Award

T25-192BUS Tender for Nighttime Illumination of Tall Ships at 2026 Foyle Maritime Festival

DERRY CITY AND STRABANE DISTRICT COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

16 Feb 2026 at 12:06

Tender

01 Dec 2025 at 09:54

Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process for nighttime illumination at the 2026 Foyle Maritime Festival has concluded with Derry City and Strabane District Council as the buyer. The festival will be held in Derry, Northern Ireland, from the 25th to the 28th of June 2026. It is part of the recreational, cultural, and sporting services industry category with a focus on lighting equipment. The contract was awarded on the 22nd of January 2026 to Visual Spectrum Studios Ltd and involves the stunning light display titled 'Sails of Solas.' This process initially began with an open competition procurement method and reached the award stage, with the tender status marked as complete. The illumination project contract is valued at £35,970 GBP, running from the 17th of February to the 30th of June 2026.

This tender presents significant business opportunities particularly for companies specialising in lighting and event installations given its focus on creating a visually striking maritime showcase. Small to medium enterprises like Visual Spectrum Studios Ltd, which successfully secured the contract, are well-suited to such niche and creative presentations. It's an excellent avenue for businesses aiming to leverage their technical artistry and problem-solving capabilities in lighting and crafting ambient experiences, contributing to one of the largest maritime festivals in Ireland and the UK, thus gaining considerable exposure to local, national, and international audiences. Participants in similar projects benefit from enhanced visibility and can build credibility within the sector by delivering innovative solutions and captivating public interest.

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Notice Title

T25-192BUS Tender for Nighttime Illumination of Tall Ships at 2026 Foyle Maritime Festival

Notice Description

Derry and Strabane District Council (DCSDC) invites proposals from suitably qualified organisations to illuminate the ships and vessels procured for 3 nights of the 2026 Foyle Maritime Festival which will take place from Thursday 25th to Sunday 28th June next year. Applauded for its ambitious and dynamic programme of events both on and off the water, the award-winning festival is located alongside the River Foyle in the heart of Derry city, spanning 1.5 miles along the riverfront. A range of themed zones and performance spaces are located throughout, all set to a magical backdrop of live music, animation, markets, visiting ships and boats, fantastic food and bespoke keynote events. Renowned as one of the largest maritime events to occur in Ireland and the UK, this bi-annual event attracted approximately 135,000 attendees when it last occurred for 4 days in 2024, appealing to local, regional, national and international visitors. For 2026 Council are extending the spectacle and magic created by former festival showcases by delivering a light installation over 3 nights of the festival from 9pm until dawn. Entitled 'Sails of Solas', the illumination of the tall masts and sails of the ships procured for the festival, will create a striking display of light and reflection along the riverfront. The bespoke illumination of the boats will present them in a new light emphasising their grandeur and majesty while the timing of the display invites people to revel in a private viewing as the city and ships sleep. Your submission must be submitted via etendersNI, via this CFT. No other method of submissions will be accepted. Please refer to the CfT documents for further detail.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05eba2
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013793-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

31 - Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services


CPV Codes

31000000 - Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting

31500000 - Lighting equipment and electric lamps

31530000 - Parts of lamps and lighting equipment

34994000 - Lighting for ship guidance and illumination

92000000 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£30,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
£30,000 Under £100K
Awards Value
£35,970 Under £100K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Feb 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
9 Jan 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
22 Jan 20261 months ago
Contract Period
17 Feb 2026 - 30 Jun 2026 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DERRY CITY AND STRABANE DISTRICT COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
tenders@derrystrabane.com
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
DERRY
Postcode
BT48 7NN
Post Town
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN0A Derry City and Strabane
Delivery Location
TLN0A Derry City and Strabane

Local Authority
Derry City and Strabane
Electoral Ward
Northland
Westminster Constituency
Foyle

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

VISUAL SPECTRUM STUDIOS

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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