Planning

Online Engagement Platform

WEST MIDLANDS COMBINED AUTHORITY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

10 Dec 2025 at 11:48

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The West Midlands Combined Authority is currently in the planning stage of procuring an "Online Engagement Platform" to engage with local communities across the region. The procurement process aims to gather insights through a pre-market engagement process, inviting potential suppliers to complete a questionnaire by 9th January 2026. This initiative falls under the services category, specifically focusing on software programming and consultancy services. The procurement exercise is to be conducted in the West Midlands, specifically in the UKG3 region, with an estimated gross contract value of £168,000. The full procurement exercise is anticipated to commence in early 2026, following the development of a procurement strategy informed by the pre-market engagement.

This tender presents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in software solutions and consultancy services, particularly those that have experience with community engagement platforms. SMEs are notably encouraged to participate, reflecting the contract's suitability criteria. The project seeks to enhance community participation and governance, thus appealing to providers who can offer innovative technical solutions that support research, accessibility, and transparency. Businesses with expertise in creating platforms for resident-led decision-making and community collaboration are well-positioned to leverage this opportunity for growth and development.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

D3 Tenders Premium

Win More Public Sector Contracts

AI-powered tender discovery, pipeline management, and market intelligence — everything you need to grow your public sector business.

Start Free Trial Book a Demo
All Features Pricing

Notice Information

Notice Title

Online Engagement Platform

Notice Description

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is made up of 18 local councils, working together to make the West Midlands the best place to live, work and visit. Our priorities include homes, jobs, transport and growth for everyone. As an organisation, we're focused on making life better for people in the West Midlands. To achieve this, we need to work with communities to understand their lives, explore their aspirations for the future, and collaborate on potential solutions. When individuals have power over their personal circumstances, they can shape the places they live and spend time in. Those who actively participate in shaping their communities will feel a greater sense of belonging. An online engagement platform is a crucial mechanism for enabling us to build stronger, more inclusive, and more effective governance that truly meets the needs of our community. The right platform will allow us to increase research and accessibility, enhance transparency and trust, support resident-led decision-making, and foster community collaboration. We are seeking to gain a greater understanding of suppliers within the market, who would be interested in responding to the upcoming release of the specification of requirements. We plan to use the information gathered in this exercise to inform and help develop our procurement strategy before approaching the market for a full procurement exercise in early 2026.

Planning Information

To participate in this engagement process, please complete the accompanying questionnaire and return via the WMCA Proactis portal no later than 09/01/2026. WMCA may invite you to participate in a face-to-face meeting or Teams call to further discuss your response. If so, you will receive communication via the Proactis Portal. Please note, this is not a formal PQQ or expression of interest in a tender exercise. This Pre-Market Engagement is to be used purely by the WMCA to provide potential delivery partners with more information about WMCA’s plans for an online engagement platform. The WMCA will not be liable for costs incurred by an interested party participating in this exercise.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05f2a0
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081424-2025
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
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

CPV Codes

72200000 - Software programming and consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£140,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Dec 20252 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
26 Jan 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 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
WEST MIDLANDS COMBINED AUTHORITY
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement.team@wmca.org.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
BIRMINGHAM
Postcode
B19 3SD
Post Town
Birmingham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG3 West Midlands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG31 Birmingham
Delivery Location
TLG3 West Midlands
Local Authority
Birmingham
Electoral Ward
Newtown
Westminster Constituency
Birmingham Ladywood

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. 

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-05f2a0-2025-12-10T11:48:31Z",
    "date": "2025-12-10T11:48:31Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-05f2a0",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PGMD-1353-PZVX",
            "name": "West Midlands Combined Authority",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PGMD-1353-PZVX"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "West Midlands Combined Authority",
                "locality": "Birmingham",
                "postalCode": "B19 3SD",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKG31"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "procurement.team@wmca.org.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.wmca.org.uk/",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PGMD-1353-PZVX",
        "name": "West Midlands Combined Authority"
    },
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "To participate in this engagement process, please complete the accompanying questionnaire and return via the WMCA Proactis portal no later than 09/01/2026. WMCA may invite you to participate in a face-to-face meeting or Teams call to further discuss your response. If so, you will receive communication via the Proactis Portal. Please note, this is not a formal PQQ or expression of interest in a tender exercise. This Pre-Market Engagement is to be used purely by the WMCA to provide potential delivery partners with more information about WMCA's plans for an online engagement platform. The WMCA will not be liable for costs incurred by an interested party participating in this exercise.",
                "dueDate": "2026-01-09T23:59:59+00:00",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "081424-2025",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081424-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-12-10T11:48:31Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-05f2a0",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Online Engagement Platform",
        "description": "The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is made up of 18 local councils, working together to make the West Midlands the best place to live, work and visit. Our priorities include homes, jobs, transport and growth for everyone. As an organisation, we're focused on making life better for people in the West Midlands. To achieve this, we need to work with communities to understand their lives, explore their aspirations for the future, and collaborate on potential solutions. When individuals have power over their personal circumstances, they can shape the places they live and spend time in. Those who actively participate in shaping their communities will feel a greater sense of belonging. An online engagement platform is a crucial mechanism for enabling us to build stronger, more inclusive, and more effective governance that truly meets the needs of our community. The right platform will allow us to increase research and accessibility, enhance transparency and trust, support resident-led decision-making, and foster community collaboration. We are seeking to gain a greater understanding of suppliers within the market, who would be interested in responding to the upcoming release of the specification of requirements. We plan to use the information gathered in this exercise to inform and help develop our procurement strategy before approaching the market for a full procurement exercise in early 2026.",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "72200000",
                        "description": "Software programming and consultancy services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKG3",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 168000,
            "amount": 140000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "aboveThreshold": false,
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-04-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2029-03-31T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "status": "planning"
            }
        ],
        "communication": {
            "futureNoticeDate": "2026-01-26T23:59:59+00:00"
        },
        "status": "planning"
    },
    "language": "en"
}