Award

Digital Local Plan (Discovery and Alpha Phases)

THE MAYOR AND COMMONALTY AND CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF LONDON

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Award

06 May 2026 at 13:49

Award

17 Apr 2026 at 14:05

Tender

09 Feb 2026 at 11:29

Planning

04 Feb 2026 at 16:30

Summary of the contracting process

The Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London has completed the procurement process for a project titled "Digital Local Plan (Discovery and Alpha Phases)," which is aligned with the UK Government’s digital planning reforms under the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023. The contract involves defining the technical requirements for creating, managing, and publishing a Digital Local Plan. This project, located in the City of London, falls under the "IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support" industry category. The procurement has progressed through the planning, tendering, and awarding stages, culminating in the signing of the contract on 6th May 2026. The contract period starts on 7th May 2026 and ends on 6th November 2026, with the possibility of a six-month extension through an open procurement method.

This tender presents substantial business growth opportunities, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) specialising in IT services, software development, and digital planning consulting. Companies with experience in the discovery and alpha phases of product development, as well as those familiar with public sector digital reforms, would be well-suited to compete. The project emphasises innovation in project management and delivery, offering a platform for businesses to demonstrate their capabilities in assisting governmental bodies with digital transformation initiatives. The awarded contract to Unboxed Consulting Ltd, a London-based SME, illustrates the City's readiness to collaborate with capable suppliers who can effectively contribute to the digitalisation of planning services.

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

Notice Title

Digital Local Plan (Discovery and Alpha Phases)

Notice Description

The scope of this Contract is to define the technical requirements for creating, managing, and publishing a Digital Local Plan (DLP) that aligns with the UK Government's digital planning reforms under the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023. This includes outlining requirements for ways of working, project management, and the delivery of the Discovery and Alpha phases. The project will be delivered through the Discovery and Alpha phases, in line with the GDS Service Design Manual. The Discovery phase is intended to develop a detailed understanding of the problem space and to inform the technical requirements for the Alpha phase.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: The duration of the contract is 6 months, subject to the right of the City (at its sole discretion) to exercise its right to extend the Contract by up to 6 months The maximum length of the contract is therefore One Year

Planning Information

Informal discussions were undertaken by City of London officers with approximately six companies known to the City for their experience in delivering the Discovery and Alpha stages of product development, as well as their awareness of the UK digital planning landscape. These discussions took place throughout 2024 to explore the technical “art of the possible”, alongside indicative costs, timescales, and the different approaches that could be taken to delivering the work. No further market consultation was considered necessary. The City plans to publish an Open Tender for the Digital Local Plan (Discovery and Alpha phases) contract in early February 2026, currently anticipated to be released on or around 5 February 2026. Suppliers shall register, free of charge, on the e-tendering portal Jaggaer by clicking on the following link to view the opportunity. https://cityoflondon.ukp.app.jaggaer.com/esop/toolkit/registration/displayRegistration.si?isOnModification=true&_ncp=1770222205466.143485-3

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-064765
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041539-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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


CPV Codes

72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

72200000 - Software programming and consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£250,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£250,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
£282,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£282,000 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
6 May 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
6 Mar 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
5 Feb 2026Expired
Award Date
16 Apr 20261 months ago
Contract Period
6 May 2026 - 6 Nov 2026 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active, Pending
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
THE MAYOR AND COMMONALTY AND CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF LONDON
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
CITY OF LONDON
Postcode
EC2P 2EJ
Post Town
Central London
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI43 Haringey and Islington
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Islington
Electoral Ward
Clerkenwell
Westminster Constituency
Islington South and Finsbury

