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C0185 Scotland Governance and Finance

Big Lottery Fund

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

22 Sep 2026 at 14:02

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The National Lottery Community Fund intends to appoint a delivery partner or partnership to design and deliver governance and financial support for its grant holders in Scotland. The service will help organisations improve governance and financial capability through a structured but flexible programme, combining planned activities with responsive support tailored to organisations at different stages of development. It is intended to support the Fund’s wider missions: healthier and more connected communities, children and young people thriving, and environmentally sustainable communities. The procurement is for services, classified under research consultancy and research services. Delivery will be across Scotland, for organisations holding grants from the Fund. The work is arranged as a single procurement package and is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises.

This procurement is at the planning stage: the Fund has expressed an intention to procure and has not yet invited tenders. It is above the relevant threshold and is expected to proceed through a tender process. The buyer has scheduled pre-market engagement, with activity due by 6 October 2026, to help shape the tender documents and process. A subsequent procurement notice is expected on 27 November 2026; these are the buyer’s indicative dates rather than bid deadlines. The anticipated contract period is 1 April 2027 to 1 March 2030, with a possible extension to 1 March 2032. The estimated value is £1.5 million excluding VAT and £1.8 million including VAT. The procurement comprises one lot and includes renewal.

This will suit organisations with strong experience of governance development and financial support for grant-funded or community organisations in Scotland. Suitable providers are likely to be able to design and manage a programme that combines consistent, planned learning with flexible advice responding to different needs, circumstances and levels of organisational maturity. Useful capability includes assessing governance and financial requirements, delivering tailored interventions, supporting learning and continuous improvement, and working with a varied portfolio of grant holders. The buyer is open to a single delivery partner or a partnership, which may suit a lead organisation working with complementary specialists. Small and medium-sized enterprises, voluntary organisations, community bodies and social enterprises are explicitly identified as suitable. Suppliers should prepare for the planned market engagement before the tender is developed.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

C0185 Scotland Governance and Finance

Notice Description

The National Lottery Community Fund (the "Fund") is seeking to appoint a delivery partner (or partnership) to design and deliver a Governance and Financial support contract for The Fund grant holders in Scotland. Through this investment, the Fund aims to advance its core missions: enabling communities to be healthier and more connected, supporting children and young people to thrive, and promoting environmentally sustainable communities. The contract will promote a culture of learning and continuous improvement across all Fund grant holders in Scotland, offering a structured but flexible programme of support that organisations can engage with at different stages of their journey. It will provide a planned set of activities alongside responsive, tailored support, enabling grant holders to access the level and type of governance and financial support most appropriate to their needs and circumstances. This pre-market engagement will provide details to support the development of the tender documents and process.

Planning Information

https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=109363&TID=100114408&B=

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077793
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/089661-2026
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

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

73110000 - Research services

73210000 - Research consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,500,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
27 Nov 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 1 Mar 2030 2-3 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
Big Lottery Fund
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BIRMINGHAM
Postcode
B15 1TR
Postcode Area
Birmingham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG3 West Midlands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG31 Birmingham
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Birmingham
Electoral Ward
Edgbaston
Westminster Constituency
Birmingham Edgbaston

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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