The Environment Agency has launched an early market engagement initiative for its forthcoming Collaborative Delivery Framework 2 (CDF2), a framework expected to be worth up to £6 billion, scheduled to run from January 2027 to January 2035. This framework aims to provide a comprehensive delivery mechanism for appraisal, design, technical support, and construction services integral to the agency’s extensive asset management programme. The programme will encompass both nature-based and traditional engineering solutions spanning flood defence, navigation, water, land, and biodiversity assets.

CDF2 is designed to replace the current Collaborative Delivery Framework and is anticipated to support a wide range of projects valued from £1 million up to £150 million. The framework will be divided into two lots; one focused on works valued between £1 million and £5 million, and another targeting projects exceeding £5 million. The Environment Agency has taken a consultative approach by publishing draft framework deeds and bidder packs to gather valuable feedback from potential suppliers. These include proposed tender questions and model documents, which are to be shared via Quatrix, a secure cloud platform. Interested suppliers are invited to submit feedback on the drafts by 14 November and can participate in either in-person sessions in London on 21 October or virtual sessions on 4 November, with each organisation allowed up to two representatives.

In seeking feedback, the agency emphasises interest particularly in identifying and addressing any barriers that might prevent previously interested suppliers from bidding rather than soliciting input on the overall framework structure. This highlights the agency’s focus on inclusivity and removing hurdles to supplier participation.

Industry data shows that the framework falls under the Works category of public procurement and will be established as a framework agreement under the Procurement Act 2023. Key Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV) codes include engineering and construction services, design, supervision, and consultancy. While the agency has not yet named a specific procurement lead or design team, the scale and scope underscore the significant investment the Environment Agency is committing to its asset management strategy.

The initiative aligns with the agency’s broader strategic objectives to secure and maintain infrastructure critical to flood and coastal risk management, navigation, and environmental stewardship. The £6 billion valuation includes VAT, with the net figure estimated at £5 billion. Such frameworks are an evolution of the agency's previous approaches, which aim to integrate traditional engineering methods with innovative nature-based solutions. These solutions reflect a growing trend in environmental management that balances infrastructure resilience with biodiversity enhancement.

This development also follows the agency's history of implementing supplier arrangements designed to enhance collaboration, efficiency, and value for money, as seen in its £2.6 billion capital investment programme announced in recent years. Such programmes have promoted innovative ways of working, involving delivery partners and local communities from project inception through to completion to maximise environmental and social benefits.

The new framework is expected to play a pivotal role in enabling the agency to deliver its long-term objectives, protecting tens of thousands of homes from flooding and coastal erosion while promoting sustainable management of water and land resources across England. The framework’s consultation process indicates an open, transparent approach aimed at optimising supplier involvement and effectiveness ahead of its official launch in January 2027.

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Source: Noah Wire Services