Procurement - public sector heat decarbonisation - project support unit: framework guidance 2026-2029

Who can access: all public sector
Contract status: live
Dates of contract: 17 February 2026 to 16 February 2029
Category: utilities - national

Overview

The framework is designed to support Public Sector organisations that wish to undertake an energy efficiency, renewable energy, low-zero-carbon, or heat decarbonisation retrofit project and call off from Scottish Government’s Scotland’s Public Sector Heat Decarbonisation Framework (SPSHD)

Please note that the purpose of SPSHD PSU is to support users of Scotland’s Public Sector Heat Decarbonisation Framework (SPSHD), which is currently undergoing the procurement process and is due to be awarded in early 2027. Information about the Framework and the Framework’s Contractors will be published once the Framework has been awarded

What is in scope

The role of the SPSHD PSU will be to support users of the SPSHD Framework to develop documentation and issue tenders for available services and support Framework Public Bodies through the implementation of their decarbonisation projects. The SPSHD PSU will provide specialist Project Management, Procurement and Technical advisors across a range of services, including decarbonisation, renewable generation, heat decarbonisation retrofit services, technical and energy and buildings related services and related procurement support to deliver and/or procure delivery of EnPCs from the SPSHD Framework across all regions of Scotland including the Highlands and Islands. Core work areas that the SPSHD PSU may deliver include:

• marketing and engagement - on-going promotion of Scottish Government’s SPSHD Framework, establish positive relationships with existing and potential Framework Public Bodies in order to establish a pipeline of projects, facilitate formal sign up to Framework services
• prepare - assist Framework Public Bodies to determine user specific requirements, develop business cases, support users in considering funding and financing opportunities and most appropriate procurement route
• procure - support procurement processes and consider new ways of working that will improve the delivery of the SPSHD Framework
• save - facilitate the successful delivery of SPSHD Framework Call-Off contracts and technical quality assurance and guidance associated with these contracts; support the achievement of a high performance of SPSHD Framework
• programme support- maintain and develop a range of processes to support the PSU’s activities; a range of standardised documents and toolkits, and develop and undertake a monitoring framework

What is out of scope

Retrofit projects that sit out with the scope of the SPSHD Framework for energy efficiency and heat decarbonisation.

Who can use this

The Framework can be used by:

• central government
• health
• local authorities
• universities and colleges
• other public bodies

Note: It is the responsibility of any buying organisation wishing to use the Framework Agreement to satisfy itself that it is eligible to do so.

Entitlement can be established from the terms of the OJ S advert and guidance on this can be found in Annex A of Scottish Government Guidance on Framework Agreements. If there is any doubt, legal advice should be sought.

Benefits

The benefits of this Framework are:

• the SPSHD Project Support Unit is critical to the successful delivery of projects through the SPSHD framework and plays a central role in supporting Scotland’s public sector to meet net‑zero obligations. The SPSHD PSU helps organisations develop and deliver energy efficiency and heat decarbonisation projects that significantly reduce carbon emissions, improve building performance, and contribute to national climate targets
• access to technical knowledge and industry expertise to support end-to-end planning and implementation of heat decarbonisation projects for the Scottish public sector
• single solution to support Public Sector Bodies to devise targeted decarbonisation action in moving towards net-zero buildings across the Scottish Public Sector estate
• clear pricing mechanism to support customers with delivery of flexible solutions for retrofit projects
• KPIs included to influence positive and targeted delivery for achievement of  key policy outcomes evidenced with data-driven metrics
• access to advice on decarbonisation project financing options currently available to Public Sector Bodies in Scotland (subject to changes as policy and financing options are changed, added, or withdrawn)
• early technical feasibility and business case support to scope projects and gain necessary funding approvals
• tried and tested template procurement documents streamlining delivery

Sustainability benefits include:

• improving the environmental comfort and performance of buildings, helping ensure warmer, healthier, more energy efficient public sector spaces. This aligns with Scotland’s Heat in Buildings Strategy, which emphasises major improvements to insulation, building fabric, and energy efficiency across the public estate
• supporting Scotland’s transition to a low carbon, net‑carbon, net‑zero economy, contributing to sustainable economic growth and long term resilience. Scotland’s Climate Change Plan 2026–2040 highlights the need for rapid decarbonisation across all sectors and identifies‑term resilience. Scotland’s Climate Change Plan 2026–2040 highlights the need for rapid decarbonisation across all sectors and identifies clean heat, energy efficiency, and green infrastructure as key economic opportunities
• helping deliver national climate legislation and strategic commitments, including the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 and subsequent amendments that set legally binding net‑zero targets and carbon budgets for 2026–2045. The PSU’s work supports compliance with non‑domestic energy performance duties under Section 63 and contributes to the implementation of the Heat in Buildings Strategy and future Heating and Energy Performance legislation by reducing CO₂ emissions from buildings

Community and socio-economic benefits:

• the SPSHD PSU will ensure that all community benefits associated with the SPSHD Framework, and with each Call‑Off contract delivered under it, are fully implemented in line with the Terms and Conditions of the relevant Framework Agreement. This supports wider socio‑economic outcomes across Scotland’s public sector and local communities

Fair Work Matters:

• all SPSHD PSU staff are paid above the living wage

Supplier

Mott MacDonald Limited

Further information

See: all Scottish Government frameworks and contracts.

Access the PDF of the buyers guide

Framework documents, including the associated Framework Agreement for the SPSHD PSU can be found on the Knowledge Hub.

If you are not registered to access this site and are eligible to use the framework please complete the attached template and send to Shane Grinsell at shane.grinsell@gov.scot.