UK Public Sector Contracts & Tenders

Nottinghamshire County Council are seeking tenders for a single stage open tender procedure, to procure a closed framework for Ad-Hoc Transport Services to meet the needs of Nottinghamshire residents. Ad-Hoc Transport is defined as short-term or emergency transport for single journeys or repeated journeys lasting generally not more than 6 weeks which can be cancelled at any time. Transport is required for a variety of users including vulnerable adults and young people, those with special needs, disabilities and/or social care/health requirements, council staff and members. The transport operates generally, but not exclusively, within Nottinghamshire, and may extend to other locations within the UK.

Derbyshire County Council (The Council) are seeking to establish an Open Framework to provide the Council with a reliable, flexible, and cost-effective means of hiring plant and equipment, including the short term hires of light commercial vehicles, to be operated by Derbyshire County Council to support highways, construction, and maintenance activities. It is designed to ensure consistent standards of safety, quality, and performance, while offering value for money and streamlined access to a range of equipment types.

The Council is seeking a suitability qualified contractor for the installation of wet room of Councils properties throughout the geographical area of the district of Bolsover.

ESPO is a public sector-owned professional buying organisation offering a comprehensive range of procurement services, including access to over 100 free-to-access framework solutions for the wider public sector. This procurement aims to establish a multi supplier framework to assist customers with outsourcing their catering services and provide customers with procurement consultancy support to assist customers in outsourcing their catering services. The framework is open for use by any “public body” as defined in Section 1 of the Local Authorities (Goods and Services) Act 1970 that also falls within one of the following classifications of user throughout all administrative regions of the UK: • Local Authorities, and certain: o Central government agencies and ministries o NHS and emergency (blue light) services o Schools, academies, colleges and universities o Registered charities o Registered social landlords Organisations likely to be appointed are those with experience of providing outsourced catering services to customers in education, social care and all other public sector sectors, alongside procurement consultants who can assist customers in outsourcing their catering service requirement. The Framework is divided into 4 lots: Lot 1. Education Lot 2. Social Care Lot 3. All Other Public Sector Lot 4. Procurement Consultancy and Contract Management Support for Outsourced Catering Services The objectives and outcomes this framework are intended to achieve are: • Attract market leading suppliers, alongside SMEs, driving competition across the framework. • Offer customers a compliant route to market • To ensure customers have access to a range of support with the inclusion of procurement consultants who can assist with their outsourced catering services requirements. Please refer to the tender documents for further details (including further details on each of the lots) - the closing date for submission of Tenders is 12:0 (12 noon / 12pm) on 16 June 2026. To tender (please proceed to step (e) if an expression of interest has already been completed): (a) Go to https://www.eastmidstenders.org/ (b) Register (if not already registered on ProContract); (c) Search for tender opportunity '704_26' (via "View Opportunities" from the EastMidsTenders Portal); (d) Express an interest; (e) Download the tender documents (from the ProContract Activity summary screen). Any questions or clarifications relating to this tender opportunity should be submitted to ESPO as a message on the eProcurement Portal, once an Expression of interest has been completed.

This is a requirement for the council to appoint a supplier to provide Fire Assessment services at Leicester City.

Nottingham City Council Housing Services is seeking tenders from suitable entities (the 'Tenderer') for inclusion on a single supplier framework for the supply of Plumbing & Heating Materials. The products covered by this tender are: • Copper pipes • Plastic piping • Pipe fittings (elbows, tees, couplings) • Stopcocks and valves • Flexible hoses • Radiators • Boilers • Heating controls and thermostats • Pumps and expansion vessels • Sanitaryware (basins, toilets, taps) • Water tanks and cylinders • Insulation materials • Sealants and jointing compounds • Plumbing tools • Miscellaneous plumbing and heating accessories

This tender notice is for the Provision of Taxi Support Services to East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EMAS). Previous UK1 Pipeline is 2026/S 000-008273. Whilst EMAS undertakes the vast majority of NEPTS journeys, there is a need for extra capacity from 3rd parties to provide patient journeys. These journeys are allocated by EMAS for patients who do not require a front-line ambulance but qualify and meet the required NEPTS eligibility. This will include transporting of patients to and from hospital for routine appointments predominately, but other journeys may be required. The intention is to award call off contracts to taxi providers providing necessary service within that area. The framework will be divided into lots based on the following geographical locations: (Suppliers are welcome to apply for more than one lot) Lot 1 - covers NEPTS Lincolnshire region, in the area where East Midlands Ambulance Service currently provide this service. This is broken down into 4 sub-lots based on postcode split. Lot 2 - covers NEPTS Northamptonshire region. This is broken down into 2 sub-lots on postcode split. (Please note that each Lot are subject to change in line with any national changes or local contracts with ICB/Commissioners. **Conditions of Precedence** With Journeys being time restricted due to patients appointment times, Taxi providers must confirm the postcode and geographical areas in which they operate (ideally without dead mileage). Call Off Contracts may be awarded to multiple providers within each lot/sub-lot and will be based on capacity and postcodes served, as per the Competitive Flexible Procedure as above.

The provision of Force Control Transformation technology for Northamptonshire Police. The procurement is intended to deliver a robust, scalable, and future-ready technology ecosystem that improves citizen experience and operational efficiency. Following premarket engagement, the authority has considered our requirements and how these can be best met. This tender covers the below capabilities: -Contact centre -Capture and analysis -Workforce Management -CRM -Integration platform (option) Please note that these capabilities include wider functionality and encompass some of the original 9 capabilities detailed at PME. The authority intends to award one contract to a Prime supplier who can either meet all capabilities themselves or through the use of a number of subcontractors. Interested Parties should note that the published budget envelope is for the initial 5 year term. Due to the consumption based nature of the ongoing costs it is difficult to forecast required budget for the 5 optional extension years. Bidders should note that as such the budget for the extension years has not been published at this stage and will be updated during contract terms via a modification. To understand the additional value which could be involved in this tender, Bidders should consider the ongoing consumption costs and support that could be charged. Further information and full tender documentation can be found at https://northamptonshire-opfcc.my.site.com/s/Welcome

The Gateway School are seeking a management partner for their joint use leisure facilities. The facilities include a 20m x 6m swimming pool, 10-station gym, 2-court and 1-court sports hall, sand-based MUGA (floodlit) and an astroturf pitch. The contract commences in September 2026 and is for 10 years with an option to extend for two additional period of up to 5 years. The total possible contract duration, including extension provisions will be 20 years. The procurement will be based on a lean single staged process.

