TenderlineUK
Procurement Intelligence
Search
Find a TenderAwardedContract award notice
Published 15 Apr 2026, 16:38 BST

Official UK procurement notice

VCSE Infrastructure Support Organisation

Official notice

Authority: Peterborough City Council (Local council)

ServicesBelow threshold - open competitionBelow thresholdLight touch regimeSME suitableVCSE suitable
Sectors: Business Services & Consultancy (79)Education & Training (80) Delivery: East of England (UKH11)
Published estimate£240,000≈ £80k / year · £288,000 inc. VAT · 1 value update0.5% below published estimate
Submissions closed 24 Aug 2026awarded 8 Oct 2026
Awarded to Peterborough Council for Voluntary Services
Contract term 3 yrsends 30 Nov 2029 · up to 30 Nov 2029 with extensions · starts 1 Dec 2026

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Peterborough City Council intends to procure a high-quality, sustainable Infrastructure support organisation (ISO) to provide training, support and advice to the VCSE sector in Peterborough.

The services will focus on the following areas:

  • VCSE capacity-building and organisational development
  • Governance, safeguarding, and quality support
  • Volunteer development and infrastructure
  • Intelligence, insight, and learning to support prevention and commissioning

The contract term is 3 years, commencing 01st December 2026

CPV: Business and management consultancy services · Specialist training services

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · value published
Lot #1AwardedRenewal 3 yrsSMEVCSEPublished value£240,000
Contract period: 1 Dec 2026 – 30 Nov 2029 (3 yrs) · up to 30 Nov 2029 with extensionsValue: £240,000 exc. VAT · £288,000 inc. VAT
Delivery: East of EnglandEligibility: SME eligibleVCSE eligible
Extensions: Local Government Reform (LGR) Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) is the process in which the structure and responsibilities of local authorities are reconfigured. The Government has set out plans to move away from the current two-tier system of district and county councils in England, which is relevant to Cambridgeshire County Council, the five district councils in the county (Cambridge City Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council, Fenland District Council, Huntingdonshire District Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council), and Peterborough City Council as a neighbouring unitary council. Therefore, from 1 April 2028, the current seven councils in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough will be replaced and no longer exist. Rather than dealing with separate county, city and district councils, residents will access all services through a unitary council(s). At this stage, no decisions have been made on how many unitary councils will cover the county and which geographical areas they will cover. Throughout the LGR process, the Authority's focus will remain on delivering essential services across Peterborough. Potential changes may occur during the term of the contract, and although the contract is likely to transfer to any new unitary authorities by statutory instrument or by agreement on LGR, the contract may need to be amended to reflect the new geographical, financial and contract scope. Therefore, to ensure the contract may adapt upon implementation of LGR and modify to reflect the implications of LGR, we state within this procurement documentation of the intention to rely on Section 74(1)(a) and Schedule 8(1) of the Procurement Act 2023 to permit modification of the of the contract (if modification is considered necessary), to reflect new geographical, financial and contract scope accordingly. Please note we cannot precisely confirm any modification, if any, to the geographical, financial and contract scope at this stage, and any proposed modification, if agreed, shall not be implemented until 1 April 2028 at the earliest. Any contract modification shall be in accordance with clause 28 of the contract.
79410000 Business and management consultancy services80510000 Specialist training services

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

Lot awarding rule: The award is based on the Most Advantageous Tender, utilising a 30:70 price/quality split. A bid must achieve at least 60 of a possible 100 marks for quality or else it will be rejected. Bids with an annual cost exceeding £80,000 for any single year will be rejectd. Bids with a total contract price exceeding £240,000 will be rejected.

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
Awarded
Procurement threshold
Below threshold
Regulatory regime
Light touch regime
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
15 Apr 2026, 16:38 BST
Last source update
23 Oct 2026, 11:08 BST
Authority reference
DN810937
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-059258
Latest notice
Contract award notice (UK6)
Classification (CPV)
Business and management consultancy servicesSpecialist training services
Delivery area
East of England (UKH11)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06837b Find a Tender

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: ProContract (Due North) · Who buys & how to bid on ProContract
Supplier login requiredElectronic submission allowed
Access & registration note: Free · short registration with manual review; public opportunity list
Submission deadline
24 Aug 2026, 12:00 BST
Submission channel
Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission
Allowed
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

Tenders must be submitted electronically via the ProContract e-Tendering Platform.

Bidders must first express interest here: procontract.due-north.com/Advert ↗

Following your expression of interest, the procurement documents will be available to access via the platform.

Timeline

15 Apr 2026 → 1 Dec 2026 · 7 dates
  1. Planning notice published194 days ago
    15 Apr 2026, 16:38 BST
  2. Market engagement166 days ago
    13 May 2026, 23:59 BST

    Peterborough City Council is hosting a VCSE Market Engagement Event to support early, transparent engagement with voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations ahead of the future commissioning of VCSE infrastructure support.

