Find a TenderAwardedContract award notice
Published 23 Apr 2026, 16:16 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Venue Hire for DurhamLearn - Call off awards for Sept 2026 - July 2027

Official notice

Authority: Durham County Council (Local council)

3 lotsServicesOpen procedureAbove thresholdSME suitableVCSE suitable
Published estimate£1,000,000total for 3 lots · £1,200,000 inc. VAT
Submissions closed 21 May 2026awarded 31 Jul 2026
Awarded to CONSETT AND DISTRICT HERITAGE AND ARTS COMMUNITY INTEREST COMPANY +9 more15 awards
Contract term 4 yrsends 31 Aug 2030 · starts 1 Sept 2026

What is being bought3 lots · detail below

Published requirement description

The Council has an open framework for DurhamLearn Venue Hire.

The framework is a multiple Lot Framework that supports the delivery of:

  • Lot 1: SEND and Supported Employment provision
  • Lot 2: Adult Education and Apprenticeship provision
  • Lot 3: Medium to large‑scale education and engagement events

The Council has awarded the call off contracts to a number of venues to provide suitable locations for education and training programmes, based on a number of factors seen below:

  • Training needs and support requirements
  • Preferred location
  • Type of Venue Required
  • Size of Venue

The Council reserves the right to reopen the Framework whenever required to increase the number of providers.

CPV: Hotel meeting and conference services · Non-residential property renting or leasing services

Lots and requirements (3)Procurement structure

3 lots · all with a published value (£1,000,000 together) · same evaluation weights on every lot
Lot #1SEND and Supported Employment ProvisionAwarded 4 yrsSMEVCSEPublished value£250,000

The source published no individual description for this lot.

Contract period: 1 Sept 2026 – 31 Aug 2030 (4 yrs)Value: £250,000 exc. VAT · £300,000 inc. VAT
Delivery: North EastEligibility: SME eligibleVCSE eligible
Lot #2Adult Education and Apprenticeship ProvisionAwarded 4 yrsSMEVCSEPublished value£700,000

The source published no individual description for this lot.

Contract period: 1 Sept 2026 – 31 Aug 2030 (4 yrs)Value: £700,000 exc. VAT · £840,000 inc. VAT
Delivery: North EastEligibility: SME eligibleVCSE eligible
Lot #3Medium and Large‑Scale EventsAwarded 4 yrsSMEVCSEPublished value£50,000

The source published no individual description for this lot.

Contract period: 1 Sept 2026 – 31 Aug 2030 (4 yrs)Value: £50,000 exc. VAT · £60,000 inc. VAT
Delivery: North EastEligibility: SME eligibleVCSE eligible

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 · same split on all 3 lots
Price: 100%
Published award criteria (1)
  • Price: 100% weighting
What this means for your bid
  • Price carries 100 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 10 points. This one is won on the number: sharpen the price before polishing the prose.

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

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Open procedure
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Awarded
Procurement threshold
Above threshold (FTS publication)
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
23 Apr 2026, 16:16 BST
Last source update
12 Aug 2026, 16:55 BST
Award evaluation window
Submission end – 4 Jun 2026
Authority reference
OPEN2026685
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-037250
Latest notice
Contract award notice (UK6)
Classification (CPV)
Hotel meeting and conference servicesNon-residential property renting or leasing services
Delivery area
North East (UKC1)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0689fa Find a Tender

How it was run

Official notice
Submission deadline
21 May 2026, 10:00 BST
Clarification deadline
18 May 2026, 23:59 BST
Electronic submission
Allowed
Accepted languages
en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

Submissions must be made on time and via the open portal at www.open-uk.org ↗

Timeline

23 Apr 2026 → 1 Sept 2026 · 8 dates
  1. Tender notice published188 days ago
    23 Apr 2026, 16:16 BST
  2. Clarification questions by162 days ago
    18 May 2026, 23:59 BST
  3. Submission deadline160 days ago
    21 May 2026, 10:00 BST
  4. Award decision expected by145 days ago
    4 Jun 2026, 23:59 BST
  5. Standstill ends126 days ago
    23 Jun 2026, 23:59 BST
  6. Assessment summaries sent88 days ago
    1 Aug 2026, 00:00 BST
  7. Latest notice published77 days ago
    12 Aug 2026, 16:55 BST
  8. Contract starts57 days ago
    1 Sept 2026, 00:00 BST

Notice history

6 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 23 Apr 2026
  1. Tender notice published
    23 Apr 2026, 16:16 BST
    UK4
  2. Contract award notice published
    11 Jun 2026, 10:18 BST
    UK6
  3. Status changed to complete
    11 Jun 2026, 10:18 BST
  4. Contract signature expected
    29 Jun 2026, 23:59 BST
    scheduled
  5. Contract award notice published
    12 Aug 2026, 16:55 BST
    UK6
  6. Contract signature expected
    12 Aug 2026, 23:59 BST
    scheduled