Efficiency East Midlands (EEM) is conducting this tender exercise to procure a Property Maintenance and Responsive Repairs Framework to replace our existing DPS0009 which will expire on 26th September 2026. The Framework, which is being procured as a Competitive Flexible Procedure, and will provide EEM Members with a provision for internal, external and whole house property maintenance, refurbishment and responsive repairs for our membership's property stock. The first stage of the procurement will consist of a procurement-specific questionnaire along with a pricing schedule, which bidders will be required to complete and submit for evaluation. As well as the above, EEM will require contractors to complete Minimum Competence and Best Practice Requirements Pass/ Fail Questions and additional Pass/ Fail questions. Following the evaluation and completion of Stage 1, Contractors who meet the minimum requirements and achieve the required threshold will be invited to participate in Stage 2 of the Competitive Flexible Procedure. Pricing will be carried forward from Stage 1 and Bidders will be evaluated in accordance with the tender documentation issued to the Bidders. Works delivered via this framework will be to domestic and commercial properties. Domestic properties will typically be consisting of a mixture of domestic housing stock, bungalows, blocks of flats, and sheltered housing schemes as well as garages, and depots and any other building owned and/or managed by our membership. Commercial properties will include but not be limited to business units, office buildings, hospitals and care facilities, academies, schools, colleges, universities, education centres, student accommodation, homes and care facilities for older people, children's homes and centres, community centres, leisure centres and gyms, libraries, pavilions, changing rooms and public toilets, outdoor leisure facilities, car parks, industrial units, depots, and garages. The Framework will be split into the following lots: Lot 1 - Whole House Internal and External Repairs and Maintenance (Contracts up to £2m) Lot 2 - Whole House Internal and External Repairs and Maintenance (Contracts over £2m) Lot 3 - Reactive Repairs and Responsive Repairs (Midlands Coverage) EEM reserve the right to appoint 10 contractors to each of the above lots. In addition to the Contractors appointed to each lot, EEM reserves the right to appoint a 'Reserve Bidder' for each lot, either at the same time as, or at any time during, the award and pre framework commencement stage. The Reserve Bidder for each lot will normally be the next highest ranked bidder following completion of the evaluation process for each lot, provided that their submission has met the required minimum evaluation standards. For the avoidance of doubt, if EEM appointed all 10 Contractors to Lot 1, 2 and 3, then the 11th placed bidder for each lot may be appointed as the Reserve Bidder. If all 10 places on a particular lot are not filled, EEM still reserves the right to appoint Reserve Bidders on those lots. Following the appointment of Successful Contractors, in the event that the Successful Contractor: •Makes a material alteration to the Bid which formed the basis of its selection as Successful Contractor (whether as to price or any other aspect of its Bid); •Does not comply with the provisions of this document; •In the reasonable opinion of EEM fails to make satisfactory progress towards signature of the Framework Agreement; and •In the case of any of the above, fails to remedy the situation to the reasonable satisfaction of EEM within a defined time period having been served notice in writing by EEM; i. EEM shall be entitled to de-select the Successful Contractor(s) and at the absolute discretion of EEM to exclude the Successful Contractor(s) from any further participation in the Procurement process or to introduce a further competitive stage in the Procurement process in which the Successful Bidder(s) may or may not (in the absolute discretion of EEM) be invited to tender. Under no circumstances will EEM or any of their respective advisors be liable for any costs or expenses incurred by the Successful Contractor and/or any of its Relevant Organisations due to or arising from. All Bidders must declare any relevant corporate relationships, including parent companies, subsidiaries, or associated entities, within their tender submission. Where more than one entity within a corporate group (including parent companies, subsidiaries, or entities under common ownership or control) intends to submit a Tender for this procurement exercise, EEM requires that those entities agree upon a single lead bidding entity (the "Lead Bidder"), with all other relevant corporate group members participating solely as named key sub-contractors to the Lead Bidder. Contractors (and/or subcontractors) are required to hold accreditations and qualifications as listed within the tender pack in order to be awarded a place on the Framework. This requirement ensures our Members can be confident they are appointing competent and compliant contractors. The documents for Stage 1 of the Competitive Flexible Procedure will available on Delta eSourcing from Tuesday 5th May 2026 with a submission deadline for Stage 1 of 14:0 on Friday 19th June 2026. For those contractors that progress to Stage 2 of the Competitive Flexible Procedure, the documents for Stage 2 will be available from Friday 7th August, with a tender submission deadline of Friday 18th September 2026 at 14:00. The timetable for this procurement is subject to amendment at the sole discretion of EEM. The call-off contract's to be awarded pursuant to the Framework Agreements to be entered at conclusion of the procurement exercise begun by publication of the Contract Notice may extend for a duration of up to five years beyond expiry of the four-year term of the Framework Agreement. Please note that the total potential framework value stated within this notice is in relation to the full 4-year framework and takes into consideration the lot structure, length of call off contracts and that the EEM membership may grow over the framework lifetime. The Framework is being procured by EEM on behalf of the organisations that have been accepted as authorised users. Authorised User means EEM and any other contracting authority (as defined in Section 2 PA23) described in the Tender Notice that is also listed as an authorised user on EEM's website https://eem.org.uk/members/ Authorised users are classed as any current company law member, any future company law members and any user that has been authorised access to the frameworks and other public procurement tools provided by EEM. EEM is incorporated as a company limited by guarantee and is owned and governed by a small number of organisations who make up our 'Company Law Members', all of which are Contracting Authorities in their own right. The Framework Agreements being procured by the procurement exercise begun by publication of the Contract Notice will be entered by EEM as the Contracting Authority which will have undertaken and completed that procurement exercise. Any reference in the Contract Notice or tender documents to Contracting Authority is deemed to be and include a reference to EEM. The organisations entitled to access and use the Framework Agreements to be awarded at conclusion of the procurement exercise begun by publication of the Contract Notice are: Any current EEM Member - being an organisation which is a Company Law Member of EEM at the date of this Contract Notice and being one of the organisations who owns and governs EEM; Any Future Member of EEM, from time to time Company Law Members and the EEM Board may appoint additional organisations to become Company Law Members. All Future Members will also be Contracting Authorities in their own right; and A Framework User - being an organisation who has signed and agreed to the terms of accessing EEM Frameworks and who is authorised to access the frameworks and other public procurement tools provided by EEM. EEM frameworks may accessed by all publicly funded organisations. Frameworks can be used by any organisation that falls in to one or more of the categories listed below and can be identified through the links provided as users in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 or the Procurement Act 2023. The list of potential framework users below is not exhaustive of all organisations who can utilise EEM services, access will be granted to any publicly funded organisation. Registered Social Landlords in England and Wales, including but not limited to: 1. Registered Social Landlords in England and Wales, including but not limited to https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/registered-providers-of-social-housing 2. Local Authorities, including but not limited to England and List of councils in Wales. .3. National Health Service (NHS) bodies including NHS Trusts, foundation trusts, Integrated Care Boards or Partnerships, GP federations and other health and social care providers within England and Wales. 4. All emergency services including Police Forces, fire and rescue departments and emergency medical services. 5. All education establishments including but not limited to, schools maintained by local authorities, academy trusts, colleges, universities and other further education establishments. 6. Registered Charities with a relevant link to the core purpose and services provided by EEM. 7. Central government departments and their agencies 8. All other contracting authorities as defined in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 or the Procurement Act 2023

