RFQ 2026/42 - Conservation Engineer for St Paul's Church The Crag Cemetery Rostrevor

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council (NMD)

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

16 Oct 2026 at 11:12

Summary of the contracting process

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council seeks a conservation engineer to assess the structure of St Paul’s Church ruins and the surrounding area, then develop a phased, costed conservation strategy covering short-, medium- and long-term work. The church is in Crag Cemetery, within the Rostrevor Conservation Area, and is considered curtilage listed because of its proximity to a Grade B listed memorial. The ruins have deteriorated and become unstable; the graveyard has been closed on health and safety grounds, affecting public access, heritage value and community use. The commission is for engineering assessment and conservation advice, rather than construction work. Delivery is at St Paul’s Church and Crag Cemetery in Rostrevor.

The council invited offers through an open, below-threshold competition. The enquiry deadline was 6 November 2026 at 12:00 UTC and the bid deadline was 13 November 2026 at 12:00 UTC. The planned contract period runs from 23 November 2026 to 22 November 2027. The estimated value is £15,000 excluding VAT (£18,000 including VAT). This is a single-lot procurement. Evaluation is weighted 80% to project-specific questions and 20% to cost. The contract concerns a structural assessment and a phased conservation strategy for the church ruins and environs, in response to the site's deteriorated and unstable condition. The graveyard is currently closed on health and safety grounds.

This requirement is suited to engineering consultancies and independent engineers with conservation expertise, particularly experience assessing historic masonry structures and unstable ruins. The work calls for structural appraisal of a church and its environs, followed by practical recommendations organised into short-, medium- and long-term actions and supported by costings. Suppliers able to connect structural condition, public safety, heritage value and future community use will be well placed to address the project-specific questions, which carry most of the evaluation weighting. The commission is a relatively small, focused advisory assignment, suitable for SMEs as well as larger practices; the council also identifies voluntary, community and social enterprises as suitable. The background includes earlier structural recommendations and a stalled project, so the successful supplier will need to assess the current condition and frame an implementable way forward.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

RFQ 2026/42 - Conservation Engineer for St Paul's Church The Crag Cemetery Rostrevor

Notice Description

Newry, Mourne & Down District Council looking for a Conservation Engineer who shall undertake a structural assessment of St Paul's Church and its environs and prepare a phased, costed conservation strategy addressing short-, medium- and long-term actions. St Paul's Church (ruins) is located within Crag Cemetery in the Rostrevor Conservation Area. The cemetery is accessed via a lane off Mary Street/The Square and is bounded by St Bronagh's GAA Clubrooms to the west, with residential development to the south and east. While the church is neither listed in its own right nor a scheduled monument, it is considered curtilage listed due to its proximity to a Grade B listed memorial (HB16/06/050). The church ruins are in a deteriorated and unstable condition, which has led to the closure of the graveyard on health and safety grounds. This has significant implications for public access, heritage value and community use. A structural appraisal was undertaken in 2019, with further recommendations issued in 2021. Although initial actions were progressed, the project subsequently stalled due to COVID-19 disruption and changes in personnel. The condition of the structure has since worsened, and the site remains closed.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078944
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/097820-2026
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
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services


CPV Codes

71000000 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

71200000 - Architectural and related services

71210000 - Advisory architectural services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£15,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
£15,000 Under £100K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
13 Nov 20263 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
23 Nov 2026 - 22 Nov 2027 6-12 months
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
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council (NMD)
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
NEWRY
Postcode
BT34 2QU
Postcode Area
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN08 Newry, Mourne and Down
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Newry, Mourne and Down
Electoral Ward
Abbey
Westminster Constituency
Newry and Armagh

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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