This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

20 Jul 2026 at 09:53

PlanningUpdate

20 Jul 2026 at 09:49

Planning

20 Jul 2026 at 09:42

Summary of the contracting process

The West of England Combined Authority is in the planning stage of a significant procurement process for the Future Places Fund, with a total investment of £500 million targeted at stimulating stalled housing and commercial projects within the region. The procurement focuses on financial consultancy and real estate services and involves an innovative revolving investment model. A market engagement event is planned for 23rd July 2026, aimed at fostering interaction with potential bidders. Interested parties must express interest by 22nd July 2026 to participate. The contract period is expected to begin on 22nd October 2026, with a potential maximum duration of 5 years, subject to renewals.

This tender presents substantial opportunities for businesses in financial consultancy and real estate, particularly those capable of engaging in deal structuring and active portfolio management. Companies that can deliver innovative investment models, collaborate with regional stakeholders, and ensure project completion swiftly are well-positioned to benefit. SMEs are encouraged to participate, and the opportunity prioritises schemes ready for swift delivery, enhancing regional economic growth and sustainability. This contract could catalyse business growth through partnership with institutional investors and a return-focused investment approach.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

UPN-00618 - Future Places Fund

Notice Description

Executive Summary & Background: The Investment Team is advancing the development of the PS500m Future Places Fund (FPF). The fund is evolving its core strategy to operate as a regional impact investment platform specifically targeting stalled, "oven-ready" housing and commercial schemes across the region. Unlike traditional public sector funding architectures, the FPF will move away from grant reliance. Instead, it will deploy a revolving, largely repayable investment model designed to recycle capital over time, alongside a deal-by-deal co-investment strategy with institutional and pension fund partners to maximize regional impact. The draft investment strategy and structure have recently been formally endorsed by the Strategic Place Partnership Board. The Authority is now finalising the necessary governance and delivery architecture to ensure schemes can be brought forward rapidly. Scope of Requirements: Core Responsibilities and Scope of Work The successful Fund Adviser will be required to manage and execute across the following three core pillars (A,B,C) of the fund lifecycle: A. Origination, Structuring & Execution Pipeline, Origination & Market Engagement * Design and implement an approach for continuous pipeline management, market engagement and opportunity sourcing, including helping the Authority maintain a transparent route for eligible schemes to be considered. This will initially prioritise opportunities capable of demonstrating realistic delivery trajectories within the current mayoral term. * Engage with a diverse network of regional stakeholders, including local authorities, public-sector partners, the local property community, and national developers or investors to source "oven-ready" schemes. Transaction Structuring & Investment Modelling * Design bespoke, deal-by-deal investment structures that balance risk and return while prioritizing capital recyclability and delivery. * Structure appropriate pricing, tenors (typically ranging from 3 to 5 years), and clear exit strategies-including complex repayment hierarchies (e.g., senior debt recovery followed by FPF equity capital recovery) and profit-share/upside mechanisms. End-to-End Due Diligence & Transaction Execution The adviser will have primary responsibility for driving transactions through a structured, 4-stage governance and underwriting process: * Investment Overview: Producing concise, one-page investment overviews for initial deal screening. * Stage 1 (Heads of Terms): Negotiating and finalizing commercial Heads of Terms (HoT) with prospective borrowers and recipients. * Stage 2 (Detailed Due Diligence): Undertaking rigorous financial, commercial, and risk due diligence on the sponsor and the scheme. * Closing: Managing the finalization of loan/equity documentation and overseeing financial closing. B. Ongoing Portfolio Management & Asset Monitoring Following financial close, the Fund Adviser will be responsible for the active commercial and operational management of the invested portfolio to safeguard public capital and ensure delivery. Responsibilities include: * Drawdown & Capital Deployment Management: Overseeing the monthly loan/equity drawdown process. This includes reviewing and validating Independent Monitoring Surveyor (IMS) reports, verifying "cost-to-complete" metrics, and ensuring funding is released only against verified development milestones. * Construction & Milestone Tracking: Actively monitoring on-site construction progress against agreed development programs. The adviser must proactively identify project delays, supply chain disruptions, or contractor insolvency risks before they impact fund deployment. * Covenant & Compliance Monitoring: Continuous tracking of borrower compliance with financial and non-financial covenants, including Loan-to-Value (LTV), Loan-to-Cost (LTC), interest cover ratios, and legal obligations. * Asset Restructuring & Workout Support: In the event of project distress or underperformance, leading on variations, extensions, or refinancing negotiations to protect the FPF's capital and ensure project completion. C. Impact, ESG & Output Reporting Embed the fund's core performance metrics into the initial appraisal and long-term monitoring of every transaction. Ensure all approved investments explicitly track and deliver against the fund's primary output metrics, specifically: o Housing Delivery: Total homes built, with a primary focus on maximizing affordable housing across all tenures. o Economic Growth: Jobs created and safeguarded through commercial, industrial, and mixed-use developments, alongside overall GVA growth. o Sustainability & Regeneration: Total acreage of brownfield regeneration achieved and measurable carbon reduction outputs. Total value (capped) * The management fee is capped at PS200,000 per annum excl VAT with a maximum capped value of PS1,000,000 excl VAT for the maximum possible five year term. * This value excludes the transactional and market facing fees. Estimated Contract dates: 3 years + optional 1 year extension + optional 1 year extension. Maximum possible term is 5 years.

Planning Information

Engagement process description The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority intends to host a market engagement event in advance of an upcoming procurement competition for the Future Places Fund procurement. The event will be held online via Microsoft Teams on Thursday 23rd July 2026 from 11:00 - 11:45. In order to register your interest for this event, please register your interest through the Atamis sourcing portal: https://weca-atamis.my.site.com/s/Welcome Once you have registered interest for this opportunity, a link to the Market Engagement Event will be sent to your registered supplier email address. If you do not currently have an Atamis supplier account, you will need to register to be able to access this opportunity. Details can be found below: https://suppliersupport.atamis.co.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/4613254620319-Registering-with-a-Supplier-Portal#h_01JETWJWYHX0AZ3TWTCYWN3PVG The event is expected to be interactive with attendees encouraged to provide feedback and participate in Q&A SUPPLIERS WISHING TO ATTEND MUST EXPRESS THEIR INTEREST VIA ATAMIS NO LATER THAN 17:00 ON WEDNESDAY 22ND JULY 2026 Due to capacity restrictions, attendance is limited to two representatives per organisation.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06ce8c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068118-2026
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
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

66 - Financial and insurance services

70 - Real estate services


CPV Codes

66171000 - Financial consultancy services

70000000 - Real estate services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Jul 20262 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
30 Jul 20261 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
21 Oct 2026 - 21 Oct 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
THE WEST OF ENGLAND COMBINED AUTHORITY
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS1 6AL
Post Town
Bristol
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK51 Bristol, City of
Delivery Location
TLK South West (England)

Local Authority
Bristol, City of
Electoral Ward
Central
Westminster Constituency
Bristol Central

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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Transaction Structuring & Investment Modelling * Design bespoke, deal-by-deal investment structures that balance risk and return while prioritizing capital recyclability and delivery. * Structure appropriate pricing, tenors (typically ranging from 3 to 5 years), and clear exit strategies-including complex repayment hierarchies (e.g., senior debt recovery followed by FPF equity capital recovery) and profit-share/upside mechanisms. 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