Notice Information
Notice Title
Phase 1 - Silicon Sands Campus
Notice Description
Blackpool Council is a unitary local authority providing public services to approximately 141,000 residents across 21 wards, making up the Borough of Blackpool. Blackpool Council is procuring a third-party concessionaire to: (i) invest, develop and operate a 6MVA exemplar data centre (together with ancillary office accommodation); and (ii) to connect the heat generated from the data centre to a proposed local heat network within the Silicon Sands site at the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone. Blackpool Council believes that by enabling the development of new digital infrastructure, major economic and social benefits can accrue, bringing significant skilled employment and educational opportunities for the local population and encouraging inward investment and growth in high-tech companies, including start-ups operating in AI systems, making Blackpool competitive in the digital economy. Blackpool Council is procuring a concessions contract for the purposes of section 3(4) and section 8 of the Procurement Act 2023. The term of the concessions contract will be 3 years (from June 2026), and the land will be made available on a 250 yearlong lease.
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-05e6a6
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076182-2025
- Current Stage
- Tender
- All Stages
- Tender
Procurement Classification
- Notice Type
- UK4 - Tender Notice
- Procurement Type
- Standard
- Procurement Category
- Works
- Procurement Method
- Selective
- Procurement Method Details
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Tender Suitability
- SME
- Awardee Scale
- Not specified
Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)
- CPV Divisions
09 - Petroleum products, fuel, electricity and other sources of energy
45 - Construction work
48 - Software package and information systems
71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services
72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
-
- CPV Codes
09323000 - District heating
45213100 - Construction work for commercial buildings
45232141 - Heating works
45331000 - Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning installation work
48800000 - Information systems and servers
71314000 - Energy and related services
72510000 - Computer-related management services
72700000 - Computer network services
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- £250,000,000 £100M-£1B
- Lots Value
- £250,000,000 £100M-£1B
- Awards Value
- Not specified
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 21 Nov 20251 weeks ago
- Submission Deadline
- 11 Dec 20256 days to go
- Future Notice Date
- Not specified
- Award Date
- Not specified
- Contract Period
- 14 Jun 2026 - 14 Jun 2099 Over 5 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
- BLACKPOOL COUNCIL
- Contact Name
- Not specified
- Contact Email
- ftsprocurementnotices@blackpool.gov.uk
- Contact Phone
- Not specified
Buyer Location
- Locality
- BLACKPOOL
- Postcode
- FY1 1NB
- Post Town
- Blackpool
- Country
- England
-
- Major Region (ITL 1)
- TLD North West (England)
- Basic Region (ITL 2)
- TLD4 Lancashire
- Small Region (ITL 3)
- TLD42 Blackpool
- Delivery Location
- TLD42 Blackpool
-
- Local Authority
- Blackpool
- Electoral Ward
- Talbot
- Westminster Constituency
- Blackpool South
Further Information
Notice Documents
-
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076182-2025
21st November 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
View full OCDS Record for this contracting process
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.
{
"tag": [
"compiled"
],
"id": "ocds-h6vhtk-05e6a6-2025-11-21T16:28:05Z",
"date": "2025-11-21T16:28:05Z",
"ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-05e6a6",
"initiationType": "tender",
"parties": [
{
"id": "GB-PPON-PHHB-5249-RZVD",
"name": "BLACKPOOL COUNCIL",
"identifier": {
"scheme": "GB-PPON",
"id": "PHHB-5249-RZVD"
},
"address": {
"streetAddress": "PO Box 11, Town Hall",
"locality": "Blackpool",
"postalCode": "FY1 1NB",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom",
"region": "UKD42"
},
"contactPoint": {
"email": "FTSprocurementnotices@blackpool.gov.uk"
},
"roles": [
"buyer"
],
"details": {
"url": "https://www.blackpool.gov.uk",
"classifications": [
{
"scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
"id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
"description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
}
]
}
}
],
"buyer": {
"id": "GB-PPON-PHHB-5249-RZVD",
"name": "BLACKPOOL COUNCIL"
},
"planning": {
"noEngagementNoticeRationale": "In March 2024, Blackpool Council commenced extensive preliminary market engagement, to understand the market including which suppliers would be interested in any future opportunity let by Blackpool Council. Blackpool Council received a number of responses from the market which has led to the development of its procurement strategy and Blackpool Council is publishing this tender notice to identify a suitable partner (i.e. the most advantageous tenderer). This preliminary market engagement activity occurred prior to the commencement of the Procurement Act 2023."
