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NCC1819 Business Northumberland Investment Fund (BNIF) - Fund Manager

Northumberland County Council

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Tender

24 Aug 2026 at 10:07

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

30 Jun 2026 at 12:10

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Planning

07 May 2026 at 08:56

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Northumberland County Council is seeking a fund manager to establish and manage the Business Northumberland Investment Fund (BNIF). This is a financial services contract (CPV 66000000) supporting businesses across Northumberland that face gaps in access to finance. The fund will provide debt, equity and hybrid financial instruments to businesses through a place-based investment model. The appointed manager will be responsible for delivering the fund and its investment activity, including developing the portfolio, engaging with the market and supporting investment readiness. Work will be delivered across Northumberland. The opportunity is suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises, and is relevant to fund managers, investment firms and organisations with experience of publicly backed business finance and regional economic development.

The procurement has reached tender: the council invited offers through a multi-stage Competitive Flexible Procedure, using a selective procurement method. Suppliers must register interest and submit the Procurement Specific Questionnaire and subsequent tender responses electronically through the Open eTendering System; postal and email submissions are not accepted. The expression-of-interest deadline was 18 September 2026 at 12:00. The council intends to shortlist between one and six suppliers, with a 70% minimum overall score for the scored participation questions. Shortlisted suppliers proceed through initial tenders, negotiation and dialogue, then final tenders. The contract is scheduled to run from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2032, with one possible five-year extension to 31 March 2037. Its estimated value is £5.5 million excluding VAT, or £6.6 million including VAT. The award decision is due by 15 March 2027. Evaluation is quality-led, covering investment strategy, delivery capability, pipeline development, governance, portfolio performance, risk, economic impact, social value and mobilisation, alongside fees and investee costs.

This opportunity suits an established fund manager or investment organisation able to design, launch and operate a regional investment fund using debt, equity and hybrid finance. Strong bidders will need demonstrable capability in investment strategy and portfolio construction, investment processes and governance, risk, returns and exit planning, portfolio management and performance monitoring. The requirement also favours teams with operational capacity and a local presence, together with experience developing investment pipelines, engaging businesses and improving investment readiness. Suppliers should be able to measure economic impact, deliver social value and develop the wider business finance ecosystem. Relevant experience of SME investment in rural, place-based or publicly backed contexts will be particularly useful, as will credible mobilisation plans, commercial structures, value-for-money proposals and the ability to manage relationships with investee companies.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

NCC1819 Business Northumberland Investment Fund (BNIF) - Fund Manager

Notice Description

Business Northumberland Investment Fund (BNIF) - Fund Manager The Contracting Authority is seeking to appoint a suitably qualified and experienced Fund Manager to establish and manage the Business Northumberland Investment Fund (BNIF). BNIF is a place-based investment fund designed to address identified gaps in access to finance for businesses across Northumberland through the provision of debt, equity and hybrid financial instruments. Further details of the Contracting Authority's requirements under the Contract and other relevant information is contained in the ITT Specification at Schedule 2.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: One extension period of 5 years is available, The Contracting Authority reserves the right to terminate the Contract before the third anniversary of the commencement of the extension period.

Planning Information

Northumberland County Council (NCC) is looking to conduct a procurement exercise to appoint a fund manager to manage the Business Northumberland Investment Fund (BNIF). To inform the development and future delivery of this fund, we are undertaking this Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) exercise which will be in the form of a survey. We wish to gain information from the market regarding a number of areas relating to the potential procurement exercise. Specifically, this engagement is being carried out to better understand: • market capacity and capability. • commercial norms and delivery models. • risks, opportunities and barriers to entry; and • how a future procurement (if progressed) can be designed to be fair, proportionate and accessible. Suppliers are invited to respond to as many questions as they feel able to. Concise, qualitative responses are welcomed, particularly where they reflect experience of delivering SME investment in rural, place‑based or publicly backed contexts. All responses should be provided by completing the survey which can be downloaded via OPEN Portal system https://www.open-uk.org/. Your responses will also be via the OPEN portal.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0692db
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080182-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
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
£5,500,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£5,500,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
24 Aug 2026Today
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
10 Aug 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2032 Over 5 years
Recurrence
2037-04-01

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Northumberland County 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
MORPETH
Postcode
NE61 2EF
Postcode Area
Newcastle upon Tyne
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC42 Northumberland
Delivery Location
TLC2 Northumberland, and Tyne and Wear
Local Authority
Northumberland
Electoral Ward
Morpeth Kirkhill
Westminster Constituency
North Northumberland

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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