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Invitation to Tender - Evaluation Impact Case Studies

THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR PLACES OF HISTORIC INTEREST OR NATURAL BEAUTY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

24 Aug 2026 at 16:50

Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The National Trust is commissioning consultancy research and evaluation services for the Nature Towns and Cities Pioneer Cohort. The work will examine change in seven places that remained involved after the Future Parks Accelerator programme, particularly developments since 2022. The consultant will carry out a follow-up study, produce robust independent evidence of longer-term impact, write case studies of whole-place change, assess the benefits to places and communities of capacity-building and systems-change approaches, and help explain the causal link between programme interventions and outcomes. The work falls within research and experimental development, research consultancy, and business and management consultancy services. Delivery covers the participating places in the United Kingdom. The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty is the buying organisation.

The procurement has reached tender: the buyer invited offers through an open procedure below the threshold. Bidders must submit an approach, project plan, high-level risk log, relevant experience, abridged CVs for the proposed team, a budget breakdown, responses to concerns and mandatory questions, and company information. Submissions are limited to six pages, excluding CV appendices, and must be returned by 9:00am on 14 September 2026. The contract is scheduled to run from 5 October 2026 to 31 January 2027. The available budget is between £20,000 and £25,000 including VAT. The stated evaluation basis is the quality and relevance of the proposed approach and experience, alongside the submitted budget and required information. The opportunity is identified as suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community or social enterprises.

This opportunity suits a small consultancy, research practice, social enterprise or consortium with experience of evaluating complex place-based programmes and evidencing longer-term outcomes. Strong candidates will be able to design and deliver independent qualitative and quantitative research across seven participating places, investigate change over time, and connect programme interventions with their effects on communities, organisations and local systems. Relevant capability includes developing whole-place case studies, assessing capacity-building and systems-change approaches, synthesising evidence into a clear impact narrative, and working with programme partners and local authorities or comparable public-sector organisations. Bidders need enough capacity to complete the study within the contracted period, provide a credible project plan and risk log, and present a concise six-page submission supported by relevant team experience and abridged CVs.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Invitation to Tender - Evaluation Impact Case Studies

Notice Description

CONTEXT The Future Parks Accelerator (FPA) programme ran from 2019 to 2022 working intensively with 8 Local Authorities to help identify and develop new ways to care for the urban natural environment, create a step change in how people engaged with parks and greenspaces in the participant cities; and identify new ways to fund parks and greenspaces for the long term, putting the management and funding of green space on a more sustainable footing. 7 of the FPA Cohort remained closely involved with the project partners following the completion of the programme and helped to co-design the follow-on ten-year programme. Nature Towns and Cities, launched in 2025, was designed to support transformative change in up to 100 towns and cities. These 7 places form the Nature Towns and Cities pioneer cohort continue to receive support from the programme while also supporting and mentoring new participants. Although evaluated throughout the programme, it was anticipated that on-the ground impacts would lag behind the implementation of these changes. THIS COMMISSION This commission seeks to understand and evidence the change that has taken place in each of the 7 places that have remained involved. We are seeking a consultant to undertake a follow-up study of the 7 places still participating in the Nature Towns and Cities Pioneer Cohort to understand what has happened since 2019 (and especially since 2022), and to generate robust, independent evidence of longer-term impact, including write up stories of whole place change, evidence the benefit to places and communities of investing in capacity-building and systems-change approaches and support Nature Towns and Cities & Pioneer Cohort to understand and articulate the causal link between the interventions and their longer-term impacts. INFORMATION TO BE RETURNED Submissions should include the following information: * Outline of your proposed approach to the project, including project plan and high-level risk log * Description of your relevant experience and abridged CVs of the proposed project team. * Proposed budget breakdown. * Details of any matters or concerns not covered by this brief * Answers to the mandatory questions and company information included in the Annex (not included in page count). Submissions should be no more than 6 pages in length. Abridged CVs can be included as appendices. These should be returned to anne.mackinnon@nationaltrust.org.uk by the deadline of 9am Monday 14th September 2026. The budget available for this work is PS20-25k incl. VAT. Please see the full attached ITT document for further details.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-ceffeabf-3b73-4b63-b0ec-a6da2cb9543c
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/5545ee74-3654-4bdf-ab69-6037bccacdb3
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure (below threshold)
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

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

CPV Codes

73100000 - Research and experimental development services

73200000 - Research and development consultancy services

79410000 - Business and management consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£25,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
24 Aug 20262 days ago
Submission Deadline
14 Sep 20263 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
5 Oct 2026 - 31 Jan 2027 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR PLACES OF HISTORIC INTEREST OR NATURAL BEAUTY
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SWINDON
Postcode
SN2 2NA
Postcode Area
Swindon
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK71 Swindon
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Swindon
Electoral Ward
Mannington and Western
Westminster Constituency
Swindon South

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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