This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

25 Jun 2026 at 06:28

Summary of the contracting process

Sunderland City Council is currently in the planning stage of a public procurement process titled "Sunderland Technology Incubator Programme." The initiative aims to establish a start-up incubator programme in Sunderland, designed to support early-stage technology businesses and bridge the gap between idea and investment readiness. This programme is set to be located at Culture House in Sunderland (UKC23 region) and falls under the services category, specifically business and management consultancy and related services. The procurement process includes a preliminary market engagement phase, with a deadline of 3rd July 2026. The total value of the contract is estimated to be £450,000, with a contract period commencing on 21st September 2026 and concluding on 20th September 2029.

For businesses, particularly SMEs and VCSEs, this tender presents a valuable opportunity to participate in a project focused on nurturing technology start-ups. Companies with expertise in business consultancy, project management, and start-up support services would be ideally suited to compete for this contract. Given the structured, high-intensity cohort model envisaged by Sunderland City Council, firms with a track record in delivering scalable support programmes could greatly benefit. This initiative not only promises commercial engagement but also aligns with efforts to foster high-value job creation and regional talent retention, boosting the tech ecosystem in Sunderland.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Sunderland Technology Incubator Programme

Notice Description

Sunderland City Council is seeking to commission a co-located start-up incubator programme in Sunderland to support early-stage technology businesses, bridging the gap between idea and investment readiness through a structured, high-intensity cohort model based at Culture House. The programme will create a strong pipeline of scalable ventures, combining public and private support to boost investment, retain talent, generate high-value jobs, and strengthen Sunderland's reputation as a leading location for tech start-ups.

Planning Information

There is a preliminary market engagement questionnaire available on the Councils online tendering platform, the Open system. You will need to create an account on Open in order to access and bid for public sector opportunities issued by Sunderland City Council. Visit www.open-uk.org to register an account (Registration is free and easy. Simply head over to www.open-uk.org and complete the online registration form). Top tips to help you get started: Keep an eye out for the temporary password to confirm your account - this is only valid for 3 days so if you have not logged in during this period, you will need to contact open.support@nepo.org to request a new temporary password Adding your Companies House number will populate fields and make it easier to register Once registered, select Codes & Categories relevant to your area of business Add notifications@open-uk.org to your safe sender list to ensure you don't miss out on notifications of relevant opportunities The Open Hub is packed with resources and information to help you get the most out of Open. We have answered your questions in our FAQ section and developed a range of how-to guides so you can familiarise yourself with the system at your own pace. Visit www.open-hub.org to find out more Suppliers must also ahead of the publication of the tender, register on the Central Digital Platform (CDP) and ensure their information is up-to-date on the system . The CDP is available at https://www.gov.uk/find-tender. This market engagement will allow the Council to understand the appetite in the market and prepare the market and to advise them to register with the appropriate sies to ensure that have access to all documentation and can submit compliant tenders.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06bca4
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/059639-2026
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, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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


CPV Codes

79400000 - Business and management consultancy and related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£450,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
25 Jun 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
3 Jul 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
20 Sep 2026 - 20 Sep 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SUNDERLAND 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
SUNDERLAND
Postcode
SR1 3AA
Post Town
Sunderland
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC44 Sunderland
Delivery Location
TLC23 Sunderland

Local Authority
Sunderland
Electoral Ward
Millfield
Westminster Constituency
Sunderland Central

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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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