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Contract for the Provision of a Third Sector Organisation to support the sector and build capacity in Swansea

City & County of Swansea

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

30 Oct 2026 at 10:47

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Swansea Council intends to commission a service to support third-sector organisations and build the capacity of Swansea’s voluntary and community sector. The provider would work with the Council and local organisations to deliver the aims of the Swansea Compact, supporting a sustainable and thriving third sector and volunteering community. Work includes running an accessible hub and volunteer centre, providing sector-specific training, assessing training needs, supporting partnership working and amplifying the sector’s voice. The service would also help organisations develop trading and social enterprise, offer guidance on governance, funding and policy, broker back-office support, provide information, and help groups address risks. Delivery is centred on Swansea, where the provider must be able to operate and host a local base.

This is at the planning stage: Swansea Council is testing market interest and has not invited tenders. The Council may use responses to understand supplier capabilities and inform its choice of competitive procurement approach. It expects a future notice around 8 January 2027. The planning describes one service lot, with an intended contract from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2030 and a possible extension to 31 March 2032. The estimated value is £450,000 excluding VAT (£540,000 including VAT). Suppliers interested in market engagement are asked to email an expression of interest by 16 November 2026 at noon; participation does not guarantee involvement in a later procurement or require the Council to proceed.

The work is likely to suit an experienced third-sector support organisation with established knowledge of the voluntary and community sector and the ability to operate from a base in Swansea. The Council is looking for a partner able to work collaboratively with public bodies and community organisations, support the Compact’s joint working arrangements, and facilitate co-production across service design and delivery. Relevant strengths include volunteer support, training provision, organisational governance and resilience, funding advice, social enterprise development, partnership facilitation and accessible information services. A provider would need the breadth to support organisations of differing needs, while helping them build capacity and sustainability. The Council says the service should also develop an exit strategy. The procurement is still being shaped through market engagement, so suppliers can use that stage to explain their capabilities and inform the Council’s understanding of the market.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Contract for the Provision of a Third Sector Organisation to support the sector and build capacity in Swansea

Notice Description

Swansea Council has a long and productive history of partnership working with the Third Sector in Swansea. A Compact agreement was made between the parties in 1999. This document was updated in 2021 and was co-produced to reflect joint working principles between Swansea Council and the Third Sector. It provides a robust and workable framework for ongoing dialogue between the partners to aid the Council achieve its aims under its strategic requirements and plans outlined under the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act and Swansea Councils Corporate Plan amongst many others. Swansea Council is engaging with the market to seek interest from suitably experienced organisations who can operate within the Swansea locality to support Third Sector organisations and build capacity within the sector in Swansea. We are seeking organisations with working knowledge of the sector and who can provide a base in Swansea to work in partnership with Swansea Council and the wider Third Sector to aid in the achievement of the stated aims of Swansea Compact and ensure a sustainable, thriving Third Sector and volunteering community within Swansea. To aid the Council to achieve the objectives outlined in the Compact Agreement for a sustainable, thriving Third Sector and volunteering community within Swansea, the Service Provider will; * Work with Swansea Council to meet the terms of the Swansea Compact Agreement (which can be found under appendix A within this document) including the joint Chair of the Compact Liaison group. * Host an accessible hub in Swansea to facilitate provision * Facilitate a volunteer centre in Swansea to provide support and guidance for potential volunteers and those who wish to offer volunteer opportunities in Swansea * Provide training facilities and programmes that are sector specific and where required bespoke or brokered for the sectors requirements * Undertake an analysis of need to ensure training programmes respond to current needs of the third sector * Support strategic partnership work and enabling the voice of the of the wider third sector to be heard through a co-productive approach e.g. strategic boards and forums as necessary * Support the sector in becoming more sustainable through the development of trading opportunities, social enterprise etc. * Work with the Sector on prevention and early intervention models and informal volunteering to support Community resilience, through Community Coordinators or other local networks * Support third sector organisations through offering advice and assistance on different third sector strategic models and governance arrangements * Provide advice and information, including but not exclusively: * Funding advice and assistance * Volunteer support * Constitutional advice * Policy development advice * Brokering back office functions * Promote and support the third sector in securing funding from a variety of sources specifically available to third sector organisations * Provide a comprehensive information service for the Swansea third sector * Intervene early to identify risks to ensure third sector groups are constitutionally robust * Facilitate co-productive approaches in the design, delivery, monitoring and review of the Contract. * Develop an exit strategy for the contract termination

Planning Information

Following receipt of expressions of interest, the Authority may engage with suppliers through written clarification questions, questionnaires, supplier meetings or other appropriate engagement activity. Any engagement undertaken will be used to inform the Authority's understanding of the market and its capabilities to deliver such services. Responses received will assist to inform Swansea Council as to the level of interest from the market and may be used to evidence a decision as to how to undertake a competitive procurement. Participation in this engagement exercise does not guarantee participation in any future procurement process or a commitment by the Authority to proceed with a procurement. Suppliers wishing to participate should submit their expression of interest by email to Spencer.Martin@swansea.gov.uk by 12:00 noon (midday) on Monday 16th November.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-079469
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/103059-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85000000 - Health and social work services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£450,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Oct 20263 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
8 Jan 20273 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2030 3-4 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
City & County of Swansea
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SWANSEA
Postcode
SA1 3SN
Postcode Area
Swansea
Country
Wales
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLL Wales
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLL4 Mid and South West Wales
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLL43 Swansea
Delivery Location
TLL18 Swansea
Local Authority
Swansea
Electoral Ward
Waterfront
Westminster Constituency
Swansea West

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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