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Cultural Services Delivery and Management of Cultural Assets

South Holland District Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

TenderCancellation

01 Sep 2026 at 13:49

UK12 - Procurement Termination Notice
Award

12 Aug 2026 at 09:41

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

South Holland District Council sought cultural services delivery and management of associated cultural assets across South Holland, within the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership cultural delivery model. The requirement covers continuity and sustainability of cultural provision, protection of key community assets, and cultural programmes and services for residents, visitors and stakeholders. It concerns recreational, cultural and sporting services, including the operation of existing cultural infrastructure and integration with wider partnership arrangements. Delivery is within South Holland and the wider South and East Lincolnshire area, covering Boston Borough Council, East Lindsey District Council and South Holland District Council. Magna Vitae was identified as the intended service provider, with the arrangement designed to maintain operational services, stakeholder relationships and programme delivery across the partnership.

The procurement reached award stage through a direct award, but the award and procurement were cancelled on 1 September 2026. Magna Vitae had been selected for the single lot at an awarded value of £7,202,000 excluding VAT, or £8,642,400 including VAT. The proposed contract period was 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2040, with signature scheduled for 20 March 2027. The authority’s stated rationale for direct award was continuity, integration with existing services, stakeholder consistency and programme deliverability, building on Magna Vitae’s existing cultural services arrangement with East Lindsey District Council. The authority also cited strategic risk, established delivery capability and value for money. The procurement was terminated because the contract value was incorrect, so a revised transparency notice was to be published.

This procurement indicates demand for an integrated cultural-services operator able to manage public cultural assets across a multi-council partnership rather than deliver isolated activities. A credible future competitor would need a proven track record in cultural service delivery in the local geography, demonstrable resources and sector expertise, and the ability to keep venues and programmes operating reliably over a long-term arrangement. Strong relationships with local stakeholders and national bodies such as Arts Council England would be relevant, as would established international cultural partnerships where these provide direct local benefit. Suppliers would also need to integrate with existing cultural infrastructure, coordinate consistently across councils, support stable governance arrangements and demonstrate resilience, efficiency and long-term sustainability. Magna Vitae’s SME and voluntary, community or social enterprise status shows that this type of opportunity can suit an organisation with that profile.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Cultural Services Delivery and Management of Cultural Assets

Notice Description

South Holland District Council is seeking to secure the delivery of cultural services and the management of associated cultural assets within the district as part of the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership (SELCP) cultural delivery model. The requirement will ensure the continuity and sustainability of cultural provision, protect key community assets, and support the delivery of cultural programmes and services for residents, visitors and stakeholders across South Holland. The proposed arrangement seeks to provide a stable and integrated delivery solution aligned with wider partnership objectives and existing cultural infrastructure, ensuring continued service resilience and long-term sustainability.

Procurement Information

The Contracting Authority is implementing a revised cultural delivery model to ensure continuity and sustainability of cultural services and assets across the three Councils forming the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership (SELCP) - Boston Borough Council, East Lindsey District Council, and South Holland District Council. The Councils' have identified cultural delivery as a strategic and operational risk, requiring a timely and stable delivery solution to maintain and enhance service provision and protect key community assets. The proposed approach to utilise Magna Vitae ensures that key services and facilities remain operational and aligned with future governance arrangements. Magna Vitae have an existing contract with East Lindsey District Council for the provision of cultural services that expires on the 31st March 2040. Magna Vitae have an established delivery model within this sector and geography. They have been identified as uniquely positioned due to their: * Proven track record of delivery in areas within the geographic area; * Established relationships with key stakeholders (including national bodies such as Arts Council England); and their established international cultural partnerships that will bring unique and direct benefits to the area. * Demonstrable capability, resources and sector expertise; * Existing integration with local cultural infrastructure and partnerships. As part of a recent leisure agency procurement, and separate market engagement exercises a number of cultural venues were initially tested to gauge interest. The outcome of this was that there was minimal interest from the market for these sites and service provision. The Council's intention to make a direct award to Magna Vitae is based on "expanding" the existing arrangement that East Lindsey District Council (a member of the SELCP) have to: * Deliver certainty and consistency; * Easily integrate with existing services; * Ensure stakeholder continuity; * Ensure Programme deliverability. It is considered that by having fragmented delivery models across the three Councils, there would be increased costs and inefficiencies. The authority considers that the proposed direct award represents a proportionate and justified approach, aligned to strategic objectives, delivery requirements, and programme constraints. The decision has been informed by option appraisal, risk assessment, and consideration of value for money, and is considered necessary to secure service authority and long-term sustainability of cultural provision across the Partnership.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e205
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082664-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK12 - Procurement Termination Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

CPV Codes

92000000 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£7,202,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
1 Sep 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 1 Apr 2040 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Cancelled
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
South Holland District 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
SPALDING
Postcode
PE11 2XE
Postcode Area
Peterborough
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF3 Lincolnshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF30 Lincolnshire CC
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
South Holland
Electoral Ward
Spalding St John's
Westminster Constituency
South Holland and The Deepings

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

MAGNA VITAE

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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