Notice Information
Notice Title
Managed lettings services for The Sir John Brunner Foundation
Notice Description
The Sir John Brunner Foundation Multi-Academy Trust (Cheshire) is undertaking pre-market engagement in relation to a proposed procurement for the management of community lettings and facilities hire across part of its estate. The initial scope is expected to include Middlewich High School and Sir John Deane's Sixth Form College, with the possibility of future extension to other Trust sites, subject to suitability, value for money and operational requirements. The Trust's wider estate includes The County High School, Leftwich and (from November) primary academies in the Northwich area. The Trust is seeking to understand the market for managed lettings services and to inform the development of its final specification, procurement route and commercial model. The proposed requirement is expected to involve the management, marketing, booking, administration and operational delivery of lettings and community use of school and college facilities outside core educational hours. The Trust's objectives are to: increase utilisation of facilities outside normal school and college hours; improve and expand access for local clubs, voluntary organisations and community groups; support sustainable community use, particularly for local and regular users; ensure safeguarding, site security, supervision and operational control during lettings activity; reduce the administrative and operational burden on academy staff; protect the condition, readiness and availability of facilities for core educational use; increase income through improved utilisation and broader use of facilities, rather than relying solely on price increases; and establish a professional, compliant and scalable lettings model capable of operating across multiple academy sites where appropriate. The facilities potentially within scope include, but are not limited to, indoor sports halls, outdoor pitches, all-weather/3G or astro facilities, playing fields, performance and assembly spaces, classrooms, specialist teaching areas, changing rooms, car parking and ancillary facilities. The final list of facilities will be confirmed following engagement with the market. The Trust is particularly interested in engaging with providers able to deliver one or more of the following models: a fully managed lettings service, including marketing, bookings, customer management, income collection, staffing, supervision, safeguarding, compliance and reporting; a managed bookings and staffing model, including provider-led marketing, customer management and revenue administration, with operational delivery agreed between the provider and the Trust; and/or advice on appropriate commercial structures, including revenue share, guaranteed income, management fee or hybrid models. At this stage, the Trust does not intend to pursue a software-only booking platform as the primary solution, as the requirement includes a need for operational delivery, staffing and site supervision, particularly at Middlewich High School. However, the Trust welcomes feedback on systems and technology used to support managed lettings services. The Trust anticipates that any future contract would require the successful provider to demonstrate robust arrangements for: on-site staffing and supervision; safeguarding, site security and incident escalation; access control, opening, closing and site handover; cleaning, facility reset and reporting of damage or defects; customer service and complaints management; protection and transition of existing community users where possible; pricing strategy and affordability for local community users; financial reporting, reconciliation, VAT information and income remittance; performance reporting and attendance at formal contract review meetings; and orderly exit and transfer of booking/customer data at the end of the arrangement. The Trust is considering a phased implementation approach, with Sir John Deane's Sixth Form College and non-pitch lettings at Middlewich High School potentially commencing first, followed by Middlewich High School pitch or astro lettings at a later stage to allow appropriate transition and notice for existing users. The estimated value of the initial opportunity is currently expected to be in the region of PS420,000 to PS480,000 or more over an initial three-year period, based on estimated gross lettings income across the sites. This estimate is indicative only and will be reviewed as the commercial model, scope and contract structure are developed. The final classification and value of any subsequent procurement will be confirmed before the formal tender stage. The purpose of this pre-market engagement is to: understand supplier capability and capacity in the managed school and college lettings market; test the proposed scope, delivery model and phasing; understand appropriate commercial models and risk allocation; identify key operational, safeguarding, staffing and financial considerations; inform the Trust's final specification and procurement documents; and ensure that any subsequent procurement is proportionate, transparent and capable of delivering best value. Participation in this pre-market engagement will not confer any advantage in any subsequent procurement process. Information shared by the Trust will be made available on a consistent basis where appropriate, and any future competition will be conducted in accordance with the Trust's procurement obligations, including the principles of transparency, equal treatment and non-discrimination. Interested providers are invited to respond to this notice and may be invited to participate in a site visit. Any future procurement opportunity will be advertised separately, and the Trust reserves the right not to proceed to procurement following this engagement.
