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I4C Innovation and Cleantech Centre, Ballymena

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

20 Oct 2026 at 14:47

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council intends to procure construction of the i4C Innovation and Cleantech Centre in Ballymena. The purpose-built facility is intended to support businesses in clean technology, innovation and advanced manufacturing. The proposed development includes offices, collaboration and innovation spaces, light industrial and workshop accommodation, and ancillary facilities. Associated works cover external areas, access, parking, landscaping, utilities and infrastructure. The Council is developing the design and seeking views from experienced contractors and the wider construction market before finalising its procurement strategy and project scope. Whether loose furniture will form part of the construction contract remains under consideration. The delivery location is Ballymena, County Antrim.

This is at the planning stage: the Council is undertaking preliminary market engagement, not inviting tenders. It expects a formal procurement to begin with a preliminary selection questionnaire in January 2027, followed by an invitation to tender in June 2027 and award in December 2027. Contract commencement is anticipated in February 2028, with construction expected to start in May 2028 and completion in December 2029. These are indicative programme dates. The estimated construction contract value is approximately £20 million, including construction and design risk allowances and anticipated construction and tender inflation; it remains subject to design development, cost planning and confirmation of scope. The procurement approach and final tender requirements have yet to be settled. The centre is planned as one lot, considered suitable for SMEs.

The Council is seeking input from contractors with relevant construction experience, and wants to understand market appetite, capacity and likely competition for a project of this scale. It is asking for views on procurement and contracting options, programme durations, buildability, sequencing, delivery risks, supply-chain capacity and lead-in times, inflation, and the information needed to price and manage project risks. Suppliers able to contribute early construction and supply-chain advice may be well placed to inform the developing approach. The Council also wants feedback on sustainability and environmental requirements, including proposed BREEAM objectives, and on social value and opportunities for local supply-chain and SME participation. Responses to the preliminary engagement questionnaire are invited by 16 November 2026 at 5pm; the Council may invite participants to follow-up discussions. No specific accreditations or technical qualifications are set out.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

I4C Innovation and Cleantech Centre, Ballymena

Notice Description

1. Preliminary Market Engagement Mid and East Antrim Borough Council intends to undertake Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) in advance of a proposed procurement exercise for the construction of the i4C Innovation & Cleantech Centre in Ballymena. The purpose of this Preliminary Market Engagement is to engage with suitably experienced contractors and the wider construction market to assist the Council in developing and refining its procurement strategy and approach prior to commencement of the formal procurement process. The Council wishes to understand current market capability, capacity and appetite for a project of this nature and to obtain market feedback on matters which may influence the final procurement and delivery strategy. 2. Project Description The proposed i4C Innovation & Cleantech Centre will provide a purpose-designed innovation and cleantech facility in Ballymena, supporting businesses operating within the clean technology, innovation and advanced manufacturing sectors. The proposed development is anticipated to comprise office, collaboration and innovation spaces together with light industrial/workshop accommodation, ancillary facilities and associated external works, access, parking, landscaping, utilities and infrastructure. The current estimated construction contract value is approximately PS20 million, inclusive of allowances for construction and design risk and anticipated construction and tender inflation. This figure is indicative only and remains subject to ongoing design development, cost planning and confirmation of the proposed procurement scope. The inclusion of loose furniture within the construction contract remains under consideration and will be confirmed as the procurement strategy is developed. The project is currently progressing through design development and statutory approval stages. The The project is currently progressing through design development and statutory approval stages. The final scope and procurement documentation remain subject to development and approval. Through this Preliminary Market Engagement exercise, the Council is seeking feedback from the construction market in relation to matters including, but not necessarily limited to: * current contractor interest and appetite for the project; * market capacity and anticipated competition; * proposed procurement and contracting approach; * appropriate tendering and construction programme durations; * buildability and potential construction sequencing considerations; * key project and delivery risks; * current supply-chain constraints and lead-in periods; * inflation and other relevant market conditions; * opportunities for early contractor or supply-chain input; * sustainability and environmental requirements, including the proposed BREEAM objectives; * social value and opportunities for local supply-chain and SME participation; * information that tenderers would require to appropriately understand, price and manage the project risks; and any other matters which respondents consider could improve the deliverability, value for money or procurement of the project. The Council may use information obtained through this exercise to inform the procurement strategy, tender documentation, programme, risk allocation and other aspects of the proposed procurement Interested contractors are invited to participate in the Preliminary Market Engagement exercise. Participants will be asked to provide feedback through Appendix A - Preliminary Market Engagement Questionnaire. The relevant Preliminary Market Engagement information and questionnaire will be made available through https://e-sourcingni.ukp.app.jaggaer.com/. Interested contractors are invited to review the information provided and submit their completed responses through the portal no later than: * Monday 16th November 2026 at 5pm Indicative Procurement Programme The following dates are indicative only and may be subject to change: * Preliminary Market Engagement Notice published: Tuesday 20th October 2026 * Deadline for PME responses: Monday 16th November 2026 * Formal procurement process anticipated to commence (PSQ): January 2027 * Invitation to Tender (ITT) anticipated: June 2027 * Contract award anticipated: December 2027 * Contract commencement anticipated: February 2028 * Construction commencement anticipated: May 2028 * Contract completion anticipated: December 2029

Planning Information

4.Participation Interested contractors are invited to participate in the Preliminary Market Engagement exercise. Participants will be asked to provide feedback through Appendix A – Preliminary Market Engagement Questionnaire. The relevant Preliminary Market Engagement information and questionnaire will be made available through https://e-sourcingni.ukp.app.jaggaer.com. Responses should be submitted no later than: •Monday 16th November 2026 at 5pm The Council may, where considered beneficial, invite respondents to participate in follow-up discussions or engagement meetings.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078c00
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099074-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Works
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

45000000 - Construction work

71000000 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£20,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
19 Jan 20273 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Feb 2028 - 31 Dec 2029 1-2 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
Mid and East Antrim Borough 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
BALLYMENA
Postcode
BT43 5EJ
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)
TLN0F Mid and East Antrim
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Mid and East Antrim
Electoral Ward
Castle Demesne
Westminster Constituency
North Antrim

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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