Our guide to writing winning bids for LHC Frameworks – Don’t miss out on your next Framework!

Our team of bid and tender writers here at Tsaks Consulting have a 90% success rate helping construction and other businesses across the UK to bid LHC Frameworks. The below guide helps clients understand the LHC Framework and how businesses can write bids successfully in 2026 and beyond.

At Tsaks Consulting Uk we:

• Have experience helping all trades and industry stakeholders win contracts.
• Have help our clients win contracts and framework appointments with a total value of 340M.
• Will write, manage and review your bid or tender.
• Provide bid and tender writing services across the UK helping businesses in London, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester and regional areas write winning LHC framework applications.

Call our team to discuss how we can assist with your next tender or bid.

2026 Bids – Strategic initiatives summary

Strategic Pillar	What to include in your 2026 bid
Environmental	Your ability to track carbon in real-time is now critical. Detail your LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) tools in your bid and provide screen-shots or detail how you will monitor carbon.
Digital	Reducing resident disruption is critical. To do this, you need to leverage on digital tools such as AI or Digital Twins and explain how these will help minimise resident disruption.
Social	You need to base your social value response on the National TOM Framework. By covering themes, outcomes and measures you can put a value on your social impact. This makes it easier for the procurement teams to award you social value marks based on your quantified response.
Compliance	Ensure you reference and detail your ‘Safe-To-Trade’ status and your compliance with the Procurement Act 2023.

What is the LHC (London Housing Consortium)

The LHC is a joint committee of local authorities. They are highly specialised in construction and property frameworks. It extends across the entire UK including England, Scotland and Wales. The LHC establish compliance frameworks for themselves and also their clients so they can efficiently access approved suppliers.

As a result, LHC frameworks present fantastic opportunities for consultants, suppliers and contractors in the construction sector – including all trades such as roofers and plumbers. The LHC frameworks are generally highly competitive with building and trades contractors across the UK bidding for appointment. Our team of bid writers have helped many of our clients secure placement on LHC frameworks particularly electrician, plumbers, Glaziers and other trades as well as builders of course.

A number of social landlords and other public sector bodies use the LHC particularly for procuring services associated with the maintenance of public sector buildings. The frameworks they develop are OJEU compliant and the LHC is not-for-profit and has a strong focus on community sustainability. Find-A-Tender (FTS) is not utilised post-brexit.

What does the LHC Framework spend money on and what is the size of the opportunity

The total value of the frameworks published last years by the LHC was approximately £350m. The projects varied across many aspects of the refurbishment and building industry including:

• Construction and refurbishment projects
• Roofing, windows and doors projects
• Property protection and maintenance projects
• Kitchen and bathroom renovation projects
• Retrofitting and other energy efficiency projects.

All of the above projects varied in terms of the size, scope and volume. Either way, its important to understand that the LHC Frameworks generally have a focus on renovating existing buildings and property as well as making properties more energy efficient.

Local authorities which are part of the LHC through the joint Committee

Although a number of local authorities form the Joint Committee, the LHC frameworks are not limited only to these clients. It is also their clients from a range of different public sector organisations that procure through LHC frameworks. Many of these clients are Councils, NHS Trusts from across the UK, school and colleges across the UK and even emergency services. There is a broad geographic reach as well.

The local councils that form part of the joint committee include Brent, Ealing, Hackney, Haringey, Hillingdon, Islington, Lambeth, Tower Hamlets, Bucks CC, Enfield, Camden, Southwark and Barking & Dagenham.

The local hubs the LHC operates under in 2026

The LHC spans the entire UK. As a reflection of their geographic spread, they operate under five local hubs. Our team of bid writers have experience writing bids to LHC frameworks across all five hubs – and it is important to tailor and localise your bid to each geographic area and ‘hub’.

The five hubs the LHC operates under includes:

• LHC – London and South-East Region – The London Social and Affordable Homes Programme 2026 – 2036 is a significant driver of demand. There is a strong ‘Social Rent First’ policy which is driving demand especially for new homes. When bidding for LHC Frameworks for Lots in London, you need to focus on wheelchair accessibility where possible in order to deliver on increased targets, and also ensure you comply with Gold Standard or Golden Thread requirements through your BIM system. This is a dealbreaker and will result in disqualification if you do not comply. Incorporating your focus on a robust and detailed BIM for fire safety compliance from design to completion as a win-theme is strengthens your bid, particularly in 2026 and beyond.
• SWPA – South-West Procurement Alliance – In 2026, there is a significant focus on Retrofit and Decarbonisation (N9). This is due to the “Net Zero” target for rural homes. In order to win bids, you need to talk about your ability to deliver services and works in remote areas. This includes managing personnel and logistics and doing this in a way that minimises costs and any carbon footprint impact. Again, this needs to be a win theme throughout your tender and not only in logistics or environment related questions. Our team will ensure this is integrated throughout your bid and can also assist in any grant applications.
• WPA – Welsh Procurement Alliance – In 2026, Social Responsible Procurement has entered into law and has been comprehensively implemented. When writing your bid, you need to incorporate the theme, wording and objectives of the Well-being of Future Generations Act including the 7 Well-being goals. Operationally, it is important to talk about your ability to communicate bilingually, and ensure you support the Welsh language in the local supply chain, across your operations, and in the local community.
• SPA – Scottish Procurement Alliance – As a result of the Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill, which was passed in 2026, all public spending will stay within “anchor institutions’. In order to write winning bids, you will need to be a living wage accredited employer, be transparent about how you ensure you don’t have any (or have minimal) zero hour contracts, and how you provide Modern Apprenticeships in Scotland. You need to look at the contract as an opportunity to deliver the services, but also to provide learning and apprenticeships opportunities for locals. When writing social value, we generally recommend providing easily quantified, actionable objectives structured around the 5 pillars: Spending, Workforce, Land/Property, Inclusive Ownership and Finance.
• CPC – Consortium Procurement Construction (North) – There is a strong focus on modern methods of construction (MMC) in these areas. You need to talk about your experience with Brownfield sites including remediation and value engineering as well as using MMC to prepare these sites for use as social housing. It’s also important, if you are a Tier 1 contractor, to line up and submit a proposal that benefits local SMEs. The opposite applies to SMEs, who need to focus on their dynamism, systems and processes that allow them to deliver larger projects and hands-on Directors.

