is no intention by the SCF Framework Management Team to market the framework outside of its current geography. As such, suppliers seeking to apply for the framework need to be able to work across the South of England and London.
The procurement of SCF has previously been a two-stage procurement process, but in recent years it is recognised there has been a decline in client's preference to use this method in certain lower value bands for projects. Whilst the Authorities will always promote and foster early market engagement and a collaborative approach to secure the best outcomes for project delivery, we acknowledge that we need to consider being more open to a single stage or hybrid approach to projects of a certain value. The Authorities want to ensure that what we present to the market in 2026 is effective for both clients and suppliers across the south, so we can continue to provide a value led approach to framework management and project delivery.
Suppliers interested in this opportunity are invited to complete the below linked survey, and if of interest, attend a 1:1 meeting with the SCF team, to discuss the principles and responses outlined in the survey.
Slots will be made available to those who complete the survey, on a first come first serve basis. A link to booking these will be made available after submitting your survey response and is strictly limited to one meeting per supplier entity.
Suppliers should therefore ensure that those attending represent their whole business entity.
Market Engagement Timeframes
- Market engagement survey will be available to complete until 17th October 2025
- 1:1 sessions will be held between 5th September and 25th September 2025, with a final, additional session on 22nd October 2025.
- 1:1 sessions will be only 20 mins
- A summary of the engagement survey and subsequent 1:1 sessions will be shared as part of a follow up preliminary engagement notice, ahead of a formal supplier event, currently scheduled for January 2026.
Participation
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
31 March 2026
Contracting authorities
Devon County Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PJRC-4623-RJBH
County Hall
Exeter
EX2 4QD
United Kingdom
Region: UKK43 - Devon CC
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government
HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PBHM-7586-PWLP
High St, The Castle
Winchester
SO23 8UJ
United Kingdom
Region: UKJ36 - Central Hampshire
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government