National Framework Agreement for the Provision of Carbon and Energy Infrastructure Upgrade Services

This opportunity seeks to establish a framework agreement for capable suppliers to provide low carbon energy efficient infrastructure services, improvements and upgrades to existing or new facilities in the public sector in the UK. These upgrades should offer client public bodies guaranteed resilience valued through reduced running costs, reduced energy consumption and reduced carbon emissions. Proposals should guarantee minimum levels of savings over the period of each contract let under the framework. This framework agreement will be available for use by the entire UK public sector. Please see the Invitation to Tender Document for further details.

Full access to some contract documents is contingent on the receipt by the Contracting Authority of a signed non-disclosure Agreement (refer to the ITT for details). Early application is recommended to allow time to meet the response deadline.

The UK public sector is facing a period of intense financial pressure to reduce costs and yet achieve 2040 net zero targets. Authorities are looking towards outsourcing to help reduce their cost base and increase efficiency. Whilst other frameworks exist for energy infrastructure upgrades, the Carbon and Energy Fund model is designed to be best for complex schemes underwritten by guaranteed savings and performance utilising grant, public or private capital and revenue funding.

COCH, through its appointed service provider, CEF, seeks to introduce a new Framework with experienced suppliers who can provide energy and energy management facilities (generated electricity, steam, heating and chilling) and provide services (mainly operation, maintenance and life-cycling – for a full description please refer to the FTS contract notice) for public bodies in the UK under a standard performance contract that are or become members of the CEF.

This Framework seeks to build upon the success of previous and existing Frameworks which have been and are run (and will continue to be run) by CEF and which cover the whole of the public sector in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

The proposed Framework is designed to work in parallel with any suitable Dynamic Purchasing System offering a wider range of technologies that can supplement Framework bids.

The Framework is structured insofar as this is possible to encourage smaller businesses to participate and as such the procurement process has been simplified to encourage greater participation. Forming this Framework will greatly reduce the ongoing administrative burden of repeating multiple procurement processes for the services described within this ITT. This framework will therefore support public procurement and private enterprise through its efficiency.

The Framework is structured insofar as it is possible to allow bidders to avoid technologies from repressive states or child labour.