    This event is not a procurement launch and attendance is not a requirement for any future tender. It is intended to:

    • Share the strategic context for VCSE infrastructure support in Peterborough
    • Outline the types of services and outcomes the Council is seeking to enable
    • Test early thinking with the VCSE market
    • Provide an opportunity for VCSE organisations to ask questions, reflect, and shape thinking before any formal process begins

    What attendees can expect:

    Attendees will:

    • Hear an overview of why VCSE infrastructure support is being reviewed and reviewed, including links to prevention, neighbourhood working and system priorities

    -Gain clarity on the likely scope of services, including:

    --VCSE capacity-building and organisational development

    --Governance, safeguarding, and quality support

    --Volunteer development and infrastructure

    --Intelligence, insight, and learning to support prevention and commissioning

    --Understand the anticipated commissioning principles, including openness, fairness, proportionality, and a learning-led approach

    Have the opportunity to:

    • Ask questions in an open forum
    • Share views on what works well now and what could work better
    • Highlight risks, opportunities, and practical considerations from a VCSE perspective

    No organisations will be asked to submit proposals, pricing, or commitments at this event.

    Event details

    Date: Tuesday 13 May 2026

    Time: 10:00-12:30 (with optional ProContract session to 13:00)

    Format: In-person

    Location: Sand Martin House, Bittern Way, Peterborough, PE2 8TY - Ground Floor conference room.

    Accessibility and inclusion:

    The Council is committed to ensuring the event is accessible and welcoming:

    • The venue will be step-free and wheelchair accessible
    • Accessible toilets will be available
    • If you have additional access, communication, or dietary requirements, you will be asked to note these when registering so reasonable adjustments can be made.

    How to register:

    Please use the following Microsoft Forms link to register your attendance: forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx ↗

    Registration deadline: 12th May 2026

    Capacity: Places may be capped to ensure a productive session; early registration is encouraged.

    Confirmation details, including final timings, room location and travel information, will be sent to registered attendees ahead of the event.

    Please note, an expression of interest in this event does not equate to a registration for the event, nor is it considered an expression of interest in any future procurement activity.

  3. Next notice expected133 days ago
    15 Jun 2026, 23:59 BST
  4. Tender notice published124 days ago
    24 Jun 2026, 10:23 BST
  5. Submission deadline63 days ago
    24 Aug 2026, 12:00 BST
  6. Latest notice published3 days ago
    23 Oct 2026, 11:08 BST
  7. Today
    27 Oct 2026
  8. Contract startsin 34 days
    1 Dec 2026

Notice history

9 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 15 Apr 2026
  1. Preliminary market engagement notice published
    15 Apr 2026, 16:38 BST
    UK2
  2. Tender notice published
    24 Jun 2026, 10:23 BST
    UK4
  3. Published value published: £240,000
    24 Jun 2026, 10:23 BST
  4. Status changed to active
    24 Jun 2026, 10:23 BST
  5. Procurement method changed
    24 Jun 2026, 10:23 BST
  6. Deadline published: 24 Aug 2026, 12:00 BST
    24 Jun 2026, 10:23 BST
  7. Contract award notice published
    23 Oct 2026, 11:08 BST
    UK6
  8. Status changed to complete
    23 Oct 2026, 11:08 BST
  9. Contract signature expected
    10 Nov 2026, 23:59 GMT
    scheduled

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded value £238,7881 award exc. VAT
Bids received 1
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Peterborough Council for Voluntary ServicesSMEVCSE1 Dec 2026 – 30 Nov 2029Options: Local Government Reform (LGR) Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) is the process in which the structure and responsibilities of local authorities are reconfigured. The Government has set out plans to move away from the current two-tier system of district and county councils in England, which is relevant to Cambridgeshire County Council, the five district councils in the county (Cambridge City Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council, Fenland District Council, Huntingdonshire District Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council), and Peterborough City Council as a neighbouring unitary council. Therefore, the current seven councils in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough may be replaced and no longer exist. Rather than dealing with separate county, city and district councils, residents will access all services through a unitary council(s). At this stage, no decisions have been made on how many unitary councils may cover the county and which geographical areas they will cover. Throughout the LGR process, the Authority's focus will remain on delivering essential services across Peterborough. Potential changes may occur during the term of the contract, and although the contract is likely to transfer to any new unitary authorities by statutory instrument or by agreement on LGR, the contract may need to be amended to reflect the new geographical, financial and contract scope. Therefore, to ensure the contract may adapt upon implementation of LGR and modify to reflect the implications of LGR, we state within this procurement documentation of the intention to rely on Section 74(1)(a) and Schedule 8(1) of the Procurement Act 2023 to permit modification of the of the contract (if modification is considered necessary), to reflect new geographical, financial and contract scope accordingly. Please note we cannot precisely confirm any modification, if any, to the geographical, financial and contract scope at this stage, and any proposed modification, if agreed, shall not be implemented until 1 April 2028 at the earliest. Any contract modification shall be in accordance with clause 28 of the contract.£238,7888 Oct 2026Awarded

Bid statistics published by the authority

BidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
1final-stage tenders01—

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Peterborough City Council

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-PPON: PLXM-3229-WVQH Sand Martin House Peterborough, Bittern Way, Peterborough, East of England, PE2 8TYContact email

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice

Official documents & specifications (4)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Tender pack and attachments

Notices published for this procedure