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VCSE Infrastructure Support Organisation

Peterborough City Council

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

23 Oct 2026 at 11:08

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

24 Jun 2026 at 10:23

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

15 Apr 2026 at 16:38

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Peterborough City Council commissioned a VCSE infrastructure support organisation to provide training, advice and practical support to voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations in Peterborough. The service covers organisational capacity-building and development; governance, safeguarding and quality support; volunteer development and infrastructure; and intelligence, insight and learning to inform prevention and commissioning. The work combines specialist training with business and management consultancy (CPV 80510000 and 79410000). The intended purpose is to strengthen local VCSE organisations and help them contribute to prevention, neighbourhood working and wider system priorities. The buyer is Peterborough City Council, and delivery is in Peterborough.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded to Peterborough Council for Voluntary Service. The award was made on 8 October 2026 for £238,788 excluding VAT (£286,545.60 including VAT). The contract runs from 1 December 2026 to 30 November 2029, with provision for options and possible changes linked to local government reorganisation. This was a below-threshold open competition. Bids were assessed on the most advantageous tender, with quality weighted at 70% and price at 30%; a minimum quality score of 60 out of 100 applied. Bids above £80,000 in any year or £240,000 overall were to be rejected. The single lot was marked suitable for SMEs and VCSEs. One bid was received, from a VCSE supplier.

The award demonstrates demand from Peterborough City Council for an organisation able to support the local VCSE sector across organisational development, governance, safeguarding, quality assurance, volunteering, and evidence and learning for prevention and commissioning. A credible competitor would need to combine practical capacity-building and specialist advice with training, and understand the operating needs of voluntary and community organisations. The evaluation placed greater weight on quality than price, with a minimum quality threshold; suppliers therefore need to show a robust, deliverable service rather than rely on a low-cost offer. The successful supplier was a VCSE organisation, and the requirement was considered suitable for smaller businesses and VCSEs. The contract also anticipates potential adjustment as local authority structures change, so experience adapting services and delivery arrangements to changing local commissioning arrangements would be relevant.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

VCSE Infrastructure Support Organisation

Notice Description

Peterborough City Council intends to procure a high-quality, sustainable Infrastructure support organisation (ISO) to provide training, support and advice to the VCSE sector in Peterborough. The services will focus on the following areas: - VCSE capacity-building and organisational development - Governance, safeguarding, and quality support - Volunteer development and infrastructure - Intelligence, insight, and learning to support prevention and commissioning The contract term is 3 years, commencing 01st December 2026

Lot Information

Lot 1

Options: Local Government Reform (LGR) Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) is the process in which the structure and responsibilities of local authorities are reconfigured. The Government has set out plans to move away from the current two-tier system of district and county councils in England, which is relevant to Cambridgeshire County Council, the five district councils in the county (Cambridge City Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council, Fenland District Council, Huntingdonshire District Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council), and Peterborough City Council as a neighbouring unitary council. Therefore, from 1 April 2028, the current seven councils in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough will be replaced and no longer exist. Rather than dealing with separate county, city and district councils, residents will access all services through a unitary council(s). At this stage, no decisions have been made on how many unitary councils will cover the county and which geographical areas they will cover. Throughout the LGR process, the Authority's focus will remain on delivering essential services across Peterborough. Potential changes may occur during the term of the contract, and although the contract is likely to transfer to any new unitary authorities by statutory instrument or by agreement on LGR, the contract may need to be amended to reflect the new geographical, financial and contract scope. Therefore, to ensure the contract may adapt upon implementation of LGR and modify to reflect the implications of LGR, we state within this procurement documentation of the intention to rely on Section 74(1)(a) and Schedule 8(1) of the Procurement Act 2023 to permit modification of the of the contract (if modification is considered necessary), to reflect new geographical, financial and contract scope accordingly. Please note we cannot precisely confirm any modification, if any, to the geographical, financial and contract scope at this stage, and any proposed modification, if agreed, shall not be implemented until 1 April 2028 at the earliest. Any contract modification shall be in accordance with clause 28 of the contract.

Planning Information

Peterborough City Council is hosting a VCSE Market Engagement Event to support early, transparent engagement with voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations ahead of the future commissioning of VCSE infrastructure support. This event is not a procurement launch and attendance is not a requirement for any future tender. It is intended to: - Share the strategic context for VCSE infrastructure support in Peterborough - Outline the types of services and outcomes the Council is seeking to enable - Test early thinking with the VCSE market - Provide an opportunity for VCSE organisations to ask questions, reflect, and shape thinking before any formal process begins What attendees can expect: Attendees will: - Hear an overview of why VCSE infrastructure support is being reviewed and reviewed, including links to prevention, neighbourhood working and system priorities -Gain clarity on the likely scope of services, including: --VCSE capacity-building and organisational development --Governance, safeguarding, and quality support --Volunteer development and infrastructure --Intelligence, insight, and learning to support prevention and commissioning --Understand the anticipated commissioning principles, including openness, fairness, proportionality, and a learning-led approach Have the opportunity to: - Ask questions in an open forum - Share views on what works well now and what could work better - Highlight risks, opportunities, and practical considerations from a VCSE perspective No organisations will be asked to submit proposals, pricing, or commitments at this event. Event details Date: Tuesday 13 May 2026 Time: 10:00-12:30 (with optional ProContract session to 13:00) Format: In-person Location: Sand Martin House, Bittern Way, Peterborough, PE2 8TY - Ground Floor conference room. Accessibility and inclusion: The Council is committed to ensuring the event is accessible and welcoming: - The venue will be step-free and wheelchair accessible - Accessible toilets will be available - If you have additional access, communication, or dietary requirements, you will be asked to note these when registering so reasonable adjustments can be made. How to register: Please use the following Microsoft Forms link to register your attendance: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=ZLMn4x4EUUyC8skGp4-cyZnO6-LnfslNrMQgh1kHoflUMEdMWkFEREdKQU1PQ1NQVFFWTEpGTUswRi4u&route=shorturl Registration deadline: 12th May 2026 Capacity: Places may be capped to ensure a productive session; early registration is encouraged. Confirmation details, including final timings, room location and travel information, will be sent to registered attendees ahead of the event. Please note, an expression of interest in this event does not equate to a registration for the event, nor is it considered an expression of interest in any future procurement activity.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06837b
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/100338-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award 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

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

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

79410000 - Business and management consultancy services

80510000 - Specialist training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£240,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£240,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
£238,788 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Oct 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
24 Aug 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
15 Jun 2026Expired
Award Date
8 Oct 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
1 Dec 2026 - 30 Nov 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Peterborough City Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
PETERBOROUGH
Postcode
PE2 8TY
Postcode Area
Peterborough
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH4 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH41 Peterborough
Delivery Location
TLH11 Peterborough
Local Authority
Peterborough
Electoral Ward
Fletton and Stanground
Westminster Constituency
North West Cambridgeshire

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

PETERBOROUGH COUNCIL FOR VOLUNTARY SERVICE

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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