Official UK procurement notice
Framework for the Design, Supply, and Installation of Solar PV in Operational Commercial Properties in Sunderland
Authority: Sunderland City Council (Local council)
What is being bought2 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionSunderland City Council are seeking to appoint suitable and appropriately qualified and experienced Suppliers onto a Framework for the "Design, Supply and Installation of Solar PV Systems on Commercial Properties in Sunderland. (the Framework).
The Framework will consist of 2 lots
a) Lot 1: The Design, Supply and Installation of Solar PV in Commercial Properties in Sunderland up to 50Kwp.
b) Lot 2: The Design, Supply and Installation of Solar PV in Commercial Properties in Sunderland Greater then 50Kwp.
Suppliers may bid and be placed on one or both lots of the framework.
Whilst the scope of the framework is structured predominantly for installations in operational commercial properties, the Authority may from time to time require an installation in a domestic property. In such instances the call off will be clearly identified as a domestic property installation and will be issued through the relevant framework lot.
Depending on each of the individual call off requirements there may be a need for the inclusion of battery storage, and this will be incorporated into the Employers Requirements for each call off.
Schemes called off from the Framework will be located within the City of Sunderland and will be commercial properties.
CPV: Solar panel roof-covering work
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Closed framework
- Call-offs
- call-offs may be awarded directly or by further competition
- Framework period
- 4 yrs from 1 Jul 2026
Published description of the framework
Upon completion of the evaluation process, the ten (10) highest‑ranked Suppliers for each Lot, as determined by their Total Bid Scores, shall be appointed to the relevant Framework Lot.
Where two or more Suppliers obtain identical scores that affect the allocation of the tenth position, the Authority reserves the right either to appoint all Suppliers with the tied score or to apply a stated tie‑break methodology as set out in the ITT.
Call-Off Contracts called off against this Framework Agreement may be awarded by the Authority:
a) by reopening competition using a competitive selection process between Framework Suppliers (Mini Competition),
b) by Direct Award without further competition.
It is expected that the majority of Call off contracts awarded will be by Mini Competition. Direct Awards will be considered only in exceptional circumstances.
Call off Awards by Mini Competition will be awarded on the basis of:
a) Quality: within a weighting range of 10% to 100% and may include pass / fail criteria.
b) Price: within a weighting range of 10% to 100%.
The Authority may at its entire discretion include Social Values as a Call off Award Criteria on the following basis.
a) Social Value: within a weighting range of 0% to 15% and may include pass / fail and / or Accept / Reject criteria.
The Authority may make a Direct Award where one or more of the following objectively defined conditions apply:
a) A Framework Supplier is the only supplier on the Framework lot capable of meeting all of the Authority's technical or functional requirements for a specific Call off Contract.
b) the Call-Off Contract is an extension, expansion or optimisation of an existing Solar PV installation previously delivered by the same Framework Supplier, and a change of supplier would create disproportionate material technical risk and / or cost.
c) continuity of service is required, and a change of supplier would cause disproportionate material technical risk and / or cost.
Framework pricing must be fixed for a period of 12 months following Framework commencement.
Framework pricing rates must not be exceeded when a further competition is carried out. This is applicable throughout the term of the Contract.
Lots and requirements (2)Procurement structure
2 lots · all with a published valueEvery one of these 2 lots carries the same published figure, £1,500,000: it is the framework's maximum for the whole notice, not each lot's own budget, and no share per lot is published. The cards below say ceiling above rather than repeat it.
Lot #1The Design, Supply and Installation of Solar PV in Commercial Properties in Sunderland up to 50Kwpceiling above
The Lot 1 scope is for suppliers who can design, supply and install solar pv with a kWh of less than 50kWp.
The appointed Suppliers are required to demonstrate capability in delivering end to end installations, from commissioning right through to MCS approval and SEG registration.
Depending on each of the individual call off requirements there may be a need for the inclusion of battery storage, and this will be incorporated into the Employers Requirements for each call off.
Schemes called off from the Framework will be located within the City of Sunderland and will be commercial properties.
Whilst the scope of the framework is structured predominantly for installations in operational commercial properties, the Authority may from time to time require an installation in a domestic property. In such instances the call off will be clearly identified as a domestic property installation and will be issued through the relevant framework lot.
Lot #2The Design, Supply and Installation of Solar PV in Commercial Properties in Sunderland Greater then 50Kwpceiling above
The Lot 2 scope is for suppliers who can design, supply and install solar pv with a kWh greater than 50kWp.
