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BRCD Contracts for Innovation Challenge 1

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council (NMD)

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

27 Oct 2026 at 15:11

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Newry Mourne & Down District Council plans a Contracts for Innovation challenge to develop a way for local authorities to predict and manage visitor demand and movement at tourism destinations. Castlewellan Forest Park will be the real-world test environment. The work is intended to help councils understand what drives changes in visitor numbers and respond before pressure affects local roads, parking, waste services, biodiversity or infrastructure. The aim is to replace fragmented, reactive management based on static measures with connected, evidence-led predictive decision-making. The procurement covers a solution involving technology and research and development, including networks, sensors, software and IT services. Delivery is across six areas in Northern Ireland, including the council district; Castlewellan Forest Park is the named test site.

This is at the planning stage: the council has set out its intention to procure, but has not yet invited tenders. The competition is expected to be published on 9 November 2026. The planned route is a multi-stage competitive flexible procedure, with an invitation to tender followed by development and build phases; dialogue or negotiation may be added. The council provisionally intends to hold an online information session on 18 November 2026 at 11am, lasting about 45 minutes, subject to approval. The planned submission deadline is 11 December 2026, with award expected by 18 December 2026. The intended contract period is 18 December 2026 to 17 December 2030, with further options possible. It is one planned lot, and a framework agreement is envisaged for six Belfast-region councils.

The challenge is suited to suppliers able to develop and test practical, data-led solutions for visitor-demand forecasting and destination management. Relevant strengths may include software and information systems, sensor or network technology, IT consultancy and development, and research and development; suppliers will need to bring these capabilities together to address tourism pressures in a rural setting. The buyer is seeking predictive intelligence that helps local authorities understand visitor movement and its drivers, and anticipate impacts on roads, parking, waste services, biodiversity and infrastructure. The use of Castlewellan Forest Park as a test environment favours teams able to work with a real destination and translate evidence into usable decision support for councils. The planned staged competition includes development and build phases, so suppliers should be prepared to develop and demonstrate a solution through successive stages. The published description does not set specific technical accreditations or minimum experience requirements.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

BRCD Contracts for Innovation Challenge 1

Notice Description

The tender opportunity will be published on Simply Do platform under the challenge titled: Predicting Demand. Managing Tomorrows Visitors, Today "How can local authorities anticipate and manage visitor demand and movement across key destinations, while understanding the factors driving these changes, so they can proactively mitigate potential impacts before they become a problem." This challenge is focused on transforming how local authorities manage visitor destinations. Using Castlewellan Forest Park as a real-world test environment, the initiative addresses the growing pressures that large rural tourism destinations face from fluctuating visitor demand, which impacts local roads, parking, waste services, biodiversity, and infrastructure. Historically, council management has relied on static measures and reactive interventions, such as annual visitor numbers or seasonal passes, which fail to provide real-time insights or predictive intelligence. The proposed project aims to transition local authority management from a fragmented, reactive approach to a connected, evidence-led, and predictive decision-making model.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Options: Further information will be provided within the UK4 Tender Notice and associated documents.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-079177
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/101655-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

32 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment

35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment

48 - Software package and information systems

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

32400000 - Networks

35125100 - Sensors

48000000 - Software package and information systems

72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Oct 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
9 Nov 20266 days to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
18 Dec 2026 - 17 Dec 2030 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
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
TLN06 Belfast, TLN08 Newry, Mourne and Down, TLN09 Ards and North Down, TLN0D Antrim and Newtownabbey, TLN0E Lisburn and Castlereagh, TLN0F Mid and East Antrim
Local Authority
Newry, Mourne and Down
Electoral Ward
Abbey
Westminster Constituency
Newry and Armagh

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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