Multi-Disciplinary Consultancy Services
Framework Description
LHC Procurement Group's Multi-Disciplinary Consultancy Services framework (MDC1) appoints built-environment consultants across 12 workstreams, from architecture and engineering to clerk of works and principal designer roles. It started on 11 January 2022 and runs to 10 January 2028, with 77 suppliers appointed. Applications for this framework are closed (it is not a DPS). Projects started before the end date can continue beyond it if a contract is in place.
Context & Use Case
Councils, housing providers, schools and other public organisations use MDC1 when a construction or refurbishment project needs professional services: design, building services engineering, cost control, employer's agent duties, planning advice or site supervision. Buyers can appoint a single discipline from one workstream or use the multi-discipline workstream for an integrated team on larger schemes.
Scope of Services
Workstreams 1–3: architecture, building services engineers, building surveyors Workstreams 4–6: clerk of works, quantity surveyors, employer's agents Workstreams 7–9: planning consultants, principal designers, project managers Workstreams 10–11: structural engineers, civil engineers Workstream 12: multi-discipline services
Lots
Workstream 1 Architecture; Workstream 2 Building Services Engineers; Workstream 3 Building Surveyors; Workstream 4 Clerk of Works; Workstream 5 Quantity Surveyors; Workstream 6 Employers Agents; Workstream 7 Planning Consultants; Workstream 8 Principal Designers; Workstream 9 Project Managers; Workstream 10 Structural Engineers; Workstream 11 Civil Engineers; Workstream 12 Multi-discipline Services
Who Can Apply
Practices offering one or more of the 12 disciplines, from sole-discipline specialists such as clerks of works to multi-discipline firms. Applications for MDC1 are closed, so consultancies not appointed in 2022 cannot join until it is re-tendered, which is likely to happen before 10 January 2028.
Buyer Benefits
Discipline-specific workstreams let buyers appoint, for example, a principal designer or an employer's agent for a single project without running a separate procurement. The multi-discipline workstream gives one point of accountability on complex projects. A large pool of consultancies with public sector experience means buyers can find the right specialism and capacity quickly.
Next Steps
Appointed firms should keep their workstream details accurate and refresh case studies so they stay competitive in call-offs. Others should follow LHC's MDC1 framework page for news of a successor during 2027, and decide which of the 12 workstreams they can evidence strongly enough to score well. Gather project case studies, team CVs and professional accreditations now.
How Athena Can Help
Consultancy frameworks are often won on quality narratives and fee strategy. Athena's public sector bid consultancy helps you decide which MDC1 workstreams to target in the re-tender and how to price day rates that win without eroding margin.
For the submission itself, our bid writing and editing turns project experience into scored evidence, and our consultancy framework applications service finds other professional services frameworks you can join sooner. We also check every submission for compliance before it goes in.
