Building Safety Higher Risk Buildings Works - Framework Agreement

Portsmouth City Council is procuring a multi‑contractor framework to deliver comprehensive building safety works for a portfolio of higher risk residential buildings, with additional coverage for medium and low‑rise blocks in the Portsmouth area. The framework will list up to six contractors, organised into a primary tier of four and a secondary tier of two, and will be activated through evaluation of bids submitted for the Mill Gate House remediation project. Once established, the contract will run for a four‑year term, extendable in two‑year increments up to six years, and will support a staged pipeline of remedial work across several high‑rise properties, each pipeline ranging between £7‑9 million in value.

Contractors selected to the framework will act as both Principal Designer and Principal Contractor under CDM 2015 and Building Regulations 2010, overseeing the design and execution of highly complex, multi‑disciplinary building safety projects. The scope will encompass fire safety system upgrades—such as the installation or replacement of fire doors, fire‑rated partitions, AOVs, ventilation systems, fire alarm and sprinkler networks—alongside structural repairs, asbestos removal, electrical distribution upgrades, water supply improvements and, where required, general refurbishment of interior and exterior building elements. Works will be carried out on occupied buildings, requiring sophisticated resident engagement and coordination to minimise disruption or support temporary relocation.

These projects must adhere to all applicable safety regulation standards, including the Building Safety Regulator application process, and shall be executed in line with current fire safety legislation. All work shall comply with the Building Regulations 2010 and the Building Safety Regulator requirements.

