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Bristol Impact Fund - Critical Friend

Bristol City Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

08 Sep 2026 at 16:02

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Bristol City Council commissioned a consultancy service to act as a critical friend throughout the four-year Bristol Impact Fund grant programme. The work provides impartial accountability to the council officer responsible for the programme, while taking a collaborative approach to support and train that officer. The consultant is also responsible for reviewing and editing the programme’s final evaluation report. This is a business and management consultancy service, classified under CPV 79000000, delivered in Bristol, England. The requirement is focused on independent challenge, programme oversight, officer development and evaluation-report quality rather than grant delivery itself. It is relevant to consultancies with experience in public-sector programmes, grant funding, independent assurance, evaluation and working constructively with public bodies.

The procurement is complete and was awarded through an open procedure. Bristol City Council selected Constellia Public Limited on 24 June 2026. The awarded contract value is £40,816.33. The contract runs from 30 June 2026 to 30 June 2030, covering the full Bristol Impact Fund grant programme. The tender submission deadline was 22 June 2026 at 23:59. The procurement was for services and was not divided into lots. The requirement was identified as unsuitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises. The award is active, with Constellia Public Limited named as the supplier for the complete requirement.

For a supplier that did not win this contract, the award demonstrates a defined market for independent consultancy supporting a local authority’s grant programme over a sustained period. A credible competitor would need to provide impartial accountability while maintaining a collaborative relationship with the council officer, combining constructive challenge with practical support and training. Relevant capability would include public-sector consultancy, grant-programme governance, evaluation design or review, report editing and the ability to communicate clearly with officers and other stakeholders. Experience of scrutinising programme performance without taking over delivery would be important, as would the capacity to remain engaged across a long-running programme and contribute to a robust final evaluation. The buyer’s stated assessment of suitability indicates that competitors should be prepared for a requirement not designed specifically for SMEs or VCSEs.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Bristol Impact Fund - Critical Friend

Notice Description

To contract a consultant to act as a 'critical friend' throughout the 4-year Bristol Impact Fund grant programme, for the purpose of providing impartial accountability to the Bristol City Council Officer. The consultant would work in a collaborative way, providing support and training to the Officer, and reviewing and editing the final evaluation report.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-bc74c28c-ecaf-430a-ba44-6b6ce7cfb1b9
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/28114efc-dff8-459c-8bdc-6dcc6cc4e277
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£40,816 Under £100K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£40,816 Under £100K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
24 Jun 20262 months ago
Contract Period
30 Jun 2026 - 30 Jun 2030 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Bristol City Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS3 9FS
Postcode Area
Bristol
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK51 Bristol, City of
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England)
Local Authority
Bristol, City of
Electoral Ward
Bedminster
Westminster Constituency
Bristol South

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Constellia Public Ltd

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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