Route to market
Continued shift to more collaborative procurement as single-stage route to market falls away
Our key findings
increase in use of frameworks and negotiated routes to market.
decrease in the use of single-stage routes.
equal share of the market for single-stage and two-stage routes following consecutive years of convergence.
fall in single-stage tenders for projects in the range of £30m to £60m.
“For complex schemes, clients are increasingly keen to secure the services of a competent and reputable main contractor (and associated supply chain) early in the pre-construction period.”
London-based SME contractor
What it means for projects
The standout change is in projects in the range of £30m to £60m where the use of single-stage tenders has collapsed. Single-stage routes to market are now unlikely to be viable on many projects over £30m as the market expectations are simply not matched.
The general trend is towards contractors wanting more certainty in tender outcomes and we are seeing increasingly fewer single-stage or two-stage routes and more negotiated and framework opportunities.
What it means for client outcomes
The rise of frameworks and negotiated routes can support working with a contractor with a greater understanding of what client outcomes are expected and how they may be achieved.
Having or using a framework is not a panacea – not all frameworks may be equal. The principles of ‘Constructing the Gold Standard: An Independent Review of Public Sector Construction Frameworks’ are now enshrined in the government’s Construction Playbook.
I am proud to be part of the Gold Standard Task Group, providing governance to the Constructing the Gold Standard Verification Scheme. Ensuring construction frameworks comply with the scheme will ensure they deliver the maximum social, economic and environmental value.
RLB © 2025 Rider Levett Bucknall