Planning

EHC 0825 Pre Market Engagement -Commercial Family Pantomime Contract

EAST HERTFORDSHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

04 Aug 2025 at 15:20

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The East Hertfordshire District Council is in the planning stage of a procurement process titled "EHC 0825 Pre Market Engagement -Commercial Family Pantomime Contract," classified under the 'Entertainment services' industry category. This initiative is centred around BEAM, a newly opened Arts & Culture destination in Hertford, UK. The current engagement process involves pre-procurement market engagement, allowing interested organisations to express interest and participate in supplier meetings. The deadline for submitting the Supplier Questionnaire is set for 21st August 2025. This market engagement aims to gather insights for a future procurement process commencing on 1st March 2026, with completion expected by 28th February 2029, subject to potential renewals. The procurement value is estimated at £1,200,000 gross. Key communication milestones include a future notice date of 1st October 2025.

This tender represents significant opportunities for businesses in the entertainment and cultural sectors, particularly SMEs and VCSEs, to partner with the Council in delivering family pantomime performances at the BEAM facility. This pre-procurement stage allows businesses to influence the scope and strategy of the potential procurement process by sharing expertise, innovative ideas, and market trends with the Council. It provides an ideal platform for businesses with relevant experience and capabilities in entertainment production to engage with the Council, understand its objectives and challenges, and prepare for future formal tendering opportunities. Organisations participating in this consultation phase can position themselves strategically to respond effectively to the Council's needs and contribute to the cultural offering in Hertfordshire.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

EHC 0825 Pre Market Engagement -Commercial Family Pantomime Contract

Notice Description

In August 2024, East Herts Council opened BEAM- a multi-faceted Arts & Culture destination in the centre of Hertford. BEAM sits on the site of the former Hertford Theatre and is the result of a significant investment by the council. BEAM has a range of facilities including a 550-seat Theatre, a flexible Studio space, with seating for 140+, three dedicated cinema screens, a dance studio and community space, as well as Hospitality spaces. BEAM is now looking to partner with an established Producer to deliver future pantomimes, and is looking to engage with the market so the Council can discuss the opportunity with potentially interested organisations prior to a formal procurement process. The purpose of the Council's pre-procurement market engagement process is to allow and enable, potentially interested organisations with appropriate expertise and relevant experience to:- o Outline and generate initial views/ideas around the outcomes, scope and the potential procurement strategy (i.e. with no commitment to themselves or the Council). o Engage with the Council to understand its challenges, intentions and desired Outcomes. o Inform the Council of current market developments. o Enable the Council to understand how the Current Requirements could be shaped and delivered. This stage of the project allows the Council to understand the strengths and weaknesses of options available to deliver its outcomes. Furthermore, this process enables organisations to effectively plan for any potential forthcoming procurement. The Council will consider the input and responses received as part of this pre-procurement market engagement to help inform the Council's options and further decision making. Process The pre-procurement market engagement will comprise:- o Seeking expressions of interest and the option for organisations to attend a tour of BEAM and individual, time limited, supplier meeting, bringing no more than 2x representatives. o Submission of the Supplier Questionnaire (please see Appendix A - separate MS Word document) following the instructions in section 11. Supplier Questionnaire's must be received by 21st august 2025. For the avoidance of doubt, this stage of the project is not part of a formal procurement process and the Council is not committing, at this stage to carrying out such a process. To participate in this pre-procurement market engagement, organisations must submit their completed Supplier Questionnaire, together with any supporting documents, through the In-Tend system by the return deadline of 12.00 Noon on 21st August 2025. Supplier Questionnaires cannot be uploaded after the closing date/time.

Planning Information

Process The pre-procurement market engagement will comprise:- o Seeking expressions of interest and the option for organisations to attend a tour of BEAM and individual, time limited, supplier meeting, bringing no more than 2x representatives. o Submission of the Supplier Questionnaire (please see Appendix A – separate MS Word document) following the instructions in section 11. Supplier Questionnaire’s must be received by 21st august 2025. For the avoidance of doubt, this stage of the project is not part of a formal procurement process and the Council is not committing, at this stage to carrying out such a process. To participate in this pre-procurement market engagement, organisations must submit their completed Supplier Questionnaire, together with any supporting documents, through the In-Tend system by the return deadline of 12.00 Noon on 21st August 2025. Supplier Questionnaires cannot be uploaded after the closing date/time. Link to the In- Tend system https://in-tendhost.co.uk/supplyhertfordshire/aspx/Home

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05809c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/045773-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

CPV Codes

92300000 - Entertainment services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
4 Aug 20256 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Oct 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Mar 2026 - 28 Feb 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
EAST HERTFORDSHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement@eastherts.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
HERTFORD
Postcode
SG13 8EQ
Post Town
Stevenage
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH26 North and East Hertfordshire
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
East Hertfordshire
Electoral Ward
Hertford Castle
Westminster Constituency
Hertford and Stortford

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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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