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Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority - Corporate Affairs

Cheshire West and Chester Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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19 Aug 2026 at 08:49

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Cheshire West and Chester Council procured flexible public affairs, corporate affairs and stakeholder management services for the Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority. The work covers strategic public affairs advice aligned with organisational priorities and emerging programmes; relationships with UK Government, ministers, parliamentarians, officials and political stakeholders; and engagement with local MPs, council leaders, neighbouring authorities, businesses, universities and regional partners. The supplier is also expected to support IER and local authority engagement sessions, identify opportunities to influence policy and funding decisions, and prepare letters, briefings, submissions, speeches and meeting materials. The service includes political intelligence, horizon scanning, reputation-building, media and thought-leadership support, and coordinated communications across public affairs, policy, media and corporate channels. Delivery is in the North West of England.

The procurement is complete and was awarded through a direct, below-threshold procedure without competition. One lot was completed and awarded to AVISO LTD. The contract was signed and started on 13 August 2026, with a current end date of 31 December 2026 and an optional three-month extension to a maximum end date of 31 March 2027. Its value is £58,500 excluding VAT, or £70,200 including VAT. The contract is active and the supplier has a renewal option. The requirement was evaluated as a services procurement, classified under marketing management consultancy services. No competitive tender was held, so the opportunity records a completed appointment rather than an invitation for further suppliers to submit bids.

This award indicates demand for an external partner able to combine public affairs strategy, political stakeholder management and coordinated corporate communications for a regional public body. Relevant competitors would need credible access and relationship-management capability across central government, ministers, parliamentarians, officials, local government, businesses, universities and regional partners. They would also need to turn political intelligence and horizon scanning into practical advice on policy, funding and major government processes, while producing high-quality briefings, submissions, speeches, letters and meeting preparation. Experience supporting senior public-sector engagement, local authority sessions, reputation management, media relations and thought leadership would strengthen a future proposition. The requirement suits a responsive consultancy able to integrate public affairs, policy, media and corporate communication rather than provide a single communications specialism.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority - Corporate Affairs

Notice Description

The Combined Authority is seeking flexible public affairs/corporate affairs and stakeholder management support to strengthen its profile, improve engagement with government and political stakeholders, and ensure clear, strategic communication of its priorities. The CA requires external support to: * Provide strategic public affairs advice aligned to organisational priorities and emerging programmes. * Build and manage relationships with UK Government, ministers, parliamentarians, officials and other political stakeholders. * Support the IER * LA engagement sessions * Identify opportunities to influence national policy, funding decisions and major government processes. * Produce high quality political and stakeholder communications, including letters, briefings, submissions, speeches and meeting preparation. * Support engagement with local MPs, council leaders, neighbouring authorities, businesses, universities and regional partners. * Strengthen the CA's reputation through proactive media, stakeholder engagement and thought leadership. * Provide political intelligence, horizon scanning and advice on emerging issues. * Ensure coordinated communications across public affairs, policy, media and corporate channels.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e708
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078754-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

79413000 - Marketing management consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£58,500 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
13 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
13 Aug 2026 - 31 Dec 2026 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Cheshire West and Chester 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
ELLESMERE PORT
Postcode
CH65 0BA
Postcode Area
Chester
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
Not specified
Local Authority
Cheshire West and Chester
Electoral Ward
Central & Grange
Westminster Constituency
Ellesmere Port and Bromborough

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

AVISO LTD

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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