Award

Sports and Leisure Management Limited Outsourced Services

WATFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

08 Jul 2025 at 16:30

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Watford Borough Council has completed the award stage for a contract titled "Sports and Leisure Management Limited Outsourced Services." This involves Sports and Leisure Management Ltd providing outsourced leisure management services at council-owned premises across London, including Woodside and the paddling pool at Cassiobury Park. The contract, which falls under the industry category of "Physical well-being services" according to the CPV classification, has a substantial value of £63,000,000. It is structured to run from 1st August 2025 to 31st May 2035. The recent development follows changes in VAT treatment guidance for leisure services post-2023. Despite the lack of specification of the procurement method and process details, the procurement has moved through to the award stage, finalised on 7th July 2025.

This tender presents significant business growth opportunities, particularly for large-scale companies experienced in managing leisure services on behalf of public bodies. It allows businesses to engage in long-term service provision, securing stable revenue over ten years. However, it may not be suitable for SMEs or VCSEs given the scale of the contract and capital requirements involved. Firms that specialise in outsourced leisure management, particularly those with expertise in navigating public sector engagements and regulatory considerations, are well-positioned to benefit from this opportunity.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Sports and Leisure Management Limited Outsourced Services

Notice Description

Watford Borough Council intends to enter a deed of variation with Sports and Leisure Management Limited (the Contractor) as the outsourced provider of leisure management services. SLM acts as the principle in providing leisure services from the council owned premises at Woodside, Central and the paddling pool at Cassiobury Park. SLM will act as agent of the council, with SLM providing leisure services on behalf of the council in the council's name. The Underlying Contract was originally procured under Procurement Notice Watford Sports facilities operation services 2017/S 049-089978:, published on 10th March 2017. The opportunity to change the status, follows the successful litigation taken by Chelmsford City Council in 2022 and subsequently HMRC revised its guidance in 2023 in relation to the VAT treatment of leisure services provided by local authorities.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-eb0d0706-9042-4141-84ab-ac7c88fbf80f
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/05996ce6-a4cd-4dba-bd29-92bdeede351b
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

98 - Other community, social and personal services

CPV Codes

98330000 - Physical well-being services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£63,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£63,000,000 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Jul 20257 months ago
Submission Deadline
6 Jul 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
6 Jul 20257 months ago
Contract Period
31 Jul 2025 - 31 May 2035 Over 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
WATFORD BOROUGH 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
WATFORD
Postcode
WD17 3EX
Post Town
Watford
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH27 South West Hertfordshire
Delivery Location
TLI London
Local Authority
Watford
Electoral Ward
Park
Westminster Constituency
Watford

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

SPORTS AND LEISURE MANAGEMENT

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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