Planning

Belfast Stories - Operational assurance review

BELFAST CITY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

22 May 2026 at 11:13

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Belfast City Council has initiated a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) for the "Belfast Stories – Operational Assurance Review." This planning stage, designated to gauge market capability and interest in a significant cultural and visitor destination project in Belfast, is scheduled to progress with a Request for Information (RFI) process concluding by 12th June 2026. The project, supported by the Belfast Region City Deal, aims to bolster Belfast's visitor and creative economies, integrating public spaces, visitor attractions and a creative hub. The council invites market feedback to assess the deliverability of this £50,000 - £60,000 service contract, currently in the planning phase, which will undertake an operational readiness review of the RIBA stage 3 design.

This tender presents significant opportunities for growth for businesses specialising in cultural venue operations, facilities management, business planning, and financial modelling. A multidisciplinary team with competencies in visitor attraction operations and business analysis will be essential to inform the design development at RIBA stage 4 and the Full Business Case. Businesses in building and facilities management services, management-related services, and business analysis consultancy services will find this an ideal opportunity to contribute to a flagship project aimed at enhancing social, cultural, and economic regeneration in Belfast. Engaging with the Belfast Stories Project Team could provide further insights and align emerging findings with ongoing project developments.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Belfast Stories - Operational assurance review

Notice Description

Belfast Stories is a flagship city centre development intended to establish a new anchor destination for Belfast and support the next phase of growth in the city's visitor and creative economy. Supported by investment from the Belfast Region City Deal and Belfast City Council, the project brings together a high-quality public space, a visitor attraction and a creative hub within a single, integrated destination, designed to increase footfall, extend dwell time and support economic, social and cultural regeneration across the Belfast City Region. The main visitor exhibition will be made up of four interconnected galleries communicating the spirit of the city. There will be three screen auditoria and there are plans for an indoor studio to showcase locally produced work and international content, reflecting the importance of the screen industries to Belfast's success - past, present and future. There will be a creative hub with a range of spaces to support an ever-developing programme of activities through which we will gather and share stories - the 'story engine'. It will be a place to meet, learn and collaborate and will provide opportunities for participants from Belfast and beyond to get involved. There will be two cafes / food and drink outlets and a small retail offering celebrating and showcasing local produce. The main public spaces will be a central covered courtyard at ground level and a rooftop garden. Indoor public spaces will also be included at every level in the building. The project funding has been secured, and plans are to open in 2030. For more information go to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/belfaststories Belfast City Council is undertaking Preliminary Market Engagement in advance of a potential future procurement for specialist consultancy support to undertake an operational readiness review. The anticipated commission is intended to use the current RIBA stage 3 design as the principal reference point against which the assumptions underpinning the business case can be reviewed, challenged and refined. This is not intended to be a commission to appoint a future operator, nor to prepare a final operator-led business plan. Rather, the purpose is to undertake an independent review to determine whether the assumptions informing the business case are realistic when tested against the practical realities of operating a destination of this scale and complexity based on the current design. This includes both a review of how the building could be operated when built and if the business is viable based on the assumptions made in the Outline Business Case (OBC) in relation to income and expenditure projections. The Council expects that this commission will require a multidisciplinary team with relevant expertise across cultural and visitor attraction operations, venue and event management, commercial operations, facilities management, business planning and financial modelling. The project is currently at RIBA stage 3. As the design develops, the Council requires assurance that Belfast Stories: - Can be operated effectively in practice - Aligns with the needs of future operator(s) - Reflects realistic operational requirements and constraints - Can be operated as a viable business The proposed commission will bring relevant experts together to: - Review the operability of the RIBA stage 3 design including but not limited to the schedule of accommodation, adjacencies and sizes and equipment specification - Review the proposed visitor journeys / experiences including flows, capacities and dwell times across the site - Test how the building would operate in practice - Review the relevant OBC assumptions in relation to income and expenditure projections including but not restricted to: Income o admissions / ticket sales o pricing assumptions o attendance assumptions o event income o food and beverage income o commercial income Expenditure o staffing o utilities o maintenance o facilities management o technical operations o programming assumptions o renewals The output is an integrated report that covers the points above with recommendations to be taken forward by the Belfast Stories Team and future operator(s). The report will inform both design development at RIBA stage 4, future operator procurement and the Full Business Case. There are several key documents that will be available to the successful contractor team to inform this review including but not limited to: RIBA stage 3 designs, indicative Operator Financial Model including staffing model, People Movement Study, Visitor Experience Demand Analysis. The report is to be completed by end September 2026. At this stage, the Council is seeking preliminary market feedback on the realism, appropriateness and deliverability of this potential commission. The Council would anticipate engagement by the commissioned team with the Belfast Stories Project Team during the commission. This could including review sessions or workshops to test emerging findings and ensure alignment with the evolving design and business case development.

