Planning

Management of Hotel and Guest House Portfolio

DORSET COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

12 Jan 2026 at 08:52

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Dorset Council is in the planning stage of a procurement process for the management of its hotel and guest house portfolio. This process is classified under the 'Real Estate Services' category and will be executed in the United Kingdom, specifically in the UK's region UKK25. The Council is engaging in early market engagement, seeking feedback from relevant organisations in the property and estate management sector. Potential service delivery for this procurement is anticipated to start in the third quarter of 2026/27. The Council has set a deadline of 30th January 2026 for responses to the market engagement questionnaire, with questions due by 23rd January 2026. The procurement will comply with the Procurement Act 2023, and a tender is expected to be formally released in March 2026.

This process presents significant opportunities for businesses experienced in the management of real estate and hospitality services, particularly those capable of providing strategic insights into the management and long-term direction of such portfolios. The total contract value is anticipated to be up to £2.96 million, covering an initial four-year period with potential for extension up to six years via optional 12-month periods. The opportunity is suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises equipped to engage with Dorset Council's e-tendering platform and offer innovative solutions for managing the estate. Engaging in this process could position service providers to secure a long-term governmental partnership, thereby enhancing their market visibility and business growth within the UK public sector.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Management of Hotel and Guest House Portfolio

Notice Description

This Preliminary Market Engagement Notice is not a call for competition. It is being published to give notice to the market of an upcoming procurement anticipated for release in March 2026. Dorset Council is undertaking preliminary market engagement, with the aim of requesting feedback from the property and estate management sector, about aspects of the Council's proposed procurement for the management of the hotel and guest house portfolio. The Market Engagement exercise is intended to allow interested organisations with appropriate experience to outline their views and ideas about the future provision of these services. The operational service delivery elements would commence in Quarter 3 of 2026/27. Dorset Council anticipate that the contract will run for an initial period of 4 years, with 2 x optional 12-month extension periods, giving a total of 6 years. The PS2.96m Total Contract Value includes all possible extensions. Please note these extensions are optional and so this Total Value is not guaranteed. No information provided in response to this questionnaire will be used by the Council in assessing providers during the procurement process, which is scheduled to commence March 2026. Potential bidders are all encouraged to register on the Central Digital Platform, as well as the Council's e-tendering portal, Supplying the South West - please follow this link to this opportunity: https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=15a3797c-aaec-f011813c005056b64545&p=696a9836-1895-e511-8105-000c29c9ba21 GENERAL NOTES Any procurement for the supply and services required by the Council will be carried out strictly in accordance with Procurement Act 2023 and associated regulations. This Preliminary Market Engagement Notice is not a call for competition and is published with the intention of informing the market of an upcoming procurement process. Dorset Council reserves the right not to commence any procurement in respect of this notice. Dorset Council shall not be liable for any losses incurred by any party as a result of reliance on the information contained/linked herein. The information contained in this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice is preliminary in nature and may be subject to further amendment and revision. Accordingly, no representation or warranty, expressed or implied, will be made and no liability is, or will be, accepted by the Council as to the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of this document. Any liability however arising is expressly disclaimed. No expense in responding to this soft market testing will be reimbursed by the Council.

Planning Information

Dorset Council (the Council) is undertaking early market engagement with the aim of providing information to and requesting feedback from the organisations within the property and estate management sector. This engagement relates to the Council’s potential future procurement of services for the management of its portfolio of hotels and guest houses, as well as a review to determine the long term strategic direction of that portfolio. The operational service delivery elements are intended to commence in Summer 2026. The Council wishes to seek feedback from the market in the following areas; • Deliverability of this procurement exercise • Services to be included • The relationship between day-to-day management and the initial strategic study on the future of the portfolio • Contract length • Payment mechanisms • Terms and conditions • Any further comment The process will involve relevant companies and organisations responding to the market engagement questions provided on the Council's e-tendering portal Supplying the South West Portal - https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=15a3797c-aaec-f011-813c-005056b64545&p=696a9836-1895-e511-8105-000c29c9ba21 The soft market testing exercise is intended to allow interested organisations with appropriate experience to express an interest in the opportunity and outline their views and ideas about the future provision of these services. The deadline for responses to the Market Engagement Questionnaire is 12 noon on 30th January 2026. Please note that all responses are to be submitted via the ProContract e-tendering portal. Any clarification questions should be submitted via the Council’s e-tendering portal (ProContract) no later than 12 noon on January 23rd 2026. It is not a requirement that all sections are completed by all respondents. Please be aware that no information submitted will be treated as confidential and may be disclosed to ensure a level playing field for all participants in any procurement process that may follow. Additionally, the council will only sign Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) using its standard terms and conditions if subsequently requested.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06035c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002099-2026
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

70 - Real estate services

CPV Codes

70000000 - Real estate services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,400,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
12 Jan 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
30 Jan 20262 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Aug 2026 - 31 Aug 2030 4-5 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
DORSET COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
dp@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
DORCHESTER
Postcode
DT1 1XJ
Post Town
Dorchester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK6 North Somerset, Somerset and Dorset
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK64 Dorset
Delivery Location
TLK25 Dorset
Local Authority
Dorset
Electoral Ward
Dorchester West
Westminster Constituency
West Dorset

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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