Tender

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Food Festival Curator

Durham County Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

25 Sep 2026 at 10:31

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Durham County Council is seeking a supplier to curate and deliver the 2027 Bishop Auckland and Seaham Food Festivals. Working with the Council’s festival team and partners, the service covers festival planning and programming, trader and exhibitor recruitment, performer and activity bookings, marketing support, commercial development, sponsorship opportunities and on-site event delivery. The supplier will develop programmes against agreed objectives and budgets, including year-round activity; recruit and manage participants; support income generation; contribute to a refreshed festival brand linked to Visit County Durham; engage stakeholders and community organisations; and help run the events. Reporting, budget monitoring and post-event evaluation are also required. The work is delivered in County Durham, at Bishop Auckland and Seaham. This is a festival organisation and event services contract.

The buyer invited offers through an open procedure. The deadline for questions was 21 October 2026 at 12:00, and bids were due by 23 October 2026 at 10:00. The stated award decision date was 29 October 2026. The contract is scheduled to run from 2 November 2026 to 27 September 2028, with an option to extend for two further 12-month periods, up to 27 September 2030. The estimated value is £80,000 excluding VAT (£88,000 including VAT). There is one lot. Evaluation gives technical quality 60%, price 30% and social value 10%.

The opportunity suits small and medium-sized businesses and voluntary, community or social enterprises. It is best suited to a festival or events supplier able to plan and deliver multiple food festivals in partnership with a local authority and other organisations. Relevant strengths include building varied programmes, recruiting and coordinating traders, exhibitors and performers, booking activities, and managing on-site event operations. Suppliers should also be capable of supporting marketing and brand development, engaging community and other stakeholders, identifying sponsorship and income opportunities, and monitoring budgets. The requirement calls for a joined-up service that spans planning, delivery and evaluation, including year-round activity and progress reporting. Social value forms part of the assessment alongside technical quality and price.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Food Festival Curator

Notice Description

Durham County Council seeks to appoint a supplier to provide curator services for the Bishop Auckland and Seaham Food Festivals 2027. Working with the Council's festival team and partners, the provider will support the planning, development and delivery of both festivals. Services will include festival programming, trader and exhibitor recruitment, performer and activity bookings, marketing support, commercial development, sponsorship opportunities and onsite event delivery. The supplier will assist in developing programmes aligned to agreed objectives and budgets, including year-round activity; recruit and manage traders, exhibitors and performers; support sponsorship and income generation; contribute to marketing, including development of a refreshed festival brand linked to Visit County Durham; engage with stakeholders and community organisations; support event operations; and provide progress reports, budget monitoring and post-event evaluation.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: The proposed contract is to be let with an option to extend for a further 2 periods of 12 months from the actual end date.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077a38
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/090861-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

79952000 - Event services

79953000 - Festival organisation services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£80,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
£80,000 Under £100K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
25 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
23 Oct 20263 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
2 Nov 2026 - 27 Sep 2028 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Durham County 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
DURHAM
Postcode
DH1 5WB
Postcode Area
Durham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC41 Durham
Delivery Location
TLC14 Durham
Local Authority
County Durham
Electoral Ward
Framwellgate & Newton Hall
Westminster Constituency
City of Durham

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

Loading OCDS record...