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

UNBOXED CONSULTING

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-064765-2026-05-06T14:49:34+01:00",
    "date": "2026-05-06T14:49:34+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-064765",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PYQD-1693-MYXR",
            "name": "The Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PYQD-1693-MYXR"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "PO Box 270",
                "locality": "City of London",
                "postalCode": "EC2P 2EJ",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKI43"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "CityProc.Operations@cityoflondon.gov.uk",
                "telephone": "020 7606 3030"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-COH-05440833",
            "name": "Unboxed Consulting Ltd",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-COH",
                "id": "05440833"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "60-62 Commercial Street",
                "locality": "London",
                "postalCode": "E16LT",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKI42"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "sales-team@unboxedconsulting.com"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "scale": "sme",
                "vcse": false,
                "publicServiceMissionOrganization": false,
                "shelteredWorkshop": false
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PYQD-1693-MYXR",
        "name": "The Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London"
    },
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "Informal discussions were undertaken by City of London officers with approximately six companies known to the City for their experience in delivering the Discovery and Alpha stages of product development, as well as their awareness of the UK digital planning landscape. These discussions took place throughout 2024 to explore the technical \"art of the possible\", alongside indicative costs, timescales, and the different approaches that could be taken to delivering the work. No further market consultation was considered necessary. The City plans to publish an Open Tender for the Digital Local Plan (Discovery and Alpha phases) contract in early February 2026, currently anticipated to be released on or around 5 February 2026. Suppliers shall register, free of charge, on the e-tendering portal Jaggaer by clicking on the following link to view the opportunity. https://cityoflondon.ukp.app.jaggaer.com/esop/toolkit/registration/displayRegistration.si?isOnModification=true&_ncp=1770222205466.143485-3",
                "dateMet": "2024-12-31T00:00:00+00:00",
                "status": "met"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "010175-2026",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/010175-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-02-04T16:30:17Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-064765",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Digital Local Plan (Discovery and Alpha Phases)",
        "description": "The scope of this Contract is to define the technical requirements for creating, managing, and publishing a Digital Local Plan (DLP) that aligns with the UK Government's digital planning reforms under the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023. This includes outlining requirements for ways of working, project management, and the delivery of the Discovery and Alpha phases. The project will be delivered through the Discovery and Alpha phases, in line with the GDS Service Design Manual. The Discovery phase is intended to develop a detailed understanding of the problem space and to inform the technical requirements for the Alpha phase.",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "72200000",
                        "description": "Software programming and consultancy services"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1",
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UK",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ]
            }
        ],
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true,
                    "vcse": true
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-04-30T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2026-10-31T23:59:59+00:00",
                    "maxExtentDate": "2027-04-30T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "hasRenewal": true,
                "status": "complete",
                "value": {
                    "amountGross": 300000,
                    "amount": 250000,
                    "currency": "GBP"
                },
                "awardCriteria": {
                    "criteria": [
                        {
                            "type": "quality",
                            "name": "Responsible Procurement",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 15,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
                            ]
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "cost",
                            "name": "Commercial",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 35,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
                            ]
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "quality",
                            "name": "Technical",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 50,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
                            ]
                        }
                    ]
                },
                "selectionCriteria": {
                    "criteria": [
                        {
                            "type": "economic",
                            "description": "Bidders whose financial position is unacceptable in terms of stability, capability and capacity will be excluded. Bidders are therefore advised to ensure that copies of their latest audited / approved accounts have been submitted to Companies House (if applicable). Bidders' will be assessed against the following criteria: 1. Minimum Revenue Requirement 2. D&B Overall Business Risk Minimum Revenue Requirement: The revenue requirement is calculated as the annual average revenue of the last two reported financial years, divided by the estimated annual contract value, as set out in the Tender notice. Bidders will be required to have an unrounded result of '2.0' or greater. D&B Overall Business Risk The City will obtain a credit report on D&B Credit using the Company Registration number provided in Q1.3.2 of the 'Potential Supplier Information'. As D&B information is updated regularly the City will run all the reports for this procurement shortly after the receipt of tenders to ensure fairness and transparency. Bidders who are assessed as 'Low', 'Moderate-Low', and 'Moderate' for the Overall Business Risk will pass this part of the Finance Check. Bidders scoring 'Moderate-High' or 'High' will be assessed against the information provided as part of the Qualification Envelope 'Finance Self-Cleansing' response provided. If no response was included in that section, the City may choose to seek a clarification from the Bidder. The City can use its discretion as to whether the Bidder has provided reasonable assurance to the City of its financial viability or if Mitigating Solutions are required. Bidders who do not provide a reasonable assurance may fail this section and the entire tender process."
