Consultancy Services (CS1)
Framework Description
Consultancy Services (CS1) is SWPA's framework for built environment consultancy for councils, housing associations, trusts and other public bodies. Four workstreams cover multi-disciplinary design and surveying, building services engineering, energy and retrofit consultancy, and health and safety advice. Applications for this framework are closed (it is not a DPS), and it runs until 25 April 2027 with no extension.
Context & Use Case
Public bodies use CS1 to appoint architects, engineers, surveyors and planners for building and housing projects; mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineers for building services design; retrofit specialists for EPC assessments and digital coordination; and health and safety advisers. It suits clients who need a consultant in place quickly without running their own procurement.
Scope of Services
Workstream 1: Multi-disciplinary services (architecture, engineering, surveying, planning) Workstream 2: Mechanical, electrical and plumbing and building services engineering Workstream 3: EPC assessments, retrofit consultancy and digital coordination Workstream 4: Health and safety advisory services
Lots
Workstream 1: Multi-disciplinary services (architecture, engineering, surveying, planning); Workstream 2: Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing and Building Services Engineering; Workstream 3: EPC assessments, retrofit consultancy and digital coordination; Workstream 4: Health & Safety advisory services
Who Can Apply
Suits architects, multi-disciplinary engineering and surveying practices, MEP consultants, retrofit coordinators and EPC assessors, and health and safety advisers, from small niche firms to larger practices. Applications for CS1 are closed, so consultants not appointed cannot join before SWPA re-tenders around April 2027.
Buyer Benefits
Clients want quick access to consultants who understand public-sector housing and estates, on terms already agreed. The retrofit and EPC workstream is especially relevant as social landlords work to improve energy ratings, and having design, engineering and safety advice under one framework simplifies multi-discipline projects.
Next Steps
With 25 April 2027 about six months away, SWPA's replacement could appear soon. Check the CS1 page (https://www.swpa.org.uk/all-frameworks-and-dpss/consultancy-services-cs1/) and Find a Tender, decide which workstream fits your practice, and prepare professional indemnity cover, details of chartered or accredited staff, and public-sector project case studies with outcomes.
How Athena Can Help
Consultancy frameworks are often decided by the quality of case studies and named-team answers. Athena's consultancy bid specialists help you choose projects that match each workstream and write them up to the scoring criteria, using competitor scoring to see where you stand.
Our help preparing framework submissions manages the selection questions and deadlines for the re-tender, and our fee pricing for public bids helps you set day rates that win without undercutting your margin.
