Commercial Mechanical and Electrical Maintenance Services for Portsmouth City Council Properties

Portsmouth City Council is conducting a preliminary market engagement exercise to review delivery options for mechanical and electrical (M&E) servicing and repairs across its property portfolio. The Council manages approximately 17,500 housing properties (mostly purpose-built flats from the 1950s-60s) and over 550 corporate assets including schools, offices, care homes, and commercial buildings across the Portsmouth area and recent acquisitions in Gosport, Southampton, and Winchester. The existing M&E contract, valued at approximately £2-2.8 million annually and currently delivered under an NEC4 Option E arrangement, is due to expire on 31 March 2028 and covers planned servicing, inspection, testing, and reactive repairs. Over the past five years, approximately 3,500 service activities and 7,000 repairs have been completed annually. The Council seeks suppliers' views on alternative contracting models, pricing approaches (including the proposed NHF Schedule of Rates), and contract terms of 5-10 years. The procurement emphasizes systems thinking principles, social value delivery (economic regeneration, employment, skills, environmental sustainability, and community engagement), and may be affected by potential Local Government Reorganisation. Formal procurement is scheduled to commence in February/March 2027, with contract commencement on 1 April 2028. Suppliers must complete the preliminary market engagement survey by 4 December 2026 at 14:00.