AECOM Cements UK Role with Expanded $4.7B Public Infrastructure Deal

DALLAS, TX – June 22, 2026 – Global infrastructure giant AECOM has significantly deepened its partnership with the United Kingdom, securing an expanded role on a critical government procurement framework valued at $4.7 billion. The company announced its appointment to nine distinct lots on the Construction Professional Services 2 (CPS2) framework, a four-year agreement that serves as a primary conduit for the UK's public sector to commission major infrastructure and construction projects.

This appointment marks a substantial vote of confidence, nearly doubling AECOM's presence from the five lots it held on the previous iteration of the framework in 2021. The win grants the firm access to a vast pipeline of projects spanning defense, transportation, and social infrastructure, while strategically positioning it in the high-growth sectors of nuclear energy and climate-related flood risk management.

“As one of the largest procurement frameworks in the history of UK public sector consultancy, the scope and scale of CPS2 provides an important route to market for our multidisciplinary offerings,” said Lara Poloni, AECOM’s president, in a statement. The expanded role, she noted, is “indicative of both the strength of our expertise across our end markets and the growing value our clients see in our professional services offerings.”

A New Blueprint for Public Works

The CPS2 framework is more than just a list of approved vendors; it represents a systemic shift in how the UK government approaches the monumental task of building and maintaining a modern nation. Managed by the Crown Commercial Service (CCS), the framework is designed to streamline the complex and often lengthy process of procuring technical and professional services for everything from new hospitals and schools to multi-year capital programs for energy and housing.

For public bodies like central government departments, local authorities, and the Environment Agency, CPS2 offers a pre-vetted roster of elite firms, ensuring quality, compliance, and value for taxpayer money. This structure allows for more agile procurement, enabling officials to either award contracts directly for straightforward needs or run focused mini-competitions for more complex projects. The entire system operates under the strategic oversight of the newly formed Government Commercial Agency (GCA), an executive body created on April 1, 2026, to consolidate and elevate commercial expertise within the government.

By securing a place on this framework, a firm like AECOM gains a significant competitive advantage. It is effectively pre-qualified to bid on a generation of public works, becoming a go-to partner for a government intent on deploying capital efficiently to meet its national objectives.

Tackling Britain's Grand Challenges: Climate and Energy

Perhaps the most telling aspect of AECOM's appointment is its successful bid for newly established lots in nuclear energy and flood risk management. This move aligns the firm directly with two of the UK's most pressing long-term challenges: achieving energy security while pursuing Net Zero emissions, and building national resilience against the escalating impacts of climate change.

The UK's renewed commitment to nuclear power as a stable, low-carbon energy source has created a massive demand for specialized expertise. Projects range from supporting the next generation of large-scale reactors to pioneering the deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). AECOM's presence on the nuclear lot positions it to provide critical services across the entire lifecycle, from initial site planning and regulatory advisory to complex project management and eventual decommissioning.

Simultaneously, the UK is confronting the hard reality of a changing climate, with increased flooding posing a persistent threat to communities and infrastructure. AECOM's capture of all three flood risk and asset management lots underscores its recognized expertise in this domain. The work will involve sophisticated flood modeling, designing and implementing both engineered and nature-based defense schemes, and managing the lifecycle of trillions of pounds worth of existing flood protection assets. This is not just about building higher walls; it's about deploying a systems-based approach to water management and climate adaptation on a national scale.

The Social Value Dividend

Beyond the technical specifications and financial metrics, the CPS2 framework operates under a mandate that is reshaping modern public procurement: the delivery of 'social value.' Driven by UK government policy, including the pivotal Procurement Policy Note 06/20, contractors are no longer judged solely on their ability to deliver a project on time and on budget. They are now explicitly evaluated on their contributions to broader societal goals.

For AECOM, this means its work on every project will be assessed against metrics such as creating local jobs and apprenticeships, fostering diversity and inclusion, reducing carbon emissions in its operations, and strengthening local supply chains by working with small and medium-sized enterprises. This requirement transforms infrastructure projects from mere construction jobs into engines for social and economic development.

Richard Whitehead, chief executive of AECOM’s Europe & India region, highlighted this dual responsibility. “CPS2 provides us with the opportunity to continue supporting the UK public sector in solving its most pressing challenges... while also embedding wider social value into projects and programs and delivering significant value for UK taxpayers,” he stated.

This expanded appointment is a clear signal of AECOM's successful performance under the previous framework and its alignment with the UK’s evolving priorities. By embedding itself deeper into the fabric of the nation's infrastructure strategy, AECOM has secured a powerful platform for growth while taking on a core role in helping the UK build a more resilient, sustainable, and prosperous future.