},
"tender": {
"id": "DN793196",
"legalBasis": {
"id": "2023/54",
"scheme": "UKPGA",
"uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
},
"title": "Phase 1 - Silicon Sands Campus",
"description": "Blackpool Council is a unitary local authority providing public services to approximately 141,000 residents across 21 wards, making up the Borough of Blackpool. Blackpool Council is procuring a third-party concessionaire to: (i) invest, develop and operate a 6MVA exemplar data centre (together with ancillary office accommodation); and (ii) to connect the heat generated from the data centre to a proposed local heat network within the Silicon Sands site at the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone. Blackpool Council believes that by enabling the development of new digital infrastructure, major economic and social benefits can accrue, bringing significant skilled employment and educational opportunities for the local population and encouraging inward investment and growth in high-tech companies, including start-ups operating in AI systems, making Blackpool competitive in the digital economy. Blackpool Council is procuring a concessions contract for the purposes of section 3(4) and section 8 of the Procurement Act 2023. The term of the concessions contract will be 3 years (from June 2026), and the land will be made available on a 250 yearlong lease.",
"status": "active",
"items": [
{
"id": "1",
"additionalClassifications": [
{
"scheme": "CPV",
"id": "09323000",
"description": "District heating"
},
{
"scheme": "CPV",
"id": "45213100",
"description": "Construction work for commercial buildings"
},
{
"scheme": "CPV",
"id": "45232141",
"description": "Heating works"
},
{
"scheme": "CPV",
"id": "45331000",
"description": "Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning installation work"
},
{
"scheme": "CPV",
"id": "48800000",
"description": "Information systems and servers"
},
{
"scheme": "CPV",
"id": "71314000",
"description": "Energy and related services"
},
{
"scheme": "CPV",
"id": "72510000",
"description": "Computer-related management services"
},
{
"scheme": "CPV",
"id": "72700000",
"description": "Computer network services"
}
],
"deliveryAddresses": [
{
"region": "UKD42",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom"
}
],
"relatedLot": "1"
}
],
"value": {
"amountGross": 300000000,
"amount": 250000000,
"currency": "GBP"
},
"procurementMethod": "selective",
"procurementMethodDetails": "Competitive flexible procedure",
"procedure": {
"features": "The Council will conduct a multi-stage Competitive Flexible Procedure comprising a participation stage, an initial tendering stage, a negotiation stage, followed by a final tendering stage. Stage 1 - Participation Stage During this stage, suppliers will be invited to respond to the Request to Participate document (\"RTP\") in response to the information requirements set out in Part C of the RTP. Submissions will be evaluated against the evaluation criteria as set out in Part D of the RTP. A maximum of ten (10) highest scoring suppliers who satisfy and pass the minimum conditions will be shortlisted and invited to the initial tendering stage. The RTP is available via Blackpool Council's Procurement Portal ProActis: The Chest: https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert/?advertId=9cef92f2-e9c6-f011-813a-005056b64545&fromProjectDashboard=True Stage 2 - Initial Tendering Stage A maximum of ten (10) shortlisted suppliers will be issued with an Invitation to Submit an Initial Tender document (\"ISIT\"). A maximum of ten (10) shortlisted suppliers will be required to submit their initial tenders in response to the information requirements set out in Part C of the ISIT, initial tenders will be evaluated in accordance with the evaluation criteria as set out in Part D of the ISIT. The detailed procedure for the tendering stage, including the timetable and any clarification rules, will be set out in the ISIT. Following the submission of initial tenders, the Council will further shortlist three (3) Tenderers who submit the highest scoring Initial Tender responses, provide feedback and will invite those three (3) shortlisted suppliers to enter into negotiations with the Council. Stage 3 - Negotiation Stage The three (3) shortlisted suppliers will be issued with an Invitation to Negotiate document (\"ITN\"). The detailed procedure for the negotiation stage, including the scope, remit, timetable and any clarification rules, will be set out in the ITN. Stage 4 - Final Tendering Stage Following the close of the negotiations, the three (3) shortlisted suppliers will be issued with an Invitation to Submit a Final Tender document (\"ISFT\"). The three (3) shortlisted suppliers will be required to submit their final tenders in accordance with the ISFT. The detailed procedure for the final tendering stage, including the timetable and any clarification rules, will be set out in the ISFT. The Council intends to award the concessions contract to the highest scoring supplier, i.e. the supplier who submitted the most advantageous tender."