Nottingham City Council is seeking to procure a long-term legal partner (LP) to work with it on the delivery of its Private Finance Initiative (PFI) Expiry Project. The Project is expected to last circa 13 years (subject to meeting agreed performance levels and extensions being invoked) which will be reviewed annually and legal advice will potentially be required across all of the PFI contractual documentation, dealing with practical PFI expiry matters, for example Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) regulations (TUPE), advising on future service delivery options post expiry and then assisting from a legal perspective on the delivery of the preferred options. The LP will, where appropriate, work with the in-house legal team in undertaking elements of this work.

ESPO is a trading department of Leicestershire County Council. It is a non-profit making body owned and operated jointly by six local authorities. We provide a catalogue range, providing our customers with access to over 28,000 products that cover all key areas of education and wider public sector requirements. We are conducting preliminary market engagement with the intention of establishing a framework for the supply of Cleaning Chemicals and Hand Soaps. The products covered by this proposed Framework will be purchased for re-sale, and orders will be placed according to demand. Delivery shall typically be to ESPO’s distribution centre in Leicester. Also, a small number of products may require delivery directly to ESPO’s customers throughout the UK. The Framework is envisaged to include the following Lots (subject to change): Lot 1. Premium/Branded Cleaning Chemicals Lot 2. Premium/Branded Hand Soaps and Hand Sanitisers Lot 3. Economy Cleaning Chemicals Lot 4. ESPO Own-Brand “Smartbuy” Cleaning Chemicals & Hand Soaps The above Lot structure is for information only and some details may be amended within the invitation to tender. This Pre Market Engagement aims to identify capable suppliers in the market with track record in delivering goods within this product category. We are requesting information from relevant organisations to help us define our requirements (please refer to the Engagement process description section of this notice for further details). This is not a call for competition. Tender documentation is not yet available.

ESPO is a trading department of Leicestershire County Council. It is a non-profit making body owned and operated jointly by six local authorities. We provide a catalogue range, providing our customers with access to over 28,000 products that cover all key areas of education and wider public sector requirements. We are conducting preliminary market engagement with the intention of establishing a framework for the supply of Educational Furniture. The products covered by this proposed Framework will be purchased for re-sale, and orders will be placed according to demand. Delivery shall be to ESPO’s distribution centre in Leicester, and for delivery directly to ESPO’s customers throughout the UK. The Framework is envisaged to include the following Lots (subject to change): Lot 1. ESPO Smartbuy Range Lot 2. Core Tables Lot 3. Specialist Tables Lot 4. Chairs and Stools Lot 5. Bean Bags and Cushions Lot 6. Metal Storage and Trays Lot 7. Storage and Library Furniture Lot. 8 Metal Lockers Lot. 9 Wooden Lockers Lot. 10 Changing Room Furniture Lot. 11 Hazardous Storage Cupboards Lot. 12 Early Years Furniture The above Lot structure is for information only and some details may be amended within the invitation to tender. This Pre Market Engagement aims to identify capable suppliers in the market with track record in delivering goods within this product category. We are requesting information from relevant organisations to help us define our requirements (please refer to the Engagement process description section of this notice for further details). This is not a call for competition. Tender documentation is not yet available.