Planning Information

The Council is undertaking this PME to understand whether there is sufficient market capability and interest to deliver a commission focused on testing the operational readiness of this complex, mixed-use cultural and visitor destination at RIBA stage 3. The PME seeks to: - Identify organisations with relevant expertise and operational experience across the Belfast Stories development - Test whether the proposed scope is deliverable and appropriately defined - Understand how best to structure and package the commission - Inform the development of a detailed Terms of Reference - Identify key risks, constraints and critical success factors To register your interest and obtain a Request for Information (RFI) Questionnaire, please email: belfaststories@belfastcity.gov.uk no later than 5pm, 12th June 2026. The PME will initially take the form of a structured questionnaire. We may invite selected respondents to participate in follow-up discussions. If you have any queries, please contact the email address above. Information gathered may be used to inform the scope, procurement strategy, evaluation approach and contract structure for a future opportunity. The Council reserves the right to contact any or all respondents. Participation does not guarantee progression to any future procurement. The Council intends to advertise any future opportunity via eSourcing NI. Organisations are encouraged to register and monitor these platforms. The Council reserves the right to discontinue this PME or any subsequent procurement at any time and is not liable for any costs incurred by participants.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06a0f0
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/047774-2026
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
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

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

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

CPV Codes

71315210 - Building services consultancy services

72221000 - Business analysis consultancy services

79420000 - Management-related services

79993000 - Building and facilities management services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£50,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 May 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
12 Jun 20263 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
20 Jun 2026 - 30 Sep 2026 1-6 months
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
BELFAST 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
BELFAST
Postcode
BT2 8DJ
Post Town
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN06 Belfast
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Belfast
Electoral Ward
Central
Westminster Constituency
Belfast South and Mid Down

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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The anticipated commission is intended to use the current RIBA stage 3 design as the principal reference point against which the assumptions underpinning the business case can be reviewed, challenged and refined. This is not intended to be a commission to appoint a future operator, nor to prepare a final operator-led business plan. Rather, the purpose is to undertake an independent review to determine whether the assumptions informing the business case are realistic when tested against the practical realities of operating a destination of this scale and complexity based on the current design. This includes both a review of how the building could be operated when built and if the business is viable based on the assumptions made in the Outline Business Case (OBC) in relation to income and expenditure projections. 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As the design develops, the Council requires assurance that Belfast Stories: - Can be operated effectively in practice - Aligns with the needs of future operator(s) - Reflects realistic operational requirements and constraints - Can be operated as a viable business The proposed commission will bring relevant experts together to: - Review the operability of the RIBA stage 3 design including but not limited to the schedule of accommodation, adjacencies and sizes and equipment specification - Review the proposed visitor journeys / experiences including flows, capacities and dwell times across the site - Test how the building would operate in practice - Review the relevant OBC assumptions in relation to income and expenditure projections including but not restricted to: Income o admissions / ticket sales o pricing assumptions o attendance assumptions o event income o food and beverage income o commercial income Expenditure o staffing o utilities o maintenance o facilities management o technical operations o programming assumptions o renewals The output is an integrated report that covers the points above with recommendations to be taken forward by the Belfast Stories Team and future operator(s). 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