LHC Procurement Group (LHCPG) intends to establish a new framework agreement for the provision of Consultancy Services (CS2), replacing the existing Consultancy Services (CS1) and Multi-Disciplinary Consultancy (MDC1) frameworks. The framework will provide public sector organisations with access to a comprehensive range of professional consultancy services to support the planning, design, delivery, refurbishment, maintenance and management of buildings, infrastructure and associated assets. The proposed scope includes, but is not limited to, architectural services, project management, quantity surveying and cost consultancy, building surveying, civil and structural engineering, mechanical and electrical engineering, planning consultancy, principal designer services, employer's agent services, environmental consultancy, building safety and compliance, and multidisciplinary consultancy services. CS2 is intended to support a broad range of public sector projects, including housing, construction, refurbishment, regeneration, asset management, retrofit and decarbonisation, with services available across the participating LHCPG regions. The framework is expected to be divided into discipline-based lots and geographical areas, enabling contracting authorities to access specialist or multidisciplinary consultancy services appropriate to their requirements. The final scope, lot structure and procurement arrangements will be confirmed in the subsequent tender notice and associated procurement documentation. The framework will be available for use by eligible public sector organisations, with individual contracts awarded in accordance with the framework's published call-off procedures.

Procurement Act 2023

Open procedure

The Consultancy Services (CS2) Framework Agreement will operate as a closed framework, providing eligible public sector contracting authorities with access to appointed suppliers across a range of consultancy disciplines and geographical areas. Suppliers will be appointed following a competitive procurement process, with appointments made against the relevant lots and geographical areas in accordance with the published evaluation and award methodology. Contracting authorities will be able to award call-off contracts either with or without further competition, subject to the framework's published call-off procedures and applicable requirements. Where a direct award is permitted, supplier selection will be based on objective criteria set out in the framework documentation, including relevant capability, geographical coverage, availability and pricing information. Where further competition is undertaken, eligible suppliers appointed to the relevant lot and geographical area will be invited to submit proposals against the specific requirements of the contracting authority. Framework pricing is expected to include maximum rates or other applicable pricing schedules, with call-off pricing determined according to the nature and scope of the individual requirement. This may include hourly or daily rates, fixed fees, percentage-based fees or other pricing mechanisms permitted under the framework. The detailed call-off procedures, pricing arrangements and award criteria will be confirmed in the tender documentation.

Tenders will be submitted electronically through the LHC Procurement Group In-Tend eTendering portal: https://supplier.in-tend.co.uk/lhc/home Suppliers wishing to participate in the procurement will be required to register on the portal and access the Consultancy Services 2 (CS2) opportunity when the tender is published. All tender submissions, clarification requests and associated procurement communications will be managed electronically through In-Tend. Full instructions for accessing the procurement documents and submitting a tender will be provided in the tender documentation. Tenders submitted by email or other means will not be accepted.