The Environment Agency has launched procurement for its next-generation £5.5bn Collaborative Delivery Framework 2 (CDF2), covering flood and coastal defence work across England.
The eight-year programme will run from 2027 to 2035, replacing the current £3bn framework, which includes contractors such as BAM Nuttall, Kier, Jackson Civil Engineering and VolkerStevin, alongside design partners Arup, Atkins, Jacobs and Jeremy Benn Associates.
CDF2 will underpin the agency’s nationwide programme of flood and coastal risk management schemes, asset maintenance and environmental restoration projects. The new framework places greater emphasis on integrating nature-based solutions with traditional engineered flood defences, aligning with wider government ambitions to deliver more climate-resilient infrastructure.
Projects valued at up to £150m will be procured through a combination of direct awards and mini-competitions, providing flexibility in delivery while maintaining competitive tension across the supply chain.
Procurement has opened via the Atamis portal, with the initial stage focused on assessing bidders’ technical capability. This will be followed by full tender submissions and behavioural assessments later in the process.
The Environment Agency expects to appoint up to 16 suppliers, with construction and engineering teams organised into three geographic delivery panels covering the North, Midlands and South West, and East and South East regions.
Major construction activity will sit within Lot 3 packages, which cover schemes valued between £5m and £150m and are expected to account for the majority of the framework’s overall spend.
