Education
The CIF school adviser package for academies and small trusts, from eligibility and bid to handover.
Key dates and limits
- New applicants register by
- 12 noon, 30 November 2026
- Bids close
- 12 noon, 15 December 2026
- Days until bids close
- 41
- Professional fee cap
- 10% of project cost
From DfE's published guidance for this round. Check the current guidance on GOV.UK.
The school adviser package
The school appoints us and we act only for the school, with the same adviser from eligibility to handover. Your contractor builds the works, and our fees sit inside the CIF 10% cap.
Eligibility
Free. We confirm whether the project is likely to fit the fund before you spend anything.
Bid
Condition evidence, outline design and cost plan for the bid.
Design
Detailed design and specification. Ventilation and thermal comfort designed to BB101 and checked by a building services engineer (CEng MCIBSE).
Tender
Tender pack, bid evaluation and a recommendation for award, then the contract prepared for signature.
Contract administration
We act as NEC Project Manager or JCT contract administrator, running meetings, change control, valuations and payments.
Handover and H&S file
As-built information, O&M manuals and the health and safety file, checked before the final account.
Each stage on its own
CIF bid
Condition evidence, outline design, cost plan and programme. We write the application with you.
- Condition evidence and survey summary
- Outline design and scope
- Cost plan and programme
- Application text ready to submit
- Turnaround
- Planned back from the bid deadline
- Fee
- From £1,750, or 1% of project value if that's higher
A full appointment is quoted as a percentage inside the 10% cap.
Tender packs
Instructions, contract data, scope, drawings register, pricing schedule and an evaluation matrix agreed before bids arrive.
- Instructions and form of tender
- Contract data
- Scope and pricing schedule
- Evaluation matrix and tender report
- Turnaround
- Agreed with your programme
- Fee
- From £2,000
MEP design (building services)
Heating, ventilation, electrical, public health and fire alarm design, with energy and overheating assessments.
- HVAC design, including heat loss and heat pump systems
- Public health, electrical, fire alarm and BMS design
- Energy audits, low-carbon retrofit options and overheating assessments
- Turnaround
- Agreed after a scope call
- Fee
- Fixed quote within 3 working days
Condition upgrades
Roofs, windows, heating, fire safety and ventilation works, designed, tendered and administered for you.
- Condition survey and scope
- Design and specification
- Tender and contract administration
- Handover records
- Turnaround
- Agreed with your programme
- Fee
- Fixed quote within 3 working days
You can appoint us for any one stage, including condition upgrades that trusts procure outside CIF.
Check your bid before you start
Both tools are on the Tools page.
Sample outputs
Pages from the school samples. We send the full documents on request.
Cover 
Inspection and test plan, drain renewal 
Bill of quantities extract School project pack
One school project from the CIF bid through tender, bill of quantities, the inspection and test plan for the drain renewal and NEC administration to handover.
Request the full sample
Cover 
Bid summary CIF bid summary
Condition evidence, scope, cost plan and programme as submitted.
Request the full sample
Cover 
Tender pack contents Tender pack contents and pricing schedule
Document list, contract data and the pricing schedule.
Request the full sample
The samples use made-up projects, so the names and figures aren't real.
Questions
Who builds the works?
Your contractor, picked through the tender we run. We act for the school, not the contractor.
Who designs the heating and ventilation?
The design is prepared to BB101 and checked and signed by a chartered building services engineer.
Book a free eligibility check.
We'll tell you if the project is likely to fit the fund before you spend anything, then quote for the bid.