Portsmouth City Council ('the council') is inviting tenders from suitably qualified suppliers for inclusion onto a multi contractor framework that will be used to provide building safety projects for several higher risk residential buildings and a mix of medium to low rise residential buildings within the Portsmouth area.
TIERING
The framework will consist of up to 6 contractors. This will include a 'Primary Tier' of up to 4 contractors and a 'Secondary Tier' of up to 2 contractors to provide contingency. Should less than 6 compliant tenders be received, then the council reserves the right to establish the framework with a lower number of contractors or tiers.
DURATION
The Council is aiming to have established the framework by September 2026. Once in place the framework will run for a duration of 4 years extendable by up to a further 2 years in increments to be agreed to a maximum term of 6 years.
VALUE & PRICING
The value of the framework is estimated to be in the range £60m - £120m over the maximum 6 years based upon Portsmouth City Council's Building Safety Programme for high, mid and low rise works from 2025 to 2030.
The framework, although primarily for delivery of projects that cover high rise buildings with higher construction value works, will also cover approximately 30% of the Council's low - medium rise blocks in order to package up phases of work by consideration of geography and/or efficiencies, with the remaining 70% let via other arrangements.
Whilst the project and pipeline of works are designed to provide a representation of the likely value of works procured through the framework, the actual values of call offs may vary, hence there is no minimum or maximum values for call-off contracts, and no commitment can be made in this respect.
Although the call-off contract values may differ, the core work will be of a similar nature, i.e. of high complexity, requiring a high level of engagement from the contractor and requiring significant resident engagement.
ESTABLISHMENT & PIPELINE
The framework will be established via evaluation of tenders submitted for the Mill Gate House project.
Based upon scoring achieved for the Mill Gate House project, the Council intends to allocate the following proposed pipelines of work. Each pipeline contains building safety remediation works to 3nr. higher risk buildings. The value of each pipeline varies from £7-9M, however, may be subject to change upon development of designs.
Proposed groupings of pipelines of work & value are:
Pipeline Package 1:
Mill Gate House (1-76) (£5.5M)
Omega House (1-80) (£2.5M)
Grenville House (1-30) (£1M)
Pipeline Package 2:
Grafton Street (2-238) (£4M)
Estella Road (1-189) (£4M)
Darwin House (1-45) (£1M)
Pipeline Package 3:
Handsworth House (1-153) (£5M)
Blackwood House (1-26) (£1M)
Brisbane House (1-30) (£1M)
Pipeline Package 4:
Copperfield House (1-88) (£3M)
Pickwick House (1-88) (£3M)
Grosvenor House (1-54) (£1M)
These pipelines will streamline the procurement of contractors and allow the councils higher risk building safety remediation programme to be accelerated. The highest scoring contractor on the framework would be allocated the first pipeline of works, and the remaining pipelines will be allocated to 2nd, 3rd and 4th highest scoring contractors, provided they are within a 20% scoring of the highest scoring overall 1st placed tender.
If contractors are not within 20% of the highest scoring overall tender, they can still be granted a place on the framework, however, they will not be allocated a pipeline of works.
The award of future call-off contracts within the packages/pipelines will be subject to the Contractors performance meeting minimum KPIs.
MILL GATE HOUSE PROJECT DETAILS
To facilitate setting up the Framework, the contractors will initially price and provide quality submission for the Mill Gate Building Safety Remediation Project, which will be the first contract let via the framework to the highest scoring contractor. This will be a two-stage procurement utilising JCT PCSA and Design and Building contracts.
Mill Gate House is a 21-storey residential block of flats located within St George's Square, Portsmouth. The building comprises 76 individual flats with a spilt between general needs social housing and sheltered accommodation.
The anticipated project value is circa £5-6 million, and works are programmed to commence on site April 2027 and last approximately one year.
Works to Mill Gate House include but are not limited to:
• Replacement Ahmarra property entrance door sets and communal fire door sets throughout the block to meet current fire safety standards.
• Fire stopping survey to identify breaches in compartmentation, followed by remedial works where necessary.
• Design, installation, and commissioning of new AOV (Automatic Opening Vent) system throughout the block.
• Design, installation, and commissioning of new communal ventilation system.
• Provision and installation of compliant fire safety signage throughout communal areas.
• Design, supply, installation and commissioning of the electrical systems associated with the upgrade of the electrical switchgear.
• Design, installation, and commissioning of a new water supply system to tank and flats.
• Asbestos removal to facilitate works.
FRAMEWORK SCOPE OF WORKS
Contractors will be expected to undertake a range of multi-disciplinary project work, taking on the role of Principal Designer and Principal Contractor (for purposes of CDM 2015 and Building Regulations 2010) to deliver building safety works though single, two stage, and traditional procurement routes. The Contractor will be required to oversee and manage the design and construction of the works, using a range of either directly employed staff or subcontracted consultants and contractors.
The works let via the framework will typically be complex and specialist and will require a highly experienced and competent contractors to design and manage to ensure full compliance with the relevant legislation. This will involve designing and managing works through the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) application process.
The works will also require a high degree of resident engagement and liaison to effectively manage. Works will typically be to occupied buildings and may involve either managing disruptive works whilst the residents remain in situ or assisting with the management of resident decants to temporary accommodation.
Typical works procured through the framework will include but not be limited to;
• Fire Stopping
• New Compartment Walls
• New Communal Fire Door Sets (Door sets supplied by Ahmarra Door Solutions Ltd)
• New Fire Rated Property Entrance Door Sets (Door sets supplied by Ahmarra Door Solutions Ltd)
• Internal Dwellings Fire Doors
• Communal Decorations
• Fire Rated Window Replacements
• Installation of Emergency Lighting
• Installation of Fire Alarm Systems
• Installation of Evacuation Alert Systems
• Installation of AOV's
• Ventilation Repairs / Improvements
• Installation of Sprinklers
• Replacement of Water Mains
• Structural Repair Works
• Asbestos Removal
• Dry / Wet Riser Installation / Replacement
• Fire Fighting Lifts/Lift Upgrades
In addition to fire remediation works other projects may involve additional works associated with the building safety and compliance works, including not limited to;
• General Property Repairs
• Installation of New Kitchens
• Installation of New Bathrooms
• Internal Repairs and Refurbishment of building elements
• External Repairs and Refurbishment of building elements
• Electrical Distribution Board Replacement/Rewires
• Water Services Repairs and Tank Replacements
• Removal/Decommission of Bin Chutes
• Roof covering replacements

Contract location: UKJ31
Communication: The Council will administrate this procurement process using its e-sourcing system In-Tend. For further details, communications and to submit please register / access Intend via link: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/portsmouthcc/aspx/home
Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted: En
Enquiry deadline: 2026-07-10T23:59:00+01:00
Submission address and any special instructions: The Council will administrate this procurement process using its e-sourcing system In-Tend. For further details, communications and to submit please register / access Intend via link: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/portsmouthcc/aspx/home
Tenders may be submitted electronically: allowed
Award decision date (estimated): 2026-09-01T23:59:59+01:00

Lot number: 1
Lot value (estimated)
120.000.000,00 GBP excluding VAT
144.000.000,00 GBP including VAT
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals: The framework will be established for an initial period of 4-years, with the option to extend by a further 2-years if required. The extension may be required as contingency in case the programme of works experiences unforeseen delays due to regulatory approvals, alterations to works or changes in further demand. It should be noted that call off contracts may extend beyond the agreement period.

Award criteria:

Name	Type	Weighting
Quality	quality	70%
Price	price	30%