IN Brief:
- SCF6 is being re-procured by Devon and Hampshire, with an estimated value of £5.4bn including VAT.
- The framework is intended for public sector construction projects above £1m, split into geographic and value-based lots.
- Regional engagement sessions are scheduled for 2 March (Winchester) and 10 March (Exeter), ahead of an expected tender notice at the end of March.
Devon County Council and Hampshire County Council have confirmed regional engagement dates for the re-procurement of the Southern Construction Framework (SCF6), as the authorities step up market consultation ahead of the next competition. SCF6 is expected to replace the current fifth-generation framework when it expires on 1 May 2027, with the new arrangement due to run from 4 May 2027 to 3 May 2031.
The authorities have set an estimated total framework value of £5.4bn including VAT (£4.5bn excluding VAT). The notice indicates the framework will predominantly support construction delivery across the South East, South West, and London, while remaining open to all public sector bodies in England.
SCF6 is intended to operate for projects above £1m and will be split into geographic and value-based lots. The contracting authorities have also signalled that the new cap reflects both performance under SCF5 and an intended increase in scope, following utilisation of the current generation.
In its published notice, the SCF team summarises prior market testing carried out during September and October 2025, which included a supplier survey and one-to-one sessions. Headline findings were shared at a London engagement event in January 2026, with further regional sessions now planned in response to supplier demand for local access to the client team.
Two regional engagement events are listed. The South East session is scheduled for Monday 2 March 2026 in Winchester, with the venue to be confirmed. The South West session is scheduled for Monday 10 March 2026 at County Hall, Exeter (EX2 4QD), with arrivals from 09:00 for a 09:30 start, and a planned finish at 11:00.
Attendance is free, but the notice states that booking is required, using the authorities’ In-tend e-tendering system. The engagement deadline is set at 10 March 2026, and the estimated publication date for the tender notice is 31 March 2026.
The contracting authorities have also published performance data for the existing framework generation. SCF5 had a framework cap of £4.5bn and an anticipated workload of £1.92bn over its four-year term; as of July 2025, the notice states SCF had achieved workload of £1.59bn.
