Official UK procurement notice
Primary Contractor Framework · UK public procurement notice
Authority: Portsmouth City Council (Local council)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionPortsmouth City Council (the 'Council') is undertaking this Pre Market Engagement (PME) exercise as part of the establishment of a Primary Contractor Framework. The framework will be used to undertake a range of multi-disciplinary project work, with contractors taking on the role of Principal Contractor to oversee and manage building work projects, primarily for Building Services within PCC with works generally being undertaken to the Council's portfolio of properties.
The Council currently has a Primary Contractor Framework, that is due to expire on 31/07/2026.
It is currently estimated that the new Primary Contractor Framework will have an approximate value of £10m-£20m per annum.
It is anticipated that during the 4 year initial period of the framework £60m spend will be through Portsmouth City Council properties.
Additional headroom has been added to allow for anticipated spend if additional properties are added through any local government reorganisation or other external use of the framework, however there is no commitment or guarantee of this additional spend.
The new framework will run for an initial 4 years from 01/08/2026. The Council are considering inclusion of an extension for a further 2 years to account for any known risks around Local Government Reorganisation and Legislative change.
The council is planning to establish the new Primary Contractor framework with only 1 Lot associated with it. This lot will cover all works of both lower and higher value packages of works.
The framework will be comprised of a primary tier of 5 contractors and secondary tier of 7 contractors to provide contingency and ongoing competition.
The Framework will serve as the primary route to procure building maintenance projects for Building Services within PCC with works generally being undertaken to the Councils portfolio of nearly 17,500 social housing and leasehold properties and 900 corporate assets.
In addition to use on PCC assets, the Framework may be used by PCC when undertaking work on behalf of other public sector clients within South Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The Framework may also be accessed directly by the following Contracting Authorities:
- Havant Borough Council
- Fareham Borough Council
- Gosport Borough Council
The type of works, scale and buildings will be similar to those within the PCC property portfolio.
Typically works will involve planned maintenance activities to properties including but not limited to;
- External and communal decoration
- Window replacement
- Roofing replacement
- Fire safety works
- Electrical works
- Fencing
- External repair to brickwork and concrete structures
In additional to planned maintenance works other projects may involve;
- Conversion of properties
- Refurbishment of properties
- Extensions
- Disabled adaptations
- New build
New regulations imposed under the Building Safety Act will result in a specific works programme for high risk buildings particularly around:
- Fire safety
- Structural safety
The majority of projects, around 60%, will be to the Councils social housing portfolio where residents usually remain in occupation for the duration of works. The remaining 40% of projects are to properties within the Councils varied corporate property portfolio, this includes properties such as;
- Schools
- Libraries
- Leisure centres
- Community Centres
- Cultural assets
- Shops
Works will generally be of low value (c £350k- £500k) and of low complexity to buildings of less than six storeys. Although there may be occasions where higher value or more complex projects are required.
The Council are intending to run the subsequent envisaged tender process under the following Procurement Programme:
ITT / Contract Notice issued Mid/Late Jan 2026
Site visits and bidders session Mid Feb 2026
Deadline for clarifications Mid March 2026
Tender return deadline Late March 2026
Notification of award Early June 2026
End of standstill period (8 working days) Mid June 2026
Start of Section 20 period Mid June 2026
End of Section 20 Notice period Mid July 2026
Framework Award Confirmation Mid July 2026
Framework Execution Late July 2026
CPV: Architectural and related services · Building completion work · Building construction work · Building fittings · Building installation work · Construction-related services · Engineering services · Hire of construction and civil engineering machinery and equipment with operator · Landscape architectural services · Miscellaneous building structures · Repair and maintenance services of building installations · Roof works and other special trade construction works · +2 more
How this framework works
From the published notice- Framework period
- 4 yrs · up to 6 yrs from 31 Jul 2026
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedWhat it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
- “Primary Contractor Framework” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract.
Pipeline intelligence · planning stage: how this market runs before the tender is published
How Portsmouth City Council buys Building construction work (CPV 4521), and who usually turns up
Portsmouth City Council’s own published record, next to the published market for the same work. This notice is a framework or DPS, so only frameworks and DPS are compared. Whole-market view: Building construction work (CPV 4521) →
How the contest usually goes
Winner shares use published awards; bid and price charts use contested lots.
i
How often small and medium firms win.