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 20
Awarded value £129,3047 awards exc. VAT · 8 list or panel totals repeated on several suppliers, not summed
Bids received 4030 from SMEs
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Lot 2 · Adult Education and Apprenticeship Provision6 awards
ALINGTON HOUSE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONVCSEVenue Hire for DurhamLearn1 Sept 2026 – 31 Aug 2030£1,000,00011 Jun 2026standstill to 23 Jun 2026Standstill
ST. PAULS (SPENNYMOOR) CENTRE LIMITEDVCSEVenue Hire for DurhamLearn1 Sept 2026 – 31 Aug 2030£1,000,00011 Jun 2026Awarded
THE EXCEL ACADEMY PARTNERSHIPVenue Hire for DurhamLearn1 Sept 2026 – 31 Aug 2030£1,000,00011 Jun 2026standstill to 23 Jun 2026Standstill
GILESGATE COMMUNITY AND WELFARE ASSOCIATIONVCSEVenue Hire for DurhamLearn1 Sept 2026 – 31 Aug 2030£1,000,00011 Jun 2026standstill to 23 Jun 2026Standstill
Bullion Community Resource CentreVCSEVenue Hire for DurhamLearn1 Sept 2026 – 31 Aug 2030£1,000,00011 Jun 2026standstill to 23 Jun 2026Standstill
CONSETT AND DISTRICT HERITAGE AND ARTS COMMUNITY INTEREST COMPANYVCSEVenue Hire for DurhamLearn1 Sept 2026 – 31 Aug 2030£1,000,00011 Jun 2026standstill to 23 Jun 2026Standstill
Across several lots9 awards
CONSETT AND DISTRICT HERITAGE AND ARTS COMMUNITY INTEREST COMPANYVCSEConsett Arts and Heritage1 Sept 2026 – 31 Jul 2027£8,50531 Jul 2026Awarded
CHESTER-LE-STREET METHODIST CHURCHCLS Methodist (Cornerstones)1 Sept 2026 – 31 Jul 2027£40,00031 Jul 2026Awarded
FRAMWELLGATE MOOR YOUTH & COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONFramwellgate Youth and Community Centre1 Sept 2026 – 31 Jul 2027£1,66031 Jul 2026Awarded
NEWTON AYCLIFFE YOUTH & COMMUNITY CENTREVCSENewton Aycliffe Youth and Community Centre1 Sept 2026 – 31 Jul 2028£37,48931 Jul 2026Awarded
ST. PAULS (SPENNYMOOR) CENTRE LIMITEDVCSESt Paul's Centre1 Sept 2026 – 31 Jul 2028£5,57031 Jul 2026Awarded
ALINGTON HOUSE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONVCSEAlington House1 Sept 2026 – 30 Jul 2027£18,84030 Jul 2026Awarded
Bullion Community Resource CentreVCSEBullion Hall1 Sept 2026 – 31 Jul 2027£17,24030 Jul 2026Awarded
SPENNYMOOR YOUTH AND COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONVCSEVenue Hire for DurhamLearn1 Sept 2026 – 31 Aug 2030£1,000,00011 Jun 2026standstill to 23 Jun 2026Standstill
CHESTER-LE-STREET METHODIST CHURCH1 Sept 2026 – 31 Aug 2030£1,000,00011 Jun 2026standstill to 23 Jun 2026Standstill

5 further award records carry no date or value.

Bid statistics published by the authority

LotBidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
1 · SEND and Supported Employment Provision13final-stage tenders137—
2 · Adult Education and Apprenticeship Provision13final-stage tenders137—
3 · Medium and Large‑Scale Events14final-stage tenders49—

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Durham County Council

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-PPON: PMPB-8772-VYWM Corten House, Dunholme Close, Durham, North East, DH1 5WBContact email

Bidders & participating suppliers

13 commercial parties on the notice
Show 3 more suppliers
  • SPENNYMOOR YOUTH AND COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONAwarded supplierGB-CHC: 1170497GB-PPON: PXYB-7354-YHHJ Spennymoor Youth and Community Centre, Rushmoor, Merrington View, North East, DL16 6PPContact email
  • ST. PAULS (SPENNYMOOR) CENTRE LIMITEDAwarded supplierGB-COH: 06775990GB-PPON: PVMP-5268-QHQY St Paul's Centre, Spennymoor, North East, DL16 7LRContact email
  • THE EXCEL ACADEMY PARTNERSHIPAwarded supplierGB-COH: 07837770GB-PPON: PNGP-6475-MGNR Newton Drive, Durham, North East, DH1 5BQContact email

Official documents & specifications (22)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Tender pack and attachments

  • Bidding documents and specificationstenderBidding documents and specificationsTender documents can be accessed free of charge by registering via the open portal at www.open-uk.org

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