Planning

Financial Services Contract for South Downs National Park Authority

SOUTH DOWNS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

28 Apr 2026 at 13:03

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA), a sub-central government public authority located in Midhurst, UK, is currently in the planning stage of a procurement process for a Financial Services Contract. The process is focused on refining the contract specifications for financial services, potentially including the role of a Section 151 Officer either as a separate lot or brought in-house. Interested businesses can participate in the preliminary market engagement, which involves completing a market engagement questionnaire available until 18 May 2026. This engagement aims to gather insights into market capabilities and assess various approaches and risks, assisting SDNPA in formulating a contract strategy ahead of the current contract's expiration on 31 March 2027.

This tender presents an excellent opportunity for service providers within the financial and insurance services sector, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to engage with SDNPA and possibly secure a contract valued at approximately £3.6 million. The planned contract is set for an initial term of three years starting 1 April 2027, with potential extensions up to three additional years. Businesses with capabilities in strategic financial services, particularly those proficient in handling Section 151 Officer responsibilities, stand to benefit from the explorative discussions and could gain a competitive edge in future tendering processes. Participation is integral for companies looking to align their services with public authority requirements and to accommodate bespoke service delivery within the South East England region.

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

Notice Information

Notice Title

Financial Services Contract for South Downs National Park Authority

Notice Description

South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) is conducting a strategic review of its financial services requirements. Our current Financial Services contract ends on 31 March 2027. For the next contract, we are exploring the feasibility of either lotting the contract (Lot 1: Financial Services, Lot 2: Section 151 Officer), or taking the Section 151 Officer role in house, and SDNPA is conducting preliminary market engagement with service providers to understand market capabilities and to understand possible approaches and associated risks, using a market engagement questionnaire. This preliminary market engagement concerns the Contracting Authority's intention to establish a contract or contracts for an estimated three-year initial term, with the option to extend for a maximum of three further years at the Contracting Authority's discretion. The extension(s) may be by a single period or successive periods of twelve months. A background document, outline specification and engagement questionnaire are available by emailing tenders@southdowns.gov.uk.

Planning Information

SDNPA is conducting preliminary market engagement with service providers to understand market capabilities and understand possible approaches and associated risks, using a market engagement questionnaire. This is an open engagement exercise in which any potential providers can participate. A background document, draft outline specification and the questionnaire can be obtained by emailing tenders@southdowns.gov.uk The deadline for completed questionnaires is close of play on Monday 18 May 2026. For the avoidance of doubt, this exercise does not constitute a call for competition to procure any services, suppliers or works for SDNPA and the Authority is not committing to carrying out such a process. Participation or non-particiation in the pre-procurement market engagement process shall not prevent any supplier participating in a potential future procurement, nor is it intended that any information supplied as part of the pre-procurement process shall place any supplier at an advantage in a potential procurement process. Participation in the pre-procurement market engagement procurement process will be at each supplier's own cost. No expense in responding to this process will be reimbursed by the SDNPA.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-068cdd
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038609-2026
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

66 - Financial and insurance services

CPV Codes

66000000 - Financial and insurance services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£3,600,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 Apr 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
18 May 20263 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2027 - 31 Mar 2030 3-4 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
SOUTH DOWNS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
MIDHURST
Postcode
GU29 9DH
Post Town
Guildford
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ27 West Sussex (South West)
Delivery Location
TLJ South East (England)
Local Authority
Chichester
Electoral Ward
Midhurst
Westminster Constituency
Arundel and South Downs

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-068cdd-2026-04-28T14:03:16+01:00",
    "date": "2026-04-28T14:03:16+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-068cdd",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PJDL-9528-MNGZ",
            "name": "South Downs National Park Authority",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PJDL-9528-MNGZ"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "South Downs Centre, North Street",
                "locality": "Midhurst",
                "postalCode": "GU29 9DH",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKJ27"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "tenders@southdowns.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.southdowns.gov.uk",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PJDL-9528-MNGZ",
        "name": "South Downs National Park Authority"
    },
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "SDNPA is conducting preliminary market engagement with service providers to understand market capabilities and understand possible approaches and associated risks, using a market engagement questionnaire. This is an open engagement exercise in which any potential providers can participate. A background document, draft outline specification and the questionnaire can be obtained by emailing tenders@southdowns.gov.uk The deadline for completed questionnaires is close of play on Monday 18 May 2026. For the avoidance of doubt, this exercise does not constitute a call for competition to procure any services, suppliers or works for SDNPA and the Authority is not committing to carrying out such a process. Participation or non-particiation in the pre-procurement market engagement process shall not prevent any supplier participating in a potential future procurement, nor is it intended that any information supplied as part of the pre-procurement process shall place any supplier at an advantage in a potential procurement process. Participation in the pre-procurement market engagement procurement process will be at each supplier's own cost. No expense in responding to this process will be reimbursed by the SDNPA.",
                "dueDate": "2026-05-18T23:59:59+01:00",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "038609-2026",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038609-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-04-28T14:03:16+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-068cdd",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Financial Services Contract for South Downs National Park Authority",
        "description": "South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) is conducting a strategic review of its financial services requirements. Our current Financial Services contract ends on 31 March 2027. For the next contract, we are exploring the feasibility of either lotting the contract (Lot 1: Financial Services, Lot 2: Section 151 Officer), or taking the Section 151 Officer role in house, and SDNPA is conducting preliminary market engagement with service providers to understand market capabilities and to understand possible approaches and associated risks, using a market engagement questionnaire. This preliminary market engagement concerns the Contracting Authority's intention to establish a contract or contracts for an estimated three-year initial term, with the option to extend for a maximum of three further years at the Contracting Authority's discretion. The extension(s) may be by a single period or successive periods of twelve months. A background document, outline specification and engagement questionnaire are available by emailing tenders@southdowns.gov.uk.",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "66000000",
                        "description": "Financial and insurance services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKJ",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 3600000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2027-04-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2030-03-31T23:59:59+01:00",
                    "maxExtentDate": "2033-03-31T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "hasRenewal": true,
                "status": "planning"
            }
        ],
        "status": "planning"
    },
    "language": "en"
}