Scope
Description
The Environment Agency (EA) is seeking expressions of interest and pre-tender engagement from suppliers for its Collaborative Delivery Framework (CDF) 2.
CDF2 will deliver asset management activities across the whole of the EA's asset base including Flood and Coastal Risk Management, Navigation and Water Land and Biodiversity assets. The framework will provide both appraisal, design, technical support and construction works that support the EA's asset management, maintenance, refurbishment and construction programmes of work. The Framework will be required to develop, design and deliver nature-based solutions and more traditional hard engineering solutions. The framework will be used for construction projects in the range of £1m to £150m. Construction and detailed design services will be split across two lots with a value of £1-5m and £5m+.
Commercial tool
Establishes a framework
Total value (estimated)
- £5,000,000,000 excluding VAT
- £6,000,000,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 31 January 2027 to 30 January 2035
- 8 years
Main procurement category
Works
CPV classifications
- 45220000 - Engineering works and construction works
- 71510000 - Site-investigation services
- 71521000 - Construction-site supervision services
- 71300000 - Engineering services
- 71520000 - Construction supervision services
- 71530000 - Construction consultancy services
- 71320000 - Engineering design services
- 71540000 - Construction management services
- 71310000 - Consultative engineering and construction services
Engagement
Engagement deadline
14 November 2025
Engagement process description
Made available alongside this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice are draft versions of our completed framework deed and schedules, and our draft bidder pack including tender questions, for review, clarification and comment. This will be shared via Quatrix - a secure, cloud-managed platform for file transfers. In order to access Quatrix, you will be required to create a free account by inputting an email address and password. To request access to Quatrix please contact cdfreplacement@defra.gov.uk.
The draft framework schedule and deeds are available via Quatirx now. The draft tender documentation including bidder pack and tender questions, for review and comment, and a presentation regarding the CDF2 model and tender process, will be uploaded week commencing 13/10/2025.
We have made every effort to ensure these documents are as close as possible to the final versions that will be formally shared with our Invitation to Tender, however as internal approvals are still pending, we cannot guarantee that minor changes will not be required.
This is an opportunity for interested suppliers to familiarise themselves with these key documents, provide feedback on concerns with specific wording and clarify any ambiguities.
We are not looking for further feedback on the fundamental elements of the model, however we will be looking for feedback to understand if any elements of the model, as articulated in these documents, would prevent or dissuade any suppliers from bidding, who had previously been interested.
Interested suppliers are invited to view a presentation included in the documents shared explaining the CDF2 model and tender process. In-person feedback sessions will be held on Tuesday 21st October at Mary Ward House, Tavistock Place, London, WC1H 9SN and online sessions will be held on Tuesday 4th November. To ensure all interested parties have the opportunity to seek feedback and clarity, a maximum of two representatives from each interested party will be invited to attend an agreed slot at one of these sessions and a pre-registration link will be shared alongside the first upload of documents.
To receive an invitation to the event, and the link to access the shared documents, please contact CDFreplacement@defra.gov.uk.
Contracting authority
ENVIRONMENT AGENCY
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PNWW-1475-NYLN
Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
United Kingdom
Region: UKI32 - Westminster
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government
Other organisation
These organisations are carrying out the procurement, or part of it, on behalf of the contracting authorities.
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Summary of their role in this procurement: DEFRA Group commercial will be managing this tender on behalf of the Environment Agency
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PNBD-3289-CDGX
Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
United Kingdom
Region: UKI32 - Westminster