Share of awards where the winner’s size is known.
The counts under this question show how many awards have a known supplier size.
Small firms have won here. Neither number says whether you qualify; it describes who has been winning.
i
How often local firms win similar work.
Winners with a registered address in the delivery region, out of awards with a known address.
Here, local means registered in South East England.
A local branch does not count if the registered address is elsewhere.
Most of this buyer’s recorded winners are registered in South East England.
i
How long buyers here take to decide after bids close.
Middle value in days from the deadline to the first award notice, on competitions that published both dates.
Only decided tenders count, so slow ones still waiting are not in.
Half of these awards were announced within 46 days of the bid deadline.
i
How often work is awarded with no recorded rival.
Direct awards and tenders where every published lot count shows one bid.
The buyer’s share is a minimum: some awards have no bid count.
Thin markets produce this too; it is not proof of a tailored specification.
Direct awards or one recorded bid are common here. Check the route before spending time on a bid.
How many bids did past lots attract?
i
How many bids past lots received.
Each colour is a bid-count range. Only competed lots with a published count are included.
Past bids do not predict this tender.
1 bid18% / 0%
2–318% / 64%
4–629% / 9%
7+36% / 27%
How did awards compare with estimates?
i
Where winning prices landed against estimates.
Each colour shows awards below, close to or above the published estimate, one lot at a time.
On a framework or DPS, prices are agreed when work is called off.
Past prices are a guide, not a bid price.
Not comparable on a framework or DPS. The notice sets up a supplier panel and a ceiling value; what the work actually costs is agreed later, on each call-off or mini-competition, and those publish as contract notices of their own. The award-vs-estimate record of this market therefore sits on the call-offs; this page shows it on the contracts, not on the panel that frames them.
Assess each lot i
What past awards tell you about each lot.
See the forecast, this buyer’s earlier suppliers and firms with relevant wins.
No supplier is confirmed as a bidder.
i
What past awards tell you about each lot.
See the forecast, this buyer’s earlier suppliers and firms with relevant wins.
No supplier is confirmed as a bidder.
Open a lot for its forecast, this buyer’s previous supplier and possible competitors, from published award history, not a bid list
Lot #1CPV 4521Published estimate£104m
i
How many bids this lot may attract.
The forecast uses similar past competitions. The bar shows either that forecast or past bid counts; the line below says which.
Each lot shows its own forecast based on its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative. The bar shows 11 past lots.
A forecast, not a list of bidders.
1 bid0%
2–364%
4–69%
7+27%
i
Where the award price may land.
The forecast uses similar awards and the buyer’s estimate. The band covers the middle half of likely prices.
No comparable awards for this lot yet.
A statistical guide from past awards, not a price to bid.
Who has supplied this buyer on similar work? i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
| Supplier | This buyer’s earlier contract | Lot | Award value | Why listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kier Services Ltd T/A Kier PlacesEarlier contract | PRIMARY CONTRACTOR FRAMEWORK 2021 - PORTSMOUTH & SUB REGIONnotice published Dec 2022 | PRIMARY CONTRACTOR FRAMEWORK 2021 to 2025 - PORTSMOUTH & SUB REGION | — | Matched as the earlier contract |
| ETEC CONTRACT SERVICES LTDEarlier contract | PRIMARY CONTRACTOR FRAMEWORK 2021 - PORTSMOUTH & SUB REGIONnotice published Dec 2022 | PRIMARY CONTRACTOR FRAMEWORK 2021 to 2025 - PORTSMOUTH & SUB REGION | — | Matched as the earlier contract |
| BELL GROUP LTDEarlier contract | PRIMARY CONTRACTOR FRAMEWORK 2021 - PORTSMOUTH & SUB REGIONnotice published Dec 2022 | PRIMARY CONTRACTOR FRAMEWORK 2021 to 2025 - PORTSMOUTH & SUB REGION | — | Matched as the earlier contract |
| 7. Comserv Uk LtdEarlier contract | PRIMARY CONTRACTOR FRAMEWORK 2021 - PORTSMOUTH & SUB REGIONnotice published Dec 2022 | PRIMARY CONTRACTOR FRAMEWORK 2021 to 2025 - PORTSMOUTH & SUB REGION | — | Matched as the earlier contract |
| Vale Southern ConstructionEarlier contract | PRIMARY CONTRACTOR FRAMEWORK 2021 - PORTSMOUTH & SUB REGIONnotice published Dec 2022 | PRIMARY CONTRACTOR FRAMEWORK 2021 to 2025 - PORTSMOUTH & SUB REGION | — | Matched as the earlier contract |
Who could compete for this lot? i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
Candidate suppliers for this notice have not been worked out yet, so this is not a verdict that nobody fits.
