Planning

The Omega Centre Special Education Needs School Refurbishment - Preliminary Market Engagement

PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

20 Jan 2026 at 12:10

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

22 Dec 2025 at 13:02

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Portsmouth City Council is currently in the planning phase of a public procurement process for the refurbishment and extension of the Omega Centre to establish a school for children with special needs. This project, located in Portsmouth, United Kingdom, falls under the 'works' industry category. The procurement process involves Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) activities, with key deadlines including a clarification deadline on 23rd January 2026 and a questionnaire return deadline on 30th January 2026. The estimated contract value is £7,500,000, with a potential gross amount of £9,000,000. The anticipated start for construction is October 2026, with completion expected by March 2028. The project will be executed under the JCT Standard Building Contract with Contractor’s Design, following a Competitive Flexible Procedure for procurement.

This procurement process presents a significant opportunity for businesses, particularly those in the construction and architectural services sectors, to engage with a large-scale public sector project. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are deemed suitable to participate, and the project aims to create an inclusive school environment for up to 76 young people with autism and learning difficulties. Businesses with expertise in refurbishment, building construction, site preparation, and related services will find this tender particularly relevant. Participation in the PME process, although not mandatory, allows companies to provide valuable insights that could shape future tender documentation. By leveraging this opportunity, businesses can enhance their portfolio and contribute to a socially impactful project within the local community.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

The Omega Centre Special Education Needs School Refurbishment - Preliminary Market Engagement

Notice Description

Portsmouth City Council (The 'Council') are seeking assistance from the market to understand the market's interest, capacity and capability, with a view to developing the procurement strategy and tender documentation to meet needs, objectives, statutory obligations and best value duties for the procurement of a Contractor to refurbish & extend the existing Omega Arts Centre, Portsmouth, to create a school for children & young people with special needs. This proposed project will provide up to 76 places for young people with severe autism & learning difficulties. Estimated value of construction contract is PS7,500,000. Work to commence on site October 2026, with completion March 2028. Proposed Contract Terms is JCT Standard Building Contract with Contractor's Design. The project's scope of works includes; - Refurbishment of the two of the existing historic buildings - Demolition of a modern kiln room - Delivering 3No small extensions & 1No new build block - A comprehensive landscape scheme The buildings will be vacant throughout the contract period, however there is a live school & a public park immediately adjacent which will require access for emergency & refuse vehicles throughout the duration of the works. PROPOSED PROCUREMENT PROCEDURE Following pre market engagement, it is the Council's intention to run the procurement process using the Competitive Flexible Procedure. The Council will issue an initial Conditions of Participation stage for applications via submission of a completed Procurement Selection Questionnaire (PSQ) and associated documentation in accordance with the provisional timetable below. The council anticipates shortlisting the highest scoring 4 - 5 contractors from assessment of the returned PSQ submissions, who will then be invited to tender. Publish Tender Notice 27.02.26 Issue PSQ for shortlisting on Intend 27.02.26 PSQ Return deadline 27.03.26 at 12:00 Notify contractors after PSQ evaluation 17.04.26 ITT published on Intend 15.06.2026 Site visits w/c 29.06.2026 Deadline for clarifications 24.07.2026 at 23:59 Tender return deadline 31.07.2026 at 12:00 Issue assessment summaries 07.09.2026 Publish award notice on fts 07.09.2026 End of standstill period 17.09.2026 Contract Award Confirmation letter 18.09.2026 Contract Execution 19.09 - 01.10.2026 Mobilisation 02.10 - 29.10.2026 Works commence on site (18 Months) 30.10.2026 Completion of works on site 17.03.2028

Planning Information

The Council is running the Preliminary Market Engagement process and activities in line with the summary programme set out below: Publish PME Notice / issue on InTend 22.12.25 PME Clarification deadline 23.01.26 at 23:59 PME questionnaire return deadline 30.01.26 at 12:00 The Council will administrate the preliminary market engagement process using its e-sourcing system In-tend. The In-tend system can be accessed free of charge via the following web link: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/portsmouthcc/aspx/home Suppliers who are not already registered on the In-tend system will need to register their details to access the documentation, raise clarification requests and return the questionnaire submissions. The Council is requesting suppliers to read through the PME Briefing document (Available on Intend), to gain a better understanding of the proposed project and then to provide feedback and confirm express interest by completing the questionnaire and returning it, along with completed Conflict Of Interest Form in Word format via InTend by 30th January 2026 at 12:00 (Noon). Suppliers are encouraged but not obliged to complete the questionnaire. Suppliers that do not take part, will not be precluded from any subsequent related procurement process. Engaging suppliers will not receive preferential treatment in any subsequent tender process, and this is in no way an indication of the selection of any organisation or a guarantee of future work. Suppliers will have the ability to submit the questionnaire past the deadline above. However, if questionnaires are not submitted by this deadline the Council may not be able to use the information provided & subsequently take this into account as part of the options appraisal and PME High level Summary Report produced. For full details of the PME process and documentation suppliers should refer to InTend.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05fb86
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004768-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

44 - Construction structures and materials; auxiliary products to construction (except electric apparatus)

45 - Construction work

50 - Repair and maintenance services

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

44111500 - Insulators and insulating fittings

44112000 - Miscellaneous building structures

44115000 - Building fittings

45100000 - Site preparation work

45210000 - Building construction work

45260000 - Roof works and other special trade construction works

45300000 - Building installation work

45400000 - Building completion work

45500000 - Hire of construction and civil engineering machinery and equipment with operator

50700000 - Repair and maintenance services of building installations

71200000 - Architectural and related services

71420000 - Landscape architectural services

71500000 - Construction-related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£7,500,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Jan 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
27 Feb 20264 days to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
30 Sep 2026 - 17 Mar 2028 1-2 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
PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Procurement Service
Contact Email
procurement@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
Contact Phone
+442392688235

Buyer Location

Locality
PORTSMOUTH
Postcode
PO1 2AL
Post Town
Portsmouth
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ31 Portsmouth
Delivery Location
TLJ31 Portsmouth
Local Authority
Portsmouth
Electoral Ward
Charles Dickens
Westminster Constituency
Portsmouth South

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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