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Assessment of the Implications and Resource Requirements of Emerging UNESCO World Heritage Site Bids in Armagh, Northern Ireland

Armagh City Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

30 Sep 2026 at 14:46

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Tender

26 Jun 2026 at 16:40

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council commissioned consultancy to assess the implications and resource requirements of two emerging UNESCO World Heritage Site nominations involving sites in or near Armagh City. The work concerns the Royal Sites of Ireland nomination, including Navan Fort, and the Historical Astronomical Observatories of Ireland nomination, including Armagh Observatory and Planetarium. Both are transnational serial nominations, with other sites in counties across Ireland. The assessment relates to the pathway towards World Heritage inscription and its preparation, evaluation and decision stages. This is specialist research and advisory work combining heritage, tourism and public-sector administration expertise, for a council-led requirement focused on Armagh and the wider nomination groups.

The procurement is complete: the council selected Chris Blandford Associates Limited, trading as CBA, and signed the contract on 3 August 2026. The award is active. The signed contract is valued at £35,670 gross, and runs from 10 August to 31 December 2026. The original estimated value was £36,000 gross. The council used an open competition below the applicable threshold. It was a single-lot service procurement, with the lot marked complete. Evaluation gave quality a 70% weighting and price 30%, using the most advantageous tender basis. The tender submission deadline was 17 July 2026, and the deadline for enquiries was 10 July 2026.

For a future requirement of this kind, a credible supplier would need to assess the practical implications and resource needs of progressing complex, multi-site heritage nominations towards UNESCO World Heritage status. Relevant strengths would include research and consultancy capability, understanding of heritage and tourism administration, and the ability to work across sites and organisations spanning jurisdictions. The winning supplier was an SME, and the procurement marked the work as suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises, indicating that smaller specialist consultancies could compete. Quality carried substantially more weight than price, so a strong approach to evidence, analysis and clear recommendations would be important alongside a competitive cost. The buyer is Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council, and the requirement centres on Armagh’s role in the two Irish nomination groups.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Assessment of the Implications and Resource Requirements of Emerging UNESCO World Heritage Site Bids in Armagh, Northern Ireland

Notice Description

The Royal Sites of Ireland and the Historical Astronomical Observatories of Ireland incorporating Navan Fort and Armagh Observatory and Planetarium respectively, form part of two transnational, serial nominations for UNESCO World Heritage Status. Both components are located in or near Armagh City, Northern Ireland. The remaining five components of the Royal Sites series are located in Counties Meath, Westmeath, Roscommon, Kildare and Tipperary. The remaining two components of the Historical Astronomical Observatories are located at Dunsink, Fingal (North County Dublin) and in Birr, County Offaly. Both nomination groups have been included on the most recent Tentative List for Ireland. The pathway to World Heritage inscription consists of four stages: 1. Review and Preparation of the Tentative List 2. Preparation of the Preliminary Assessment and Nomination Dossier 3. Evaluation 4. Decision by the World Heritage

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06be9a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/092442-2026
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, VCSE
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

75 - Administration, defence and social security services

CPV Codes

73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

75100000 - Administration services

75125000 - Administrative services related to tourism affairs

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£36,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
£36,000 Under £100K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£35,670 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Sep 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
17 Jul 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
10 Aug 2026 - 31 Dec 2026 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Armagh City Banbridge and Craigavon Borough 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
CRAIGAVON
Postcode
BT64 1AL
Postcode Area
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN07 Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon
Electoral Ward
Craigavon Centre
Westminster Constituency
Upper Bann

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Chris Blandford Associates

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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