Notice Information
Notice Title
Provision of Specialist Planning Advisory Services Supporting Local Plan Development and Examination
Notice Description
Provision of specialist planning advisory services to support the preparation and delivery of the East Lindsey Local Plan 2044. This includes expert advice on national planning policy and legislative changes, support in developing the evidence base, review and drafting of planning policies, and technical input to ensure compliance with statutory requirements. The services will assist the Council in progressing the Local Plan through consultation and examination stages within the mandated timeframe, addressing current capacity constraints and supporting timely, effective plan-making
Procurement Information
o The Council has undertaken multiple attempts through standard procurement routes to secure suitably qualified specialist planning resource to support delivery of the East Lindsey Local Plan 2044. This has included recruitment of both permanent and interim staff; however, these processes have been unsuccessful in securing a sustainable solution. o Recognising the forthcoming requirement to commence plan-making activity in 2026, the Council proactively engaged the market early in the year. Despite these efforts, outcomes have been unsuccessful, with several appointments proving short-lived and resulting in disproportional use of time and budget, with limited progress achieved. o In March 2026, the Government introduced a revised plan-making system requiring local authorities to complete Local Plans within a mandatory 30-month timeframe. This has significantly increased demand for specialist planning skills across England. The market for suitably qualified policy planners is constrained, and competition across authorities is high. Given the Council's limited internal capacity, the urgent need to commence work, and prior market engagement outcomes, it is considered that further open market procurement would be unlikely to deliver a different result and would present a material risk to the Council's ability to meet statutory timelines. o A specialist provider has been identified through professional networks with the capability and capacity to meet the Council's requirements within the required timeframe. The proposal submitted: o Aligns with the Council's approved budget o Reflects rates comparable to, or below, those previously received via recruitment agencies and consultancies o Represents value for money when considering agency fees, overheads, and delivery certainty o An assessment using HMRC's CEST tool has confirmed that the engagement falls outside IR35. The proposed appointment is limited in scope and duration and will be used to support specific elements of the Local Plan 2044 programme. o On balance, it is considered that a direct award via the transparency route is justified on the basis that: o Previous competitive market engagement has failed to secure the required services o There is clear evidence of a constrained and highly competitive market o There is an urgent requirement linked to statutory timescales, with potential for Government intervention (MHCLG) if these are not met o This approach is considered proportionate, transparent, and in line with the Authority's obligation to secure value for money under the Procurement Act 2023. The risks associated with undertaking a further procurement exercise are considered to outweigh the benefits, particularly in terms of delay, delivery failure, and impact on existing staff capacity. The Authority therefore considers that there are no reasonable alternative delivery options available within the required timeframe, based on previous market engagement and current market conditions.
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-06ad6f
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053651-2026
- Current Stage
- Award
- All Stages
- Tender, Award
Procurement Classification
- Notice Type
- UK5 - Transparency Notice
- Procurement Type
- Standard
- Procurement Category
- Services
- Procurement Method
- Direct
- Procurement Method Details
- Direct award
- Tender Suitability
- SME
- Awardee Scale
- SME
Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)
- CPV Divisions
71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services
-
- CPV Codes
71356400 - Technical planning services
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- Not specified
- Lots Value
- Not specified
- Awards Value
- £227,830 £100K-£500K
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 8 Jun 20261 months ago
- Submission Deadline
- Not specified
- Future Notice Date
- Not specified
- Award Date
- 4 Jun 20262 months ago
- Contract Period
- 16 Jun 2026 - 16 Jun 2027 6-12 months
- Recurrence
- Not specified
Notice Status
- Tender Status
- Complete
- Lots Status
- Complete
- Awards Status
- Cancelled
- Contracts Status
- Not Specified
Buyer & Supplier
Contracting Authority (Buyer)
- Main Buyer
- EAST LINDSEY DISTRICT COUNCIL
- Additional Buyers
- Contact Name
- Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
- Contact Email
- Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
- Contact Phone
- Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Buyer Location
- Locality
- HORNCASTLE
- Postcode
- LN9 6PH
- Post Town
- Lincoln
- Country
- England
-
- Major Region (ITL 1)
- TLD North West (England)
- Basic Region (ITL 2)
- TLD3 Greater Manchester
- Small Region (ITL 3)
- TLD34 Greater Manchester South West
- Delivery Location
- Not specified
-
- Local Authority
- Salford
- Electoral Ward
- Ordsall
- Westminster Constituency
- Salford
Further Information
Notice Documents
-
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053651-2026
8th June 2026 - Procurement termination notice on Find a Tender -
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/052779-2026
4th June 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
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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