The Technology Enabled Care (TEC) Service is a preventative, countywide offer that provides digital equipment to promote wellbeing and support adults with care needs. It enables the continuous, automatic, and remote monitoring of real time emergencies and lifestyle changes, helping to manage and reduce risks associated with independent living. The service supports eligible adults across the county to maintain independence, safety, and wellbeing through a wide range of digital solutions. These include traditional telecare devices such as fall detectors and medication dispensers, as well as emerging technologies like smart home systems, voice activated tools, and AI driven monitoring. This technology is designed to empower individuals to remain independent for longer, receive more proactive and preventative support, and stay connected to their community, family, friends, and professionals. This approach aims to enhance outcomes and promote independence while ensuring resources are targeted where they are most needed, enabling a less intrusive and more dignified model of support. Overall, the service seeks to prevent, reduce, or delay the need for more intensive statutory services by improving wellbeing, identifying risks earlier, and providing a lower cost alternative to traditional care pathways.

This project concerns the procurement of a comprehensive CCTV solution for Nottingham Community Housing Association (NCHA), encompassing the design, supply, installation, upgrade and ongoing maintenance of IP-based CCTV systems across the NCHA estate. The programme seeks to establish a consistent and standardised technology architecture that enhances reliability, resilience and cyber security, while ensuring compliance with data protection obligations and proportional surveillance principles. Through a VMS-led, open and interoperable approach, the contract will support effective incident prevention, detection and evidential management, with clearly defined lifecycle accountability, predictable total cost of ownership, and a structured mechanism for technology refresh. The scope also includes integration with retained systems, decommissioning of legacy assets, planned and reactive maintenance, training, and the provision of robust documentation and asset information to support long-term operational performance.

Nottinghamshire County Council (the "Authority") is seeking to recommission 16+ Supported Accommodation Services - Solo and Core Plus - across South and Central Nottinghamshire. The procurement is divided into 3 lots: Lot 1 South Nottinghamshire (Broxtowe, Rushcliffe and Gedling), Lot 2 Mansfield, and Lot 3 Ashfield. The service is for looked after children aged 16-17 and requires providers to deliver both Solo and Core Plus supported accommodation within the relevant locality. The Council is seeking safe, suitable, high-quality, Ofsted-registered supported accommodation that promotes safeguarding, stability, positive outcomes, and planned progression towards greater independence. Providers must be able to deliver accommodation and support that is flexible, person-centred, and responsive to the needs and risks of young people, including the ability to scale provision in line with demand and agreed service requirements. Providers may bid for one, two or all three lots. The Council intends to appoint one provider per lot, although a provider may be awarded more than one lot where it can demonstrate sufficient capacity and capability to mobilise and deliver the required provision. The contract will include mobilisation requirements, performance monitoring, and contractual obligations relating to quality, safeguarding, accommodation standards, staffing, and Ofsted registration. The contract will initially run from 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2029, with the option to extend for up to a further four years through two extension periods of two years each, up to 31 July 2033. The maximum contract value assigned to these requirements is £19,920,000 (inclusive of VAT) over the maximum term allowed of 7 years.

NOTE: THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT TO LOG IN TO EXPRESS AN INTEREST. ****** Service Specification feedback******* Derbyshire County Council would like to offer all partners, service providers and stakeholders the chance to review the proposed service specifications for these new support offers prior to advertising the tender next month. We would be grateful if you would consider the specifications and provide responses and comments to the questions in the survey below: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/pBiStYgPUP The closing date for feedback is 5pm on Wednesday 24th June 2026. Derbyshire County Council (the Council) wishes to commission Providers to deliver a countywide Social Prescribing service and a countywide Youth Outreach services for Children and Young people in Derbyshire (excluding Derby City). The procurement is structured into two Lots: Lot 1 - Social Prescribing Lot 2 - Youth Outreach Social Prescribing is a non-clinical, community-based service that supports positive mental wellbeing by helping Children and Young People to improve self-esteem and confidence, and to access sustainable local activities, groups and community support that matter to them. Youth Outreach supports young people with health, wellbeing, mental health and other arising issues, linking to a range of Public Health topics including sexual health, substance use and community safety. It provides brief intervention and provision of resources or signposting, engaging young people in the community, not via school or health routes.? The services will provide early, preventative support and will complement, rather than duplicate, existing universal and statutory services. The Services will commence on 01 April 2027 for an initial contract period of three years, concluding on 31 March 2030, with the option to extend for up to a further two years, subject to performance, funding availability and the Council's requirements. ******The tender of the delivery of this service will be advertised from 16th July 2026.******

Derbyshire County Council (DCC) invites tenders for a Framework Agreement to deliver Non-strategic Carriageway Resurfacing and Minor Ancillary Works across the county, covering both rural and urban road networks as detailed in the Specification. The Framework will provide a programme of resurfacing works, including kerbing, ironworks adjustment/replacement, and associated activities, delivered through competitively awarded call-off contracts. Works will range from routine, short-duration schemes using standard construction methods and traffic management, to more complex projects involving deeper reconstruction, challenging site conditions, and enhanced stakeholder coordination. The Framework aims to provide a flexible and compliant route to market, supporting DCC's statutory duty to maintain a safe and reliable highway network while achieving best value, improved productivity, and minimised disruption. Contractors will be expected to demonstrate strong performance in safety, carbon reduction, waste minimisation, and social value, contributing to resilient infrastructure, improved journey reliability, and positive outcomes for Derbyshire's communities and economy.

Scape Procure Limited (trading as SCAPE) is considering establishing a framework agreement for the provision of construction works and services in the regions of England listed below. To support this, SCAPE has undertaken pre-market engagement activities and will undertake further market engagement activities prior to submitting a Tender Notice. This notice is not an invitation for formal expressions of interest. The purpose of this notice is to provide details on SCAPE's pre-market engagement activities in support of the upcoming procurement for a framework for construction works and services. This framework is envisaged to include the following Lots: Lot 1 - Midlands East (Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, South Yorkshire) Lot 2 - Midlands West (Staffordshire, West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire) Lot 3 - Home Countries East (Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Essex, London) Lot 4 - Home Countries West (Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, London) SCAPE currently anticipates establishing a multi-party framework with three (3) Suppliers per Lot, for a total of twelve (12) Suppliers. The annual turnover requirement for each Supplier (including their Associated Suppliers) is anticipated to be £20m. SCAPE intends to design this framework to facilitate SME engagement via the successful Bidder's supply chain and is also open to accepting bids from consortia or JVs of which SMEs may form a part. The common procurement vocabulary codes stated are deemed to include, for the avoidance of doubt and unless otherwise stated, the category and sub-category codes below the CPV codes stated, i.e. 45200000 Works for complete or part construction and civil engineering work is deemed to include 45210000 Building construction work and 45214000 Construction work for buildings relating to education and research.

Nottinghamshire County Council is seeking to establish a Provider List, using a Framework under the Light Touch regime of the Procurement Act 2023, of organisations who are able to provide commissioned placements of children and young people with Alternative education (Provider). These services will cover the requirements for Alternative Provision placements of children & young people (Learners) made directly on behalf of Nottinghamshire County Council with, subject to internal governance approval and compliance with the Procurement Act 2023, additional scope to include Local Council maintained Schools, or Free Schools and Academies (Contracting Council) within Nottinghamshire and surrounding areas if they wish to use it. Providers that are successful in demonstrating that they are able to meet the Council's standards, as set out in the service specification, will be added to the Provider List and will be awarded onto the Framework under the appropriate Lot and will be subsequently invited to offer places that match the needs of the Learners. Providers will be expected to evidence the quality of their provision by participating in regular Quality Assurance (QA) checks that will be carried out on behalf of the Contracting Authorities. Any Providers that fail to maintain the quality standards will be suspended from the Framework until they are able to provide evidence that they can meet the quality standards. Please note, there is no guarantee of work under Lots 2,3 and 4 of this Framework.