The appointed Suppliers are required to demonstrate capability in delivering end to end installations, from commissioning right through to MCS approval and SEG registration.
Depending on each of the individual call off requirements there may be a need for the inclusion of battery storage, and this will be incorporated into the Employers Requirements for each call off.
Schemes called off from the Framework will be located within the City of Sunderland and will be commercial properties.
Whilst the scope of the framework is structured predominantly for installations in operational commercial properties, the Authority may from time to time require an installation in a domestic property. In such instances the call off will be clearly identified as a domestic property installation and will be issued through the relevant framework lot.
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
- “Framework for the Design, Supply, and Installation of Solar PV in…” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract: call-offs may be direct or by further competition.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Below threshold - open competition
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Works
- Notice status
- Closed
- Procurement threshold
- Below threshold
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Framework agreement
- Who may use this agreement
- Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 19 Mar 2026, 11:34 GMT
- Last source update
- 12 May 2026, 16:06 BST
- Authority reference
OPEN2026498- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-043592- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-066eb0Find a Tender
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 8 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 2 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
Tenders must be submitted electronically via the Authorities Open E Tender system www.open.org ↗ .
Submissions received through any other means may be rejected.
The Contracting Authority communicates through the Open system; therefore, all correspondence regarding this Tender will be issued to the individual that expressed interest on Open. It is the Supplier's responsibility to ensure the correct named person is, and continues to be, registered on the Open system.
For guidance on how to use the Open system please refer www.open-hub.org/how-to-guides/ ↗
If you require time-critical assistance on submitting your Tender, please contact the Open Support Team on 0191 638 0040.
For routine queries, such as passwords, general account queries and location of information etc please contact open.support@nepo.org
PLEASE NOTE: The system is accessible 24/7 however, technical support is only available;
Monday - Thursday 8:30 - 17:00.
Friday - 8:30 - 16:30.
The Tender must be received in accordance with the above instructions no later than the time and date indicated in the Timetable section of this ITT.
Suppliers are responsible for ensuring that they understand the submission requirements and should raise any queries or clarifications necessary for submission of their Tender via the Correspondence section in good time and in any event by no later than the "Submission of Queries" deadline as stated in the Timetable section of this ITT.
Timeline
19 Mar 2026 → 1 Jul 2026 · 7 dates- Planning notice published223 days ago19 Mar 2026, 11:34 GMT
- Market engagement204 days ago7 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
- The Market Engagement process and the subsequent procurement process will be published on Sunderland City Councils E Tender system Open and access to the engagement is via the web address
open-uk.org/projects/overview/8d… ↗
The Open e tender system project reference number is OPEN2026498.
- Suppliers must be registered on the Open e tender portal to participate in the procurement process.
- You can register your Organisation on the Open e Tender Portal via the web address
The engagement process consists of
- An overview of the project.
- Overview of the fundamental mandatory requirements of participation such as Health and Safety CDM roles.
- A selection of basic questions to collect information on the Suppliers intent with regards participation in the tender.
NOTE
- This Market Engagement is not a formal Expression of interest for any subsequent tender process.
- Suppliers that do not respond to this Market Engagement, or who respond indicating they do not intend participating in an advertised tender opportunity are not precluded from participation in the advertised tender should their preferences change.
- Any information provided in response to this Market Engagement will be used entirely for the purposes as set out in the Market Engagement.
- Suppliers are not bound by any information provided in this Market Engagement.
- Next notice expected189 days ago22 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
- Tender notice published169 days ago12 May 2026, 16:06 BST
- Clarification questions by148 days ago2 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
- Admission / appointment period ends142 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown8 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
- Contract starts120 days ago1 Jul 2026, 00:00 BST
Notice history
6 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 19 Mar 2026- Preliminary market engagement notice published19 Mar 2026, 11:34 GMTUK2
- Tender notice published12 May 2026, 16:06 BSTUK4
- Published value updated to £3,000,00012 May 2026, 16:06 BSTwas £2,500,000
- Status changed to active12 May 2026, 16:06 BST
- Procurement method changed12 May 2026, 16:06 BST
- Deadline published: 8 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST12 May 2026, 16:06 BST
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (3)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specifications The Councils Open E Tender system home address. The documents are available in the project title "Framework for the Design, Supply, and Installation of Solar PV in Operational Commercial Properties in Sunderland" and Project Reference "OPEN2026498"
Notices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender