Planning

Strategic Framework for development and implementation of the SIGN programme

NORFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

15 Jan 2026 at 08:49

Summary of the contracting process

Norfolk County Council is initiating a public procurement process with the title "Strategic Framework for development and implementation of the SIGN programme," classified under services in the community, community action programmes, and other community, social, and personal services. The process is currently in the planning stage, following informal market engagement at the GOLab Social Outcomes Conference 2025. Key dates include an engagement deadline on 29th January 2026, and the start of the contract period on 1st May 2026, ending on 30th April 2030. The location for this procurement encompasses the UKH15, UKH16, and UKH17 regions of the United Kingdom. This strategic framework is designed to foster partnerships to address complex social challenges through investment projects aligned with national and local growth objectives.

This tender offers significant opportunities for businesses aiming to engage in long-term strategic partnerships focused on social investment and public service transformation. It is particularly suited for investors in outcome-based partnerships and those involved in asset-backed investments. Additionally, it's an attractive proposition for voluntary, community, social enterprises, consortia, and funders from both philanthropic and corporate sectors interested in social impact initiatives. Businesses stand to benefit from engaging with stakeholders and local commissioners to co-develop innovative solutions for longstanding community issues, thereby contributing to growth and productivity while addressing poverty and exclusion across Norfolk.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Strategic Framework for development and implementation of the SIGN programme

Notice Description

Norfolk County Council (NCC) has demonstrated national leadership in social investment through its successful implementation of Social Outcomes Partnerships (SOPs). Building on this foundation, the SIGN programme seeks to attract further investment to address complex social challenges. This strategic framework seeks to support long-term partnerships between funders, investors, outcome payers and Norfolk delivery partners in developing and implementing a wide range of investment projects aligned to UK government policy, NCC strategic objectives and the Norfolk Local Growth Plan. NCC are keen to see partnerships that deliver higher impact for beneficiaries, delivery partners and NCC commissioners. The Strategic Framework is intended to be inclusive and encourage investment organisations to engage with the development of the SIGN programme and initiate investment into sustainable and replicable projects and programmes of work. This will likely include but not be limited to: * Investors into outcome-based partnerships * Asset backed and property-backed investments with an emphasis on the development of new operating models and revenue funded services from those assets * Investment support to voluntary, community, social enterprise and social purpose organisations and consortia supporting public service transformation * Investors and grant providers from the philanthropic and corporate sectors seeking to provide grant, repayable grant and low yield flexible debt to support growth and productivity and tackle poverty and exclusion across Norfolk. The intention is to develop a new form of engagement via the framework between social investment organisations and other funders interested in social impact to work with provider(s) and local commissioners to co-design and co-develop new solutions to challenging local issues. This will be an emergent and evolving piece of work requiring a partner/s to work across a range of stakeholders and investors on investment propositions .

Planning Information

Informal market engagement has already taken place with interested parties at the GOLab Social Outcomes Conference 2025, discussing the aims and objectives of the framework agreement and its scope. Further opportunity to discuss the framework agreement and its aims is available through contacting the commissioner, Graham Phillips. Initial contact can be made by emailing graham.phillips@norfolk.gov.uk.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-060635
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003307-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

75 - Administration, defence and social security services

85 - Health and social work services

98 - Other community, social and personal services


CPV Codes

75200000 - Provision of services to the community

85322000 - Community action programme

98000000 - Other community, social and personal services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
15 Jan 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
2 Feb 20262 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
30 Apr 2026 - 30 Apr 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
NORFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
sourcingteam@norfolk.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
NORWICH
Postcode
NR1 2DH
Post Town
Norwich
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH5 Norfolk
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH51 Norwich and East Norfolk
Delivery Location
TLH15 Norwich and East Norfolk, TLH16 North and West Norfolk, TLH17 Breckland and South Norfolk

Local Authority
Norwich
Electoral Ward
Lakenham
Westminster Constituency
Norwich 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.

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-060635-2026-01-15T08:49:11Z",
    "date": "2026-01-15T08:49:11Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-060635",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PDYH-3246-XWTR",
            "name": "Norfolk County Council",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PDYH-3246-XWTR"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "County Hall, Martineau Lane",
                "locality": "Norwich",
                "postalCode": "NR1 2DH",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKH15"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "sourcingteam@norfolk.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PDYH-3246-XWTR",
        "name": "Norfolk County Council"
    },
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "Informal market engagement has already taken place with interested parties at the GOLab Social Outcomes Conference 2025, discussing the aims and objectives of the framework agreement and its scope. Further opportunity to discuss the framework agreement and its aims is available through contacting the commissioner, Graham Phillips. Initial contact can be made by emailing graham.phillips@norfolk.gov.uk.",
                "dueDate": "2026-01-29T23:59:59Z",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "003307-2026",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003307-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-01-15T08:49:11Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "NCCT43288",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Strategic Framework for development and implementation of the SIGN programme",
        "description": "Norfolk County Council (NCC) has demonstrated national leadership in social investment through its successful implementation of Social Outcomes Partnerships (SOPs). Building on this foundation, the SIGN programme seeks to attract further investment to address complex social challenges. This strategic framework seeks to support long-term partnerships between funders, investors, outcome payers and Norfolk delivery partners in developing and implementing a wide range of investment projects aligned to UK government policy, NCC strategic objectives and the Norfolk Local Growth Plan. NCC are keen to see partnerships that deliver higher impact for beneficiaries, delivery partners and NCC commissioners. The Strategic Framework is intended to be inclusive and encourage investment organisations to engage with the development of the SIGN programme and initiate investment into sustainable and replicable projects and programmes of work. This will likely include but not be limited to: * Investors into outcome-based partnerships * Asset backed and property-backed investments with an emphasis on the development of new operating models and revenue funded services from those assets * Investment support to voluntary, community, social enterprise and social purpose organisations and consortia supporting public service transformation * Investors and grant providers from the philanthropic and corporate sectors seeking to provide grant, repayable grant and low yield flexible debt to support growth and productivity and tackle poverty and exclusion across Norfolk. The intention is to develop a new form of engagement via the framework between social investment organisations and other funders interested in social impact to work with provider(s) and local commissioners to co-design and co-develop new solutions to challenging local issues. This will be an emergent and evolving piece of work requiring a partner/s to work across a range of stakeholders and investors on investment propositions .",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "75200000",
                        "description": "Provision of services to the community"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "85322000",
                        "description": "Community action programme"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "98000000",
                        "description": "Other community, social and personal services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKH15",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKH16",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKH17",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "specialRegime": [
            "lightTouch"
        ],
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "techniques": {
            "hasFrameworkAgreement": true
        },
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-05-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2030-04-30T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "status": "planning"
            }
        ],
        "communication": {
            "futureNoticeDate": "2026-02-02T23:59:59Z"
        },
        "status": "planning"
    },
    "language": "en"
}