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Cultural Services Delivery and Management of Cultural Assets

South Holland District Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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01 Sep 2026 at 16:37

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

South Holland District Council is procuring cultural services and the management of associated cultural assets across South Holland, as part of the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership’s cultural delivery model. The requirement covers continued operation and management of cultural facilities, cultural programmes and related services for residents, visitors and other stakeholders. It is intended to protect community assets, maintain cultural provision and support a stable, integrated service aligned with existing local infrastructure. The procurement is for services rather than goods or construction works. Delivery covers the South Holland area and sits within a wider partnership involving Boston Borough Council and East Lindsey District Council. The relevant service classification is recreational, cultural and sporting services (CPV 92000000).

The procurement is complete and has been awarded through a direct award to Magna Vitae. There is one lot. The award value is £10,140,000 excluding VAT and £12,168,000 including VAT. The awarded contract period runs from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2040, with signature scheduled by 20 March 2027. The council’s stated rationale is continuity and sustainability of services, integration with existing arrangements, stakeholder continuity and programme deliverability across the partnership. It considers Magna Vitae’s existing cultural services arrangement, geographic track record, resources, sector expertise, infrastructure links and partnerships relevant to the direct award. The procurement was above the applicable threshold and the stated rationale classification is single-supplier technical reasons.

This opportunity demonstrates sustained public demand for an integrated cultural services operator able to manage cultural assets and deliver programmes across a multi-council partnership. A credible future competitor would need an established delivery model in the South and East Lincolnshire area, demonstrable cultural-sector expertise, sufficient resources and the capacity to maintain resilient services over a long operating period. Experience managing community cultural facilities and relationships with local stakeholders would be important, alongside the ability to integrate with existing cultural infrastructure and governance arrangements. The buyer also valued continuity, consistency and programme deliverability rather than fragmented provision. Evidence of successful delivery for councils, strong operational integration and useful relationships with national cultural bodies or international cultural partners would strengthen a supplier’s position when this requirement is next considered.

How relevant is this notice?

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-06efee
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082835-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
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
£10,140,000 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
1 Sep 20262 weeks 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
Pending
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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