Tender

South Tyneside Local Infrastructure Organisation (LIO) for the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise Sector (VCFSE) and the South Tyneside Healthnet Service

SOUTH TYNESIDE BOROUGH COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Tender

05 Jan 2026 at 07:54

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

10 Nov 2025 at 13:01

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

South Tyneside Borough Council has issued a tender for the provision of a Local Infrastructure Organisation (LIO) service for the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector, alongside the South Tyneside Healthnet Service. Located at Town Hall and Civic Offices, South Shields, the council is seeking service providers to support local organisations in accessing funding, volunteer recruitment and development, and health and social care integration initiatives. The industry category falls under "Other community, social and personal services," with a procurement method that is below threshold - open competition. Tender submissions must be electronically submitted by 13th February 2026. The procurement stage is currently active, and documentation is accessible via NEPO's E-Procurement System. The contract commences on 1st September 2026 with an annual value of £135,523.

The tender presents substantial growth opportunities for VCFSE organisations, seeking to establish or expand their presence in South Tyneside's community services sector. Suitable businesses are those capable of forming partnerships, leading volunteer-centric initiatives, and strategically positioning themselves within health and social care integration efforts. The council's procurement approach focuses on quality over price, prompting service providers to showcase their competence in quality delivery. With substantial support for strategic developments and community service integration, eligible organisations have a prime opportunity to influence regional health and social care services while enhancing capacity for volunteer engagement and career progression.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

South Tyneside Local Infrastructure Organisation (LIO) for the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise Sector (VCFSE) and the South Tyneside Healthnet Service

Notice Description

The Service to be provided is a South Tyneside Local Infrastructure Organisation (LIO) for the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise Sector (VCFSE) and the South Tyneside Healthnet Service. The Service Provider will take the lead for the VCFSE sector by: * Supporting local organisations to access external funding. * Having oversight and responsibility for volunteer recruitment and support. * Leading the development of the VCFSE, via partnerships, collaboration, and consortia. * Being 'the voice' of the VCFSE sector and contributing to the strategic priorities with the Council and more widely as appropriate. * Providing support for key strategic developments across South Tyneside, promoting health and social care integration but also more wider initiatives around for example education and training. * Support the capacity of local groups and organisations to host volunteer placements, identifying career progression routes for volunteers into careers and further self-development. * Supporting all age developments. The Service Provider will also provide the 'South Tyneside Healthnet' service, a local network which will be a collective voice for the people of South Tyneside to debate, influence and shape local health and wellbeing provision. The annual value of the contract is PS135,523. Please note that this procurement is restricted to voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations only. If you are not a VCFSE please do not submit a bid.

Planning Information

South Tyneside Council is conducting a Soft Market Testing Exercise (SMTE) to seek the market's views on the delivery of Voluntary Community Faith Social Enterprise Sector (VCFSE) Sector - Infrastructure Support in South Tyneside and the continuation of Healthnet South Tyneside. You are invited to consider the inquiries detailed in this SMTE and complete the questionnaire which can be downloaded https://open-uk.org/opportunities/overview/public/d141f40c-fcfb-432c-86c3-a5be82d4a250 ( Opportunity number #OPEN20251957). You will need to register, free of charge, on the Open E-Procurement system via https://open-uk.org/ to access the questionnaire.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05ddad
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/000114-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

98 - Other community, social and personal services

CPV Codes

98000000 - Other community, social and personal services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£406,569 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£406,569 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
5 Jan 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
13 Feb 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
3 Jan 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Aug 2026 - 31 Aug 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SOUTH TYNESIDE BOROUGH COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
strategic.procurement@southtyneside.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
SOUTH SHIELDS
Postcode
NE33 2RL
Post Town
Newcastle upon Tyne
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC43 Tyneside
Delivery Location
TLC22 Tyneside
Local Authority
South Tyneside
Electoral Ward
Beacon and Bents
Westminster Constituency
South Shields

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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