},
"mainProcurementCategory": "works",
"specialRegime": [
"concession"
],
"aboveThreshold": true,
"coveredBy": [
"GPA"
],
"submissionMethodDetails": "https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert/?advertId=9cef92f2-e9c6-f011-813a-005056b64545&fromProjectDashboard=True",
"submissionTerms": {
"electronicSubmissionPolicy": "allowed",
"languages": [
"en"
]
},
"expressionOfInterestDeadline": "2025-12-19T12:00:00Z",
"enquiryPeriod": {
"endDate": "2025-12-11T16:00:00Z"
},
"awardPeriod": {
"endDate": "2026-05-29T23:59:59+01:00"
},
"lots": [
{
"id": "1",
"status": "active",
"value": {
"amountGross": 300000000,
"amount": 250000000,
"currency": "GBP"
},
"awardCriteria": {
"criteria": [
{
"type": "quality",
"name": "Quality",
"numbers": [
{
"number": 25,
"weight": "percentageExact"
}
]
},
{
"type": "quality",
"name": "Technical Innovation",
"numbers": [
{
"number": 10,
"weight": "percentageExact"
}
]
},
{
"type": "quality",
"name": "Sustainability",
"numbers": [
{
"number": 10,
"weight": "percentageExact"
}
]
},
{
"type": "quality",
"name": "Job Creation",
"numbers": [
{
"number": 5,
"weight": "percentageExact"
}
]
},
{
"type": "quality",
"name": "Social Value",
"numbers": [
{
"number": 20,
"weight": "percentageExact"
}
]
},
{
"type": "price",
"name": "Commercial",
"numbers": [
{
"number": 30,
"weight": "percentageExact"
}
]
}
]
},
"secondStage": {
"maximumCandidates": 10
},
"selectionCriteria": {
"criteria": [
{
"type": "economic",
"description": "Participation in this procurement is subject to the conditions of participation and associated evaluation methodologies as set out in the RTP, available via Blackpool Council's Procurement Portal: The Chest: https://procontract.due-north.com/."
},
{
"type": "technical",
"description": "Participation in this procurement is subject to the conditions of participation and associated evaluation methodologies as set out in the RTP, available via Blackpool Council's Procurement Portal: The Chest: https://procontract.due-north.com/."
},
{
"description": "Financial capacity - pass/fail Legal capacity - pass/fail Technical ability - out of 100%",
"forReduction": true
}
]
},
"suitability": {
"sme": true
},
"contractPeriod": {
"startDate": "2026-06-15T00:00:00+01:00",
"endDate": "2099-06-14T23:59:59Z"
}
}
],
"lotDetails": {
"noLotsDivisionRationale": "This procurement is not divided into lots. Following consideration of different delivery model options, Blackpool Council has determined that delivery through a single contract is necessary due to the intrinsically linked nature of the requirements."
},
"documents": [
{
"id": "conflictOfInterest",
"documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
"description": "Not published"
},
{
"id": "L-1",
"documentType": "biddingDocuments",
"url": "https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert/?advertId=9cef92f2-e9c6-f011-813a-005056b64545&fromProjectDashboard=True"
},
{
"id": "L-2",
"documentType": "technicalSpecifications",
"url": "https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert/?advertId=9cef92f2-e9c6-f011-813a-005056b64545&fromProjectDashboard=True"
},
{
"id": "future",
"documentType": "biddingDocuments",
"accessDetails": "via The Chest portal at this direct link: https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert/?advertId=9cef92f2-e9c6-f011-813a-005056b64545&fromProjectDashboard=True"
},
{
"id": "076182-2025",
"documentType": "tenderNotice",
"noticeType": "UK4",
"description": "Tender notice on Find a Tender",
"url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076182-2025",
"datePublished": "2025-11-21T16:28:05Z",
"format": "text/html"
}
]
},
"language": "en"
}