About this data
- Source. Official UK public procurement notices (Find a Tender), reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0. New notices arrive through the day; the figures are rebuilt nightly.
- Two views, kept apart. The authority’s own track record and the wider market for the same kind of work sit side by side and are never mixed. Where the local picture is too thin, a figure widens to a broader market and says which one it used.
- Forecasts are labelled. The price forecast and its range, possible competitors and the earlier-work matches are our estimates from past awards: not published facts, not win chances and not price advice. Official notices do not say who is bidding.
- Every figure shows what it rests on. Not every notice publishes a bid count, a value or a delivery region, so each figure carries the number of records behind it, and one built on few records is marked as such. The on a figure explains it; the counting rules are in the methodology. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
What this replaces i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
53% title match.
A past supplier may not bid again.
i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
53% title match.
A past supplier may not bid again.
The prior contract this notice most likely re-tenders · matched by title and category (53% title match), the holder is not guaranteed to re-bid
PRIMARY CONTRACTOR FRAMEWORK 2021 - PORTSMOUTH & SUB REGION, winner not published; no contract end date published.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Works
- Notice status
- Planned procurement
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Framework agreement
- Who may use this agreement
- Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 27 Nov 2025, 18:20 GMT
- Last source update
- 27 Nov 2025, 18:20 GMT
- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-077886- Latest notice
- Preliminary market engagement notice (UK2)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05eaa0Find a Tender
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- —
Timeline
27 Nov 2025 → 31 Jul 2026 · 4 dates- Planning notice published328 days ago27 Nov 2025, 18:20 GMT
- Market engagement306 days ago19 Dec 2025, 23:59 GMT
The Council have published this Pre Market Engagement (PME) Notice in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023. The Council's aim in undertaking this PME exercise is to understand the market's interest, capacity, capability, with a view to developing the procurement strategy and tender documentation to meet needs, objectives, statutory obligations and best value duties.
The Council is running the Preliminary Market Engagement process and activities in line with the summary programme set out below:
- Issue PME Notice - 27th Nov2025
- PME Questionnaire Clarification deadline - 12th Dec 2025
- PME Questionnaire Submission Deadline - 19th Dec 2025
The Council will administrate the preliminary market engagement process using its e-sourcing system In-tend. The In-tend system can be accessed free of charge via the following web link:
intendhost.co.uk/portsmouthcc/aspx/home ↗
Suppliers who are not already registered on the In-tend system will need to register their details to access the documentation, raise clarification requests and return the questionnaire submissions.
The Council is requesting suppliers to read through the PME Briefing document & to view the PME briefing presentation (Both available via Intend), to gain a better understanding of the proposed framework. and then to provide feedback by completing the questionnaire and returning it in Word format via the InTend correspondence function by 19th December 2025.
Suppliers are encouraged but not obliged to complete the questionnaire. Suppliers that do not take part, will not be precluded from any subsequent related procurement process. Engaging suppliers will not receive preferential treatment in any subsequent tender process, and this is in no way an indication of the selection of any organisation or a guarantee of future work.
Suppliers will have the ability to submit the questionnaire past the deadline above. However, if questionnaires are not submitted by this deadline the Council may not be able to use the information provided and subsequently take this into account as part of the analysis or PME Summary produced.
For full details of the PME process and documentation suppliers should refer to InTend.
- Tender notice expected271 days ago23 Jan 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Contract starts83 days ago31 Jul 2026, 00:00 BST
Notice history
1 event · 1 release on Find a Tender- Preliminary market engagement notice published27 Nov 2025, 18:20 GMTUK2
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Pipeline notice- Awards (0)
- No award published
- Contracts (0)
- No contract published
- Bid statistics
- No aggregate bid statistics published
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (1)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender