Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

SDS - Critical Friend

West of England Combined Authority

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

AwardUpdate

07 Oct 2026 at 13:06

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

07 Oct 2026 at 11:59

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The West of England Combined Authority commissioned a critical-friend service to review and scrutinise work on its Spatial Development Strategy. This is specialist advisory work in urban environmental development planning, intended to provide independent challenge and review as the strategy is developed. The work covers Bristol and the wider West of England area, including the neighbouring areas represented by the delivery locations. The buyer is a regional public authority. The requirement is focused on strategic spatial planning rather than general consultancy: the supplier’s role is to examine the authority’s strategy-related work and provide scrutiny as a critical friend.

The procurement is complete and the contract is active. The Combined Authority used a below-threshold limited competition. Richard Wood Associates Ltd was selected and the contract was signed on 27 August 2026. Its value is £150,000 excluding VAT (£180,000 including VAT). The contract runs from 27 August 2026 to 31 December 2028, with an option to extend for up to 12 months in six-month increments; the maximum stated end date is 31 December 2029. The procurement was arranged as one lot. The published information describes the service and limited competition route but does not set out an evaluation formula or specific eligibility requirements.

For a supplier that did not win, this award shows that the Combined Authority has commissioned dedicated independent scrutiny for its Spatial Development Strategy, rather than relying only on internal review. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need to demonstrate sound understanding of strategic spatial planning and urban environmental development, together with the ability to assess strategy-related work critically and constructively. The critical-friend role calls for clear, balanced challenge and advice that can help a public authority test its work as the strategy progresses. Relevant experience supporting regional planning bodies or comparable public-sector strategy work would be commercially pertinent, although no particular accreditation, staffing level or qualification is stated as a requirement.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

SDS - Critical Friend

Notice Description

Provision for a supplier to act as a Critical Friend to review and scrutinise works relating to the Spatial Development Strategy.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078285
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/094725-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - limited competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

CPV Codes

90712100 - Urban environmental development planning

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£150,000 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
7 Oct 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
27 Aug 2026 - 31 Dec 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
West of England Combined Authority
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS1 6AL
Postcode Area
Bristol
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK51 Bristol, City of
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Bristol, City of
Electoral Ward
Central
Westminster Constituency
Bristol Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Richard Wood Associates

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...