This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

01 Sep 2026 at 13:32

Award

20 Aug 2026 at 11:29

Tender

25 Jun 2026 at 11:10

Summary of the contracting process

North Northamptonshire Council commissioned an economic impact assessment of the proposed Universal Studios development in Bedford, focusing on its effects on North Northamptonshire. The service is intended to provide robust analysis of economic activity, employment and visitor impacts, with evidence for the Council’s emerging Local Plan and other strategies. The consultant must also recommend how the Council and other stakeholders can maximise opportunities arising from the development and mitigate potential threats. This is an economic research, impact assessment and business consultancy service, including business analysis. The work concerns the relationship between the Bedford development and North Northamptonshire, with delivery in the North Northamptonshire area. The procurement is suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises.

The procurement is complete and was run as a below-threshold open competition. Questions were due by 9 July 2026 at 14:00, and tenders were due by 24 July 2026 at 14:00. The estimated value was £25,000 excluding VAT and £30,000 including VAT. Volterra Partners LLP received two active awards relating to the single lot. Both awards cover the economic impact assessment and business analysis service. Two active contracts were signed: contract 1 on 20 August 2026, valued at £24,810 excluding VAT (£29,772 including VAT), running from 7 August 2026 to 29 January 2027; and contract 2 on 24 August 2026, with the same value, running from 24 August 2026 to 31 March 2027. Requirements and evaluation arrangements were set out in the request for quotation.

This procurement demonstrates demand from North Northamptonshire Council for specialist consultancy assessing the local effects of a major visitor attraction and development outside the area. Businesses well placed for a future requirement would combine economic impact assessment with economic research, business analysis and management consultancy. Relevant capability includes modelling or evidencing employment, visitor and wider economic effects, translating findings into robust evidence for local planning and strategy, and developing practical recommendations with public bodies and other stakeholders. Credible suppliers would need suitably qualified and experienced consultants able to assess both opportunities and threats, communicate findings clearly and support their use in policy decisions. The requirement is accessible to SMEs and suits firms with experience of place-based economic analysis, visitor-economy projects and planning-related evidence.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Economic Impact Assessment of the Universal Studios development on North Northamptonshire

Notice Description

North Northamptonshire Council is seeking to appoint a suitably qualified and experienced consultant to prepare an Economic Impact Assessment of the Universal Studios development in Bedford on North Northamptonshire. The purpose of the study is to robustly assess the attraction's economic, employment, and visitor impacts for North Northamptonshire, to provide evidence suitable for use in the emerging Local Plan and other strategies. It should include recommendations on how the Council, working with other stakeholders, can maximise the opportunities arising from the development and mitigate any threats.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06bcde
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082652-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

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


CPV Codes

72221000 - Business analysis consultancy services

79311400 - Economic research services

79311410 - Economic impact assessment

79400000 - Business and management consultancy and related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£25,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
£25,000 Under £100K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£24,810 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
1 Sep 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
24 Jul 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
North Northamptonshire 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
CORBY
Postcode
NN17 1QG
Postcode Area
Northampton
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF2 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF25 North Northamptonshire
Delivery Location
TLF2 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire

Local Authority
North Northamptonshire
Electoral Ward
Corby West
Westminster Constituency
Corby and East Northamptonshire

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Volterra Partners LLP

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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