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Published 21 May 2026, 10:43 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Heaton Park Boating Lake and Activities

Official notice

Authority: Manchester City Council (Local council)

ServicesBelow threshold - open competitionBelow thresholdConcessionSME suitable
Concession value (operator's revenue)£540,000operator revenue, not the authority's budget
Submissions closed 16 Jun 2026
Contract term 3 yrsends 31 Oct 2029 · up to 31 Oct 2031 with extensions · starts 1 Nov 2026

What is being bought

Published requirement description

The Council is using the e-business portal known as the Chest. Applicants will need to register their details at the following link www.the-chest.org.uk ↗ . Once registered, applicants will be emailed a log-in and password which will allow them to gain access to the documentation relating to this opportunity.

Manchester City Council is inviting tenders for the operation of boating lake and associated visitor activities at Heaton Park.

This is a below‑threshold services concession procurement conducted in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023. The successful operator will be responsible for the safe and high‑quality delivery of boating activities, staffing, customer experience, operational management, marketing and income generation.

The commercial arrangement is concession‑based, with the operator required to pay the Council a fixed annual fee together with a percentage of gross turnover.

The Council seeks proposals that deliver an inclusive, environmentally responsible and commercially sustainable service that enhances the visitor experience and aligns with the heritage and environmental sensitivities of Heaton Park.

The contract will be awarded for an initial term of three (3) years, with the option to extend for up to two (2) additional years, subject to satisfactory performance.

CPV: Recreational-area services · Sports facilities operation services

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · value published
Lot #1Renewal 3 yrsSMEPublished value£540,000
Contract period: 1 Nov 2026 – 31 Oct 2029 (3 yrs) · up to 31 Oct 2031 with extensionsValue: £540,000 exc. VAT · £540,000 inc. VAT
Delivery: North WestEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: The contract can be extended for 2 years following the initial 3 year period.

What it takes to win
i

How this buyer will score bids.

The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).

Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add more
How bids were scored
Quality: 35%Price: 35%Social value: 20%Environmental: 10%
Published sub-criteria (4)
  • Quality: 35%
  • Commercial and Price: 35%
  • Social Value: 20%
  • Environment: 10%
Published award criteria (4)
  • Commercial and Price
  • Quality
  • Social Value
  • Environment
What this means for your bid
  • Price carries 35 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 3.5 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.

Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Below threshold - open competition
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Closed
Procurement threshold
Below threshold
Regulatory regime
Concession
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
21 May 2026, 10:43 BST
Last source update
21 May 2026, 10:43 BST
Authority reference
P-0898
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-046867
Latest notice
Tender notice (UK4)
Classification (CPV)
Recreational-area servicesSports facilities operation services
Delivery area
North West (UKD33)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-069ea4 Find a Tender

How it was run

Official notice
Submission deadline
16 Jun 2026, 11:00 BST
Clarification deadline
9 Jun 2026, 11:00 BST
Electronic submission
Allowed
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

The Council is using the e-business portal known as the Chest. Applicants will need to register their details at the following link www.the-chest.org.uk ↗ . Once registered, applicants will be emailed a log-in and password which will allow them to gain access to the documentation relating to this opportunity. Applicants will need to electronically submit their completed tender documents, including procurement specific questionnaire, via the on-line portal by 11am on 16th June 2026 as referred to in the tender documentation. Any clarification queries must also be submitted via the Chest website by the date referred to in the tender documentation.

Timeline

21 May 2026 → 1 Nov 2026 · 4 dates
  1. Tender notice published160 days ago
    21 May 2026, 10:43 BST
  2. Clarification questions by141 days ago
    9 Jun 2026, 11:00 BST
  3. Submission deadline134 days ago
    16 Jun 2026, 11:00 BST
  4. Today
    28 Oct 2026
  5. Contract startsin 3 days
    1 Nov 2026

Notice history

1 event · 1 release on Find a Tender
  1. Tender notice published
    21 May 2026, 10:43 BST
    UK4

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Manchester City Council

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-PPON: PLNV-8798-LDMP Town Hall Extension, Manchester, North West, M60 2LAContact email

Official documents & specifications (3)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Tender pack and attachments

  • Bidding documents and specificationstenderBidding documents and specificationsThe Council is using the e-business portal known as the Chest. Applicants will need to register their details at the following link www.the-chest.org.uk . Once registered, applicants will be emailed a log-in and password which will allow them to gain access to the documentation r…
  • Bidding documents and specifications tenderBidding documents and specifications

Notices published for this procedure

  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender