Award

ITT - National Blue Plaques: Community Research Partner (North East, Yorkshire and North West) (UID 176)

HISTORIC ENGLAND

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

20 Apr 2026 at 14:23

TenderUpdate

09 Mar 2026 at 13:39

Tender

16 Feb 2026 at 11:43

Summary of the contracting process

Historic England has completed the procurement process for the "National Blue Plaques: Community Research Partner" project, focusing on the Northern regions of England, including North East, Yorkshire, and North West. This procurement, under the 'services' category, involved open competition below the threshold. The tender was presented in two lots, seeking to engage community organisations to research potential candidates for commemoration via the National Blue Plaque Scheme. The contracts commenced on 16th April 2026 and are slated to conclude by 31st December 2026, with the award being made on 15th April 2026. Located in Swindon, Historic England serves as a public authority within the central government, showcasing opportunities for involvement in cultural heritage research projects. The overall contract value is reflected as £47,918.4 gross.

This contract provides significant opportunities for businesses in research consultancy, particularly those specialising in historical, cultural, or community-focused inquiries. Organisations like Creative Lives Charity Limited and People's History Museum, both large suppliers, have already been engaged in these lots. This tender process favoured those with capabilities in delivering high-quality, advantageous tenders with a strong emphasis on research-related services. The emphasis on quality over price suggests that firms specialising in high-standard, thorough research services could stand strong in similar future procurements. Small and medium enterprises, as well as voluntary and community sector enterprises with expertise in cultural heritage and community engagement, are particularly well-suited to compete in this sphere.

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

Notice Title

ITT - National Blue Plaques: Community Research Partner (North East, Yorkshire and North West) (UID 176)

Notice Description

We are looking to recruit two community organisations that will identify and research individuals, groups or events that could be commemorated through the National Blue Plaque Scheme. We are running the procurement in two lots - Lot 1: One organisation will focus research on the North of England (including both North West and North East and Yorkshire Region), Lot 2: An organisation focussing research on the East of England.

Lot Information

Lot 1 - North of England Lot 2 - East of England

An organisation focussing research on the East of England.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0654ae
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035748-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security


CPV Codes

73110000 - Research services

73210000 - Research consultancy services

79315000 - Social research services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£40,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
£40,000 Under £100K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£39,932 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Apr 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
23 Mar 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
14 Apr 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
15 Apr 2026 - 31 Dec 2026 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
HISTORIC ENGLAND
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SWINDON
Postcode
SN2 2EH
Post Town
Swindon
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK71 Swindon
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Swindon
Electoral Ward
Mannington and Western
Westminster Constituency
Swindon South

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
2
Supplier Names

CREATIVE LIVES CHARITY

PEOPLE'S HISTORY MUSEUM

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-0654ae-2026-04-20T15:23:20+01:00",
    "date": "2026-04-20T15:23:20+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-0654ae",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PXLY-5862-RMML",
            "name": "Historic England",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PXLY-5862-RMML"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "The Engine House",
                "locality": "Swindon",
                "postalCode": "SN22EH",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKK14"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "procurement-he@historicengland.org.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://in-tendhost.co.uk/historicengland/aspx/Home",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PCXB-8873-VLMP",
            "name": "Creative Lives Charity Limited",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PCXB-8873-VLMP"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "15 Calton Road",
                "locality": "Edinburgh",
                "postalCode": "EH8 8DL",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKM75"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "lindsey@creative-lives.org",
                "telephone": "02920395395"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "scale": "large",
                "vcse": false
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PRWC-1517-BGYD",
            "name": "People's History Museum",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PRWC-1517-BGYD"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Left Bank",
                "locality": "Manchester",
                "postalCode": "M3 3ER",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKD33"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "melony.pentreath@phm.org.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "scale": "large",
                "vcse": false
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PXLY-5862-RMML",
        "name": "Historic England"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "PREF 541",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "ITT - National Blue Plaques: Community Research Partner (North East, Yorkshire and North West) (UID 176)",
        "description": "We are looking to recruit two community organisations that will identify and research individuals, groups or events that could be commemorated through the National Blue Plaque Scheme. We are running the procurement in two lots - Lot 1: One organisation will focus research on the North of England (including both North West and North East and Yorkshire Region), Lot 2: An organisation focussing research on the East of England.",
        "status": "complete",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "73110000",
                        "description": "Research services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "79315000",
                        "description": "Social research services"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            },
            {
                "id": "2",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "73110000",
                        "description": "Research services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "79315000",
                        "description": "Social research services"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "2"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 48000,
            "amount": 40000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "procurementMethod": "open",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Below threshold - open competition",
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "aboveThreshold": false,
        "submissionMethodDetails": "Please find additional documents and details on our procurement system: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/historicengland/aspx/Home",
        "submissionTerms": {
            "electronicSubmissionPolicy": "allowed"
        },
        "tenderPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-03-23T09:30:00+00:00"
        },
        "enquiryPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-03-09T17:00:00+00:00"
        },
        "otherRequirements": {
            "reservedParticipation": [
                "smeVcse"
            ],
            "reservedParticipationLocation": {
                "gazetteer": {
                    "scheme": "GB-ONS",
                    "identifiers": [
                        "K02000001"
                    ]
                }
            }
        },
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "title": "Lot 1 - North of England",
                "status": "complete",
                "value": {
                    "amountGross": 24000,
                    "amount": 20000,
                    "currency": "GBP"
                },
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true,
                    "vcse": true
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-03-23T00:00:00+00:00",
                    "endDate": "2026-12-31T23:59:59+00:00"
                },
                "awardCriteria": {
                    "description": "For this tender, Award, will be based on MAT - Most Advantageous Tender. Price Weighting: 20% Quality Weighting: 80%"
                }
            },
            {
                "id": "2",
                "title": "Lot 2 - East of England",
                "description": "An organisation focussing research on the East of England.",
                "status": "active",
                "value": {
                    "amountGross": 24000,
                    "amount": 20000,
                    "currency": "GBP"
                },
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true,
                    "vcse": true
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-03-23T00:00:00+00:00",
                    "endDate": "2026-12-31T23:59:59+00:00"
                },
                "awardCriteria": {
                    "description": "For this tender, Award, will be based on MAT - Most Advantageous Tender. Price Weighting: 20% Quality Weighting: 80%"
                }
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "013769-2026",
                "documentType": "tenderNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK4",
                "description": "Tender notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013769-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-02-16T11:43:28Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            },
            {
                "id": "020900-2026",
                "documentType": "tenderNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK4",
                "description": "Tender notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/020900-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-03-09T13:39:18Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ],
        "amendments": [
            {
                "id": "020900-2026",
                "description": "Extension of submission date to 09:30 23/03/2026."
            }
        ]
    },
    "language": "en",
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "status": "active",
            "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-PPON-PCXB-8873-VLMP",
                    "name": "Creative Lives Charity Limited"
                },
                {
                    "id": "GB-PPON-PRWC-1517-BGYD",
                    "name": "People's History Museum"
                }
            ],
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "additionalClassifications": [
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "73110000",
                            "description": "Research services"
                        },
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "73210000",
                            "description": "Research consultancy services"
                        }
                    ],
                    "relatedLot": "1"
                }
            ],
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ]
        }
    ],
    "contracts": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "awardID": "1",
            "title": "ITT - National Blue Plaques: Community Research Partner (North East, Yorkshire and North West) (UID 176)",
            "status": "active",
            "period": {
                "startDate": "2026-04-16T00:00:00+01:00",
                "endDate": "2026-12-31T23:59:59+00:00"
            },
            "value": {
                "amountGross": 47918.4,
                "amount": 39932,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "aboveThreshold": false,
            "dateSigned": "2026-04-15T00:00:00+01:00",
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "035748-2026",
                    "documentType": "contractNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK7",
                    "description": "Contract details notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035748-2026",
                    "datePublished": "2026-04-20T15:23:20+01:00",
                    "format": "text/html"
                }
            ]
        }
    ]
}