Our guide and strategies for SMEs to writing winning bids to LHC Frameworks in 2026 and beyond

The LHC is very supportive of SMEs and their frameworks are generally geared towards engaging with SMEs. They understand that SMEs are important in the contractor supply chain and appreciate the benefits of engaging with local businesses.

As a result, when they develop the requirements for framework applications, especially where the works are smaller in value, they design the requirements to appeal to small and medium businesses.

The LHC Frameworks work off a band system. That is, there are different bands for values of the contract. We recommend our clients bid for frameworks where their existing experience generally aligns with the values they are going for. For example, the bands can range between £0 – £500k, £500k – £1m, £1m to £2.5m and £2.5m – £5m.

There are also new frameworks that the LHC has released that are particularly appealing to SME structures. These including consultancy services, new homes and also modular building frameworks.

In order to score well in LHC frameworks you need to:

• Provide evidence for all your claims throughout your bid. This is called an evidence-based approach and it builds up the credibility of your bid.
• Write concisely. It’s great to write long responses as well as they are full of relevant detailed information.
• Include testimonials and tailor all of your experience and expertise.

In order to put forward a quality response you need to think about:

• Ensuring the evidence you put forward relates to the value band of the framework you are bidding for.
• How will you engage with local labour and supply and what percentages of local staff will potentially work on the contract / framework?
• Have you demonstrated that you can service the regions or locations you are bidding for? By demonstrated, this can be through detailing relevant case studies and providing reference. When writing case studies, make sure that they showcase your ability to deliver to different regions.
• How you will integrate local suppliers into the supply chain. It’s important that you talk about and focus on key potential major supplies for the project and where they will be serviced from.
• Where there are tenants involved and access is an issue, provide a detailed methodology on how you will ensure access and how you will communicate with tenants.

How does an LHC Framework work?

When supplying to LHC you will notice they use the portal in-tend. There is a simple and easy registration process and after that through the In-Tend portal you can look at the current tender opportunities and live frameworks with LHC.

It’s important to be selective and bid for the frameworks you have the experience to deliver. Once you have found an LHC Framework you want to bid for, you need to register your interest so that you can access the full tender portal pack and read through the tender / framework requirements in detail.

Our team of bid writers can help you write your framework application to improve your chances of success. Contact us today for end to end bid writing, review and feedback services as well as assistance with specific questions you may find challenging.

Speak with our bid writing experts today to arrange help with your next LHC framework application

What are the LHC Frameworks we can bid for

The LHC Frameworks are dynamic with new frameworks being released and a number of Frameworks as well as DPS (Dynamic Purchasing Systems). A DPS is similar to a framework however it’s continually and regularly open to new suppliers.

Some of the categories include:

Construction, Extension and Refurbishment such as Modular Buildings (MB2), New Build Housing Construction (H2), Offsite Construction of New Homes (NH2), Public Buildings Construction and Infrastructure (PB3), Whole House Refurbishment and Associated Works (WH2)

LHC Roofing, Windows and Doors Frameworks including Doorsets, Fire Doors and Communal Entrance Doors (C8),  Roofing Systems and Associated Works (RS4), Windows and Doors – Aluminium (A7) and Windows & Doors – PVC-U & Timber (WD2).

LHC Property Protection and Maintenance Frameworks including the Asbestos Services (AS2), Fire Safety (FS1) and Vacant Property Protection and Associated Services (V7).

LHC Kitchens Framework: Kitchens and Associated Products (K7).  

LHC Energy Efficiency Framework: Energy Efficiency Measures & Associated Works (N8).

LHC Consultancy Frameworks: Architect Design Services (ADS1.1), Energy Efficiency Consultancy Services (N8C), Engineering Inspection Services (EIS1), Multi-Disciplinary Consultancy Services (MDC1), Offsite Project Integrator (OPI-1)

It also has the LHC Whole House Refurbishment (WH) DPS

Upcoming Frameworks (as of the date of writing this article) for the LHC include:

• Modular Buildings (MB3)
• Public Buildings Construction & Infrastructure (PB4)
• Retrofit and Decarbonisation (N9)
• Roofing Systems and Associated Works – Manufacturers (RS5M)
• Roofing Systems and Associated Works –
  Contractors (RS5C)

Client testimonials

Jason and the team at Tsaks Consulting are excellent. They assisted us with our LHC Application for a very important framework. As bid writers they know their stuff, are effective and thorough in their approach. They are also an excellent team to work with on a personal level – approachable and helpful – they get the job done and are highly reliable. I would recommend them to any businesses looking for assistance writing and submitting a framework application to LHC or any other framework for that matter. They are highly professional, very good at what they do and great to work with.

Paul D | Construction and Roofing Contractor | London and UK-Wide

Thank you Jason and the Tsaks Consulting team for all your hard work on this application. We are a small business and it’s hard to pool the resources to write a compelling bid whilst running the day to day business. We also don’t complete framework applications and proposals all the time like your team does. Fingers crossed for the result and either way, a big thank you for the excellent work you have done.

Rose V | Refurbishment Contractor | Scotland