Event Management & Delivery Framework 1 (EMF1)

Authority: Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Central government)

Framework agreement5 lotsServicesOpen procedureAbove thresholdLight touch regimeSME suitableVCSE suitableMax 2 lots to bidMax 2 lots per supplier

Sectors: Administration, defence and social security services (75)Business Services & Consultancy (79) Delivery: Delivery location not published

Framework ceiling (notional)£250,000,000total for 5 lots · framework ceiling, not attributable revenue

Submissions closed 22 May 2026awarded 3 Sept 2026

Awarded to ARCADIS CONSULTING (UK) LIMITED +24 more5 awards

Framework period 4 yrsends 1 Nov 2030 · up to 1 Nov 2032 with extensions · starts 2 Nov 2026

What is being bought5 lots · detail below

Published requirement description

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has completed the procurement process for the Event Management Framework (EMF1).

The procurement was conducted in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 and the Light Touch Regime. EMF1 will provide a flexible and accessible route to market for a range of event management and delivery services.

The framework agreement will have an initial term of four years, with the option to extend for two further periods of up to 12 months each.

The procurement comprises of the following lots:

Lot 1 – National and Public-Facing Events: End-to-end planning, management and delivery of large-scale, high-profile national and public-facing events.

Lot 2 – Medium to Large Indoor Events: Planning, design, management and delivery of medium to large-scale indoor events.

Lot 3 – Government Presence at Third-Party Events: Planning, management and delivery of government participation and presence at events organised and delivered by third parties.

Lot 4 – Small Events: Planning, management and delivery of small-scale and/or short-duration events.

Lot 5 – Event Assurance Services: Provision of specialist event assurance services, including crowd management planning, crowd safety and operational crowd security.

No preliminary market engagement: Market engagement was conducted in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015). The relevant Prior Information Notice (PIN) can be accessed here: https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026361-2024?origin=SearchResults&p=1567

CPV: Cultural event organisation services · Event services · Exhibition, fair and congress organisation services · Fair and exhibition organisation services · Supporting services for the government

How this framework works

From the published notice

Type: Open framework
Call-offs: every call-off is a further competition among the appointed suppliers
Bids received: 27 bids on the busiest of 5 lots · 25 suppliers appointed
Framework period: 4 yrs · up to 6 yrs from 2 Nov 2026

Who may buy through it

Central government departments, executive agencies, non-departmental public bodies, and arm’s-length bodies, including those sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Published description of the framework

The framework will operate as a multi-supplier agreement, with call-off contracts awarded through mini-competitions and, where permitted, by direct award in accordance with the framework terms.

Lots and requirements (5)Procurement structure

5 lots · all with a published value · a supplier may bid for at most 2 and win at most 2 of them · evaluation weights differ by lot

Lot #1National Public-Facing EventsAwardedRenewal 4 yrsSMEVCSEPublished value£150,000,000