                        }
                    ]
                },
                "renewal": {
                    "description": "The duration of the contract is 6 months, subject to the right of the City (at its sole discretion) to exercise its right to extend the Contract by up to 6 months The maximum length of the contract is therefore One Year"
                }
            }
        ],
        "communication": {
            "futureNoticeDate": "2026-02-05T23:59:59+00:00"
        },
        "status": "complete",
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 300000,
            "amount": 250000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "procurementMethod": "open",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Open procedure",
        "submissionMethodDetails": "This tendering exercise is being undertaken using the electronic tendering system 'City of London Corporation Sourcing & Contracts Portal' (https://cityoflondon.ukp.app.jaggaer.com/). Suppliers will need to register an interest on the system in order to participate. Registration is free of charge.",
        "submissionTerms": {
            "electronicSubmissionPolicy": "allowed",
            "languages": [
                "en"
            ]
        },
        "tenderPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-03-06T12:00:00+00:00"
        },
        "enquiryPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-02-23T12:00:00+00:00"
        },
        "awardPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-04-13T23:59:59+01:00"
        },
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "conflictOfInterest",
                "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
                "description": "Not published"
            },
            {
                "id": "011303-2026",
                "documentType": "tenderNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK4",
                "description": "Tender notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/011303-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-02-09T11:29:19Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "language": "en",
    "bids": {
        "statistics": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "measure": "bids",
                "value": 10,
                "relatedLot": "1"
            },
            {
                "id": "2",
                "measure": "finalStageBids",
                "value": 9,
                "relatedLot": "1"
            },
            {
                "id": "3",
                "measure": "smeFinalStageBids",
                "value": 7,
                "relatedLot": "1"
            },
            {
                "id": "4",
                "measure": "vcseFinalStageBids",
                "value": 0,
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ]
    },
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "status": "pending",
            "date": "2026-04-17T00:00:00+01:00",
            "value": {
                "amountGross": 282000,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
            "aboveThreshold": true,
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-COH-05440833",
                    "name": "Unboxed Consulting Ltd"
                }
            ],
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "additionalClassifications": [
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "72200000",
                            "description": "Software programming and consultancy services"
                        }
                    ],
                    "relatedLot": "1"
                }
            ],
            "standstillPeriod": {
                "endDate": "2026-04-28T23:59:59+01:00"
            },
            "contractPeriod": {
                "startDate": "2026-05-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                "endDate": "2026-11-30T23:59:59+00:00",
                "maxExtentDate": "2027-04-30T23:59:59+01:00"
            },
            "hasRenewal": true,
            "renewal": {
                "description": "6 months"
            },
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ],
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "035295-2026",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK6",
                    "description": "Contract award notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035295-2026",
                    "datePublished": "2026-04-17T15:05:38+01:00",
                    "format": "text/html"
                }
            ],
            "assessmentSummariesDateSent": "2026-04-17T00:00:00+01:00",
            "milestones": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "type": "futureSignatureDate",
                    "dueDate": "2026-04-30T23:59:59+01:00",
                    "status": "scheduled"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "id": "2",
            "status": "active",
            "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-COH-05440833",
                    "name": "Unboxed Consulting Ltd"
                }
            ],
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "additionalClassifications": [
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "72000000",
                            "description": "IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support"
                        }
                    ],
                    "relatedLot": "1"
                }
            ],
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ]
        }
    ],
    "contracts": [
        {
            "id": "2",
            "awardID": "2",
            "status": "active",
            "period": {
                "startDate": "2026-05-07T00:00:00+01:00",
                "endDate": "2026-11-06T23:59:59+00:00",
                "maxExtentDate": "2027-05-06T23:59:59+01:00"
            },
            "hasRenewal": true,
            "renewal": {
                "description": "up top 6 months extension"
            },
            "value": {
                "amountGross": 282000,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "aboveThreshold": true,
            "dateSigned": "2026-05-06T00:00:00+01:00",
            "agreedMetrics": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "title": "Delivery against Sprint Goals"
                },
                {
                    "id": "2",
                    "title": "Quality of Outputs"
                }
            ],
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "041539-2026",
                    "documentType": "contractNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK7",
                    "description": "Contract details notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041539-2026",
                    "datePublished": "2026-05-06T14:49:34+01:00",
                    "format": "text/html"
                }
            ]
        }
    ]
}