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Cultural Services Delivery and Management of Cultural Assets

Boston Borough Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

TenderCancellation

21 Aug 2026 at 10:34

UK12 - Procurement Termination Notice
Award

12 Aug 2026 at 09:43

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Boston Borough Council sought cultural services delivery and management of associated cultural assets across the borough, within the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership model. The requirement covered continuity and sustainability of cultural provision, protection of community assets, and delivery of cultural programmes and services for residents, visitors and other stakeholders. The intended arrangement was an integrated solution aligned with existing cultural infrastructure, partnership objectives and future governance arrangements. The service category is recreational, cultural and sporting services. Delivery related to Boston Borough Council and the wider partnership context involving East Lindsey District Council and South Holland District Council, with the work focused on cultural venues, facilities, programmes and supporting assets.

The procurement reached completion, but the award was cancelled on 20 August 2026. It used a direct award procedure. The cancelled award was to Magna Vitae for £7,605,000 excluding VAT (£9,126,000 including VAT), covering the single lot. The intended contract period was 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2040, with signature scheduled for 21 March 2027. The council’s stated rationale was to expand East Lindsey District Council’s existing cultural-services arrangement, which was described as running until 31 March 2040, to provide continuity, integration and delivery certainty across the partnership. The published rationale also cited strategic risk, existing infrastructure, value for money and limited market interest in the sites and services.

This requirement indicates demand for an organisation able to manage cultural services and community cultural assets as an integrated long-term operation, rather than provide an isolated venue or one-off programme. A credible competitor would need established cultural-sector delivery experience in the South and East Lincolnshire geography, demonstrable operational resources and the ability to maintain service resilience across multiple councils. Existing relationships with local stakeholders, national cultural bodies such as Arts Council England, and relevant international cultural partnerships were identified as strengths of the intended supplier. Capability to integrate with existing cultural infrastructure, preserve stakeholder continuity, deliver programmes reliably and support future governance arrangements would be important when a comparable requirement is considered again.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Cultural Services Delivery and Management of Cultural Assets

Notice Description

Boston Borough Council is seeking to secure the delivery of cultural services and the management of associated cultural assets within the Borough 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 to residents, visitors and stakeholders. The proposed arrangement seeks to provide a stable and integrated delivery solution that aligns 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-06e207
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079787-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency 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
£7,605,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Aug 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
12 Aug 20261 weeks ago
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
Boston 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
BOSTON
Postcode
PE21 8QR
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
Boston
Electoral Ward
Station
Westminster Constituency
Boston and Skegness

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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