Open27 days left · closes 3pm, Thursday 10 December 2026

DfI Rivers Directorate Framework for Watercourse Maintenance

DfI Transport and Road Asset Management (TRAM) · Central government

In brief

DfI Transport and Road Asset Management (TRAM) is looking for suppliers for construction work (Northern Ireland).

It is a framework worth up to £13,100,000 excluding VAT: the most the buyer expects to spend across all suppliers, not one contract.

The contract runs for 4 years, starting 1 April 2027.

It is split into 5 lots, so a supplier can bid for part of the work.

The buyer says it is suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.

Bids close at 3pm, Thursday 10 December 2026.

Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.

Can I win this?

Key dates

Questions by: 3pm, Thursday 10 December 2026
Bids by: 3pm, Thursday 10 December 2026

How bids are scored

Quality · Price

Competition

Typical: a median of 5 bids per contract for this buyer (from 60 awards in the last 12 months).

Framework

Winning puts you on a list of suppliers the buyer can call on; it does not guarantee work. The £13,100,000 is the most the buyer expects to spend across all suppliers over the framework's life, not one contract.

The buyer expects to buy this again around November 2030.

What the notice says

The Department for Infrastructure Rivers Directorate is establishing a Watercourse Maintenance Framework for the delivery of watercourse maintenance and flood defence related works across Northern Ireland. The Framework is intended to support the management of flood risk, maintenance of designated watercourses and associated drainage infrastructure, and the preservation of hydraulic capacity within the river network. The Framework will operate for a period of four years and will be divided into five geographical Lots; comprising of: - Lot 1 (WME1) Lisburn and Greater Belfast, - Lot 2 (WMW1) Coleraine, - Lot 3 (WMW2) Omagh, - Lot 4 (WME2) Armagh, and - Lot 5 (WMW3) Fermanagh. For each Lot, the Authority intends to appoint a Primary Supplier and a Reserve Supplier. Call off contracts will be awarded as Measured Term Contracts (MTCs), with individual Works Orders ranging in value up to £250,000 (excluding VAT). The Framework is structured to promote continuity of service delivery, maintain competition and support supply chain resilience. The scope of works may include, but is not limited to the following principal work activities: A) Maintenance of designated watercourses, B) Riverbank and flood defence maintenance and scrub clearance, C) Tree felling/removal, D) Provision of labour/plant' and E) Treatment of aquatic weed/invasive species.

Should I bid?

Tick what applies to you. Nothing is saved.

Can you prepare a good bid in 27 days?Leave time for clarification questions and sign-off.
Is a contract of about £13,100,000 a size you can deliver?Buyers often check that your turnover is comfortably larger than the yearly contract value.
Can you deliver in Northern Ireland?Check the delivery locations in the tender documents.
Is one of the 5 lots a good fit?You can usually bid for one lot without bidding for the others.
Can you meet what the notice mentions: Framework agreement?The tender documents will say exactly what is required.
Are you registered on the Central Digital Platform?You need to be registered to take part under the Procurement Act 2023.
The buyer says this suits small businesses.A good sign if you are an SME, but check the requirements.

How to bid

Read the full notice on Find a Tender, including any tender documents it links to.
Register your organisation on the Central Digital Platform (through Find a Tender) if you have not already. Suppliers need to be registered to take part in procurements under the Procurement Act 2023.
Follow the submission instructions in the notice; it does not name an e-tendering portal.
Send clarification questions before 3pm, Thursday 10 December 2026.
Make sure your bid arrives before 3pm, Thursday 10 December 2026. Late bids are usually rejected.

Lots

Lot	Trade	Value
WME1 (Lisburn and Greater Belfast) 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2031 What this lot covers ICC Measured Term Contract for watercourse maintenance works within the Lisburn and Greater Belfast Contract Area (Works Orders valued up to £250k). The proposed contract relates to works with a cumulative value of £2.76m (ex VAT) over a four year term. If the Contracting Authority is unable, for any reason, to award a new framework or to put in place an alternative regime to replace this Framework on its termination or expiry, any Call-Off Contract established under this Framework may be extended for a further period or periods up to a maximum of 12 additional months. This may increase the value to £3.45m (ex VAT).	Construction	£3,450,000
WMW1 (Coleraine) 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2031 What this lot covers ICC Measured Term Contract for watercourse maintenance works within the Coleraine Contract Area (Works Orders valued up to £250k). The proposed contract relates to works with a cumulative value of £2.24m (ex VAT) over a four year term. If the Contracting Authority is unable, for any reason, to award a new framework or to put in place an alternative regime to replace this Framework on its termination or expiry, any Call-Off Contract established under this Framework may be extended for a further period or periods up to a maximum of 12 additional months. This may increase the value to £2.8m (ex VAT).	Construction	£2,800,000
WMW2 (Omagh) 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2031 What this lot covers ICC Measured Term Contract for watercourse maintenance works within the Omagh Contract Area (Works Orders valued up to £250k). The proposed contract relates to works with a cumulative value of £2.16m (ex VAT) over a four year term. If the Contracting Authority is unable, for any reason, to award a new framework or to put in place an alternative regime to replace this Framework on its termination or expiry, any Call-Off Contract established under this Framework may be extended for a further period or periods up to a maximum of 12 additional months. This may increase the value to £2.7m (ex VAT).	Construction	£2,700,000
WME2 (Armagh) 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2031 What this lot covers ICC Measured Term Contract for watercourse maintenance works within the Armagh Contract Area (Works Orders valued up to £250k). The proposed contract relates to works with a cumulative value of £2.04m (ex VAT) over a four year term. If the Contracting Authority is unable, for any reason, to award a new framework or to put in place an alternative regime to replace this Framework on its termination or expiry, any Call-Off Contract established under this Framework may be extended for a further period or periods up to a maximum of 12 additional months. This may increase the value to £2.55m (ex VAT).	Construction	£2,550,000
WMW3 (Fermanagh) 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2031 What this lot covers ICC Measured Term Contract for watercourse maintenance works within the Fermanagh Contract Area (Works Orders valued up to £250k). The proposed contract relates to works with a cumulative value of £1.28m (ex VAT) over a four year term. If the Contracting Authority is unable, for any reason, to award a new framework or to put in place an alternative regime to replace this Framework on its termination or expiry, any Call-Off Contract established under this Framework may be extended for a further period or periods up to a maximum of 12 additional months. This may increase the value to £1.6m (ex VAT).	Construction	£1,600,000

Timeline

20 February 2026Preliminary market engagement notice · UK2, notice 015784-2026
11 November 2026Tender notice · UK4, notice 107042-2026

About the buyer

DfI Transport and Road Asset Management (TRAM)Last 12 months

Procurements

Awards

Suppliers it has used most for construction

FP Mccann Limited3 contracts
John Mcquillan (Contracts) Limited3 contracts
Gibson Quarries (Banbridge) Limited2 contracts
Patrick Keenan Quarries2 contracts
Emtek Ireland Limited1 contract

All tenders and awards from DfI Transport and Road Asset Management (TRAM)

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From notice 015784-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 20 February 2026, last updated 11 November 2026. We last checked for changes on 11 November 2026.