Appointment
Trafford names 80 consultant places on 1.7bn pound heat network framework
By Staff Writer | 24 October 2026
Trafford Council has named the consultants it intends to appoint to a two-lot Heat Network Consultancy Services Framework, which the award notice values at 1.7bn pounds excluding VAT.
The contract award notice was published on Find a Tender on 23 October 2026. It lists 48 places on Lot 1 and 32 places on Lot 2, and 28 firms appear on both lots. The awards are recorded as pending.
The notice gives the same estimated value against each lot: 1,700,000,000 pounds excluding VAT, or 2,040,000,000 pounds including VAT.
What the framework is for
The earlier tender notice describes an eight-year open framework from 2 November 2026, set up as a non-ranked arrangement under the open procedure of the Procurement Act 2023. It is intended to give compliant access to pre-qualified heat network consultants across technical, financial, legal and operational disciplines, and to support heat network projects through their full lifecycle.
As an open framework it will reopen twice a year to new entrants. The award notice gives the initial period for the places now awarded as 30 November 2026 to 29 October 2029.
Lot 1: non-technical services
Lot 1 covers non-technical work. Its sub-categories include heat network strategy, zoning and local authority readiness; feasibility, strategic planning and investment due diligence; commercial, financial and legal advisory; procurement, tendering and transaction support; consumer protection, billing and customer service compliance; tariff setting and review; resident engagement; complaints handling; project and programme management; and the review and renegotiation of commercial contracts for existing heat networks.
Among the firms on Lot 1 are KPMG LLP, Turner and Townsend Group Limited, Local Partnerships LLP and Carbon Trust Advisory Limited, none of which is named on Lot 2.
Lot 2: technical services
Lot 2 covers technical work, including developed and detailed design and design assurance; construction design and pre-construction services; installation, construction oversight and site supervision; commissioning, testing and acceptance; operation, maintenance and performance optimisation; building readiness and customer connections; data and smart network services; decarbonisation advice; asset condition assessment and lifecycle planning; emergency response and resilience planning; and training.
Among the firms on Lot 2 are AECOM, Amey OW, Arcadis Consulting (UK), AtkinsRealis UK, Buro Happold, Ove Arup and Partners, Ramboll UK, Stantec UK and Witteveen+Bos UK. AECOM, Arup, Ramboll and Stantec are among the firms named on both lots.
The tender notice says the framework is meant to promote participation by small and medium enterprises, social value and new entrants, and will be refreshed periodically so that the supplier base stays current over the term. It also commits the framework to governance, transparency, performance monitoring and consumer protection standards.