Planning Information
The Trust intends to undertake a structured pre-market engagement process before finalising the specification and any subsequent procurement documents. Interested suppliers are invited to register their interest in the opportunity and to participate in a site familiarisation and engagement process. The purpose of this stage is to help the Trust understand market capability, potential delivery models, commercial structures, operational constraints and the range of facilities that may be capable of being included in a managed lettings model. The proposed engagement process is as follows: Registration of interest Suppliers wishing to participate in the pre-market engagement process should register their interest by the stated deadline by emailing tenders@sjbf.org.uk. They must include the correct company name and company registration number. The Trust will use the contact details provided to issue any further information, site visit arrangements and engagement meeting invitations. Common information The Trust will provide participating suppliers with the same core information about the project, including the Trust's objectives, the initial sites in scope, the proposed phased approach, key operational considerations and the purpose of the engagement. This information is provided for engagement purposes only and does not constitute a final specification or invitation to tender. Site familiarisation visits during the school holiday period The Trust intends to make arrangements for interested suppliers to visit the relevant sites during the school holiday period. The purpose of the visits is to allow suppliers to familiarise themselves with the facilities, consider potential opportunities for community use and identify operational considerations that may need to be reflected in any future specification. Suppliers will be asked to draw up an indicative schedule of facilities which, in their view, may have potential for managed lettings or community hire. This may include existing lettable spaces, potentially underused spaces and any areas where use may be subject to operational, safeguarding, access, cleaning, staffing or condition-related restrictions. Conduct during site visits Site visits will be for familiarisation and information gathering only. Suppliers must not seek to obtain commercially advantageous information from site staff, ask site staff to comment on supplier proposals, or seek to influence site staff in relation to any future procurement process. Any questions arising from the site visits must be submitted through the tenders mailbox and not directed to site managers or other academy staff. Where a response is relevant to all suppliers, the Trust may share the response with all participating suppliers on an anonymised basis. Site staff may provide factual information about access, facilities, operational constraints and site arrangements where this is necessary to support the visit, but they will not be involved in evaluating suppliers as part of the pre-market engagement process and should not be asked for views on suppliers, commercial models or potential contract award outcomes. Supplier output following site visits Following the site visits, suppliers may be asked to provide a short written response setting out: facilities they consider suitable for managed lettings or community hire; any facilities that may require restrictions, additional controls or further Trust consideration; potential opportunities to maximise community use or holiday utilisation; operational requirements relating to staffing, supervision, access, safeguarding, cleaning, security and handover; and observations on potential delivery or commercial models. Any information provided by suppliers at this stage will be used to inform the Trust's understanding of the market and the development of the final specification. It will not be scored or evaluated as part of any procurement award process. Individual engagement meetings The Trust intends to hold individual engagement meetings with interested suppliers on 3 September 2026. These meetings will be structured and will use a common discussion framework so that suppliers are asked broadly consistent questions, while allowing the Trust to understand different delivery models and supplier-specific approaches. The meetings are for market engagement and information-gathering only. They are not negotiations and do not form part of any evaluation or selection process. Fairness, transparency and equal treatment Participation in the pre-market engagement process will not confer any advantage in any subsequent procurement process. The Trust will take steps to ensure that suppliers are treated fairly and transparently, including: issuing the same core information to participating suppliers; using a structured approach to site visits and engagement meetings; keeping a written record of engagement activity; managing questions through the tenders mailbox sharing relevant general information with all participating suppliers where appropriate; and protecting supplier-specific commercially sensitive information. No commitment to proceed This pre-market engagement does not constitute a call for competition, invitation to tender or commitment by the Trust to award a contract. The Trust reserves the right to amend the scope, timetable, commercial model or procurement route, or not to proceed with a procurement, following completion of the engagement process. The deadline for registering interest is 14th August but the pre market engagement process will continue until 3rd September.
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-06d2f8
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070158-2026
- 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
79993000 - Building and facilities management services
92610000 - Sports facilities operation services
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- £480,000 £100K-£500K
- Lots Value
- Not specified
- Awards Value
- Not specified
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 24 Jul 20261 weeks ago
- Submission Deadline
- Not specified
- Future Notice Date
- 17 Sep 20262 months to go
- Award Date
- Not specified
- Contract Period
- 1 Jan 2027 - 31 Dec 2030 4-5 years
- Recurrence
- Not specified
Notice Status
- Tender Status
- Planning
- Lots Status
- Planning
- Awards Status
- Not Specified
- Contracts Status
- Not Specified
Buyer & Supplier
Contracting Authority (Buyer)
- Main Buyer
- THE SIR JOHN BRUNNER FOUNDATION
- Contact Name
- Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
- Contact Email
- Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
- Contact Phone
- Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Buyer Location
- Locality
- CHESHIRE
- Postcode
- CW9 8AF
- Post Town
- Crewe
- Country
- England
-
- Major Region (ITL 1)
- TLD North West (England)
- Basic Region (ITL 2)
- TLD6 Cheshire
- Small Region (ITL 3)
- TLD63 Cheshire West and Chester
- Delivery Location
- TLD North West (England)
-
- Local Authority
- Cheshire West and Chester
- Electoral Ward
- Northwich Leftwich
- Westminster Constituency
- Mid Cheshire
Further Information
Notice Documents
-
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070158-2026
24th July 2026 - Preliminary market engagement 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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"description": "The Sir John Brunner Foundation Multi-Academy Trust (Cheshire) is undertaking pre-market engagement in relation to a proposed procurement for the management of community lettings and facilities hire across part of its estate. The initial scope is expected to include Middlewich High School and Sir John Deane's Sixth Form College, with the possibility of future extension to other Trust sites, subject to suitability, value for money and operational requirements. The Trust's wider estate includes The County High School, Leftwich and (from November) primary academies in the Northwich area. The Trust is seeking to understand the market for managed lettings services and to inform the development of its final specification, procurement route and commercial model. 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