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Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Infrastructure Contract Soft Market Test

Cornwall Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

04 Aug 2026 at 14:11

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Cornwall Council is exploring a Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) infrastructure service for Cornwall. The proposed service falls within community, social and personal services, with a general management consultancy element (CPV 98000000 and 79411000). It is intended to support the VCSE sector through an infrastructure contract, although the detailed service requirements are to be developed through the council’s market engagement and subsequent business-case process. The work would be delivered in Cornwall for Cornwall Council. This is a service opportunity for organisations with a strong understanding of voluntary, community and social enterprise infrastructure and the ability to support organisations across the area. The council is seeking to understand the market’s potential interest, capability and relevant experience before deciding how to proceed.

The procurement is at the planning stage and is currently a soft market test, rather than a formal tender or invitation to submit a bid. Cornwall Council expects to use market responses to assess capability and experience, develop a business case and decide whether to proceed. The proposed single contract is intended to run from 2 October 2026 to 1 October 2029. Its estimated value is £400,000 excluding VAT, or £480,000 including VAT. The council has scheduled market engagement through a questionnaire, with responses expected by 12 August 2026. A future notice is anticipated by 24 September 2026. The planned service is above the relevant procurement threshold. The proposed contract is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises.

This early-stage exercise will suit VCSE infrastructure providers, social enterprises, charities, community organisations and specialist management consultancies with relevant sector knowledge. The strongest respondents are likely to have demonstrable experience of supporting voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations, building sector capacity, coordinating networks or delivering infrastructure services across a defined geographic area. Organisations should be prepared to explain their capability, previous experience and approach to the requirements set out in the market-test questionnaire. The council has indicated that responses will inform its understanding of the market and the development of any future service model, so suppliers with practical insight into the needs of Cornwall’s VCSE sector may be well placed to contribute. SMEs and VCSE organisations are explicitly considered suitable for the proposed contract, including potential partnerships or collaborative delivery models.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Infrastructure Contract Soft Market Test

Notice Description

Cornwall Council is conducting a Soft Market Test (SMT) to gain an understanding of the potential level of interest for the delivery of a Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Infrastructure contract to run between Autumn 2026 - Autumn 2029. It is intended that the responses supplied will enable the Council to assess the capability and experience of the organisation to deliver the requirements outlined in the questionnaire. Any such proposal would be subject to the development and approval of a business case, and, as such, this exercise implies no commercial commitment. This is not a formal tender document. Further information can be found at supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk

Planning Information

Details of the soft market test questionnaire can be found at supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06db51
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/073726-2026
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

98 - Other community, social and personal services

CPV Codes

79411000 - General management consultancy services

98000000 - Other community, social and personal services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£400,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
4 Aug 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
24 Sep 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
2 Oct 2026 - 1 Oct 2029 3-4 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
Cornwall 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
TRURO
Postcode
TR1 3AY
Postcode Area
Truro
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK3 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK30 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Delivery Location
TLK3 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Local Authority
Cornwall
Electoral Ward
Truro Boscawen & Redannick
Westminster Constituency
Truro and Falmouth

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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