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Activity Plan Consultant for Leading Lights Project (National Historic Ships UK)

National Historic Ships UK

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

02 Nov 2026 at 15:54

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

National Historic Ships UK wants an individual consultant or consultancy organisation to develop a full Activity Plan for its Leading Lights Project, a planned five-year capacity-building scheme for historic vessels across the UK. The work is to produce a plan and supporting material for the project’s Delivery Phase funding application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Deliverables include consultation and audience analysis, a risk assessment, project management arrangements, role descriptions and recruitment strategy, a timetable, activity programme and action plan, plus a detailed budget and cash flow. The project is intended to strengthen the historic-vessel sector and benefit vessel custodians, sector professionals, training organisations, funding bodies and National Historic Ships UK. The work concerns heritage planning and museum services, including preservation of historic sites and buildings (CPV 92520000).

The buyer invited offers through a below-threshold open competition. The tender submission and enquiry deadlines were both 23 November 2026 at 17:00. The contract is scheduled to run from 4 January to 30 June 2027, with the completed Activity Plan needed by the end of June 2027 ahead of a Heritage Fund application on 11 November 2027. The fee is capped at £25,000 excluding VAT, including expenses; the notice also gives a gross value of £30,000. There is one lot, assessed on proposed methodology (50%), demonstrated experience (25%) and how time is structured to manage the contract and provide value for money (25%). Applicants were asked for a CV and a written proposal of up to six pages, setting out methodology, timeline, consultation, task schedule, fees and two referees. Interviews were expected in December 2026.

This opportunity suits a consultant or consultancy with a proven record of preparing and delivering successful Activity Plans for Heritage Fund projects. Relevant strengths include developing detailed budgets and cash flows, designing consultation with key stakeholders, analysing audiences and risks, and turning project aims into a practical activity programme, timetable and action plan. The work also calls for collaboration with the client team and other consultants, strong report writing and presentation skills, and the ability to develop project management arrangements and recruitment plans for delivery roles. Applicants need to show interest in National Historic Ships UK and the Leading Lights Project, explain who will undertake the work and how their time and fees are allocated, and provide two referees for similar assignments. The buyer considers the opportunity suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Activity Plan Consultant for Leading Lights Project (National Historic Ships UK)

Notice Description

National Historic Ships UK (NHS-UK) wishes to appoint an experienced consultant (which may be an individual consultant or consultancy organisation) to develop an Activity Plan for the Leading Lights Project, a new capacity building scheme supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. About the Project NHS-UK has secured initial support of PS155,600 from the Heritage Fund (PS140,040) and the Pilgrim Trust (PS15,560) to progress plans for the Leading Lights project, a five-year project which aims to invest in historic vessels at a UK-wide level, making the sector more resilient, connected and informed. It has been designed to impact a wide range of people, from vessel custodians to sector professionals, training organisations and funding bodies, as well as NHS-UK itself. Responsibilities The Activity Plan consultant will develop a full activity plan to Heritage Fund guidelines, as well as supporting documentation, to be delivered for the Delivery Phase application to the Heritage Fund. Responsibilities and expected outcomes will include an executive summary, consultation and audience analysis, risk assessment, project management structure development, job descriptions and a recruitment strategy for Delivery Phase roles, a working timetable, a full activity programme including briefs for related work and a full action plan, a detailed budget and cash flow. Renumeration The fee is up to PS25,000 (excluding VAT), including expenses. Submissions should indicate how the Activity Plan will be delivered within this budget, who will work on the project, their day rates and predicted time expenditure. The appointed consultant will be required to develop the Plan by the end of June 2027 ahead of a Delivery Phase application to the Heritage Fund on 11 November 2027. Requirements Submissions should demonstrate an interest in the work of NHS-UK and the Leading Lights Project, proven track record of preparing and delivering successful Activity Plans for Heritage Fund projects, experience of developing detailed budgets, ability to work collaboratively with both the client team and a range of consultants, and strong report writing and presentation skills. How to apply Interested parties should submit a copy of their CV and a written proposal (6 pages maximum) outlining methodology, timeline and approach. They must be able to demonstrate the above requirements. The proposal should include a proposed methodology for undertaking the work including a schedule, approach to consultation with key stakeholders, a simple Gantt chart showing the sequence of key tasks, a breakdown of fees, and details of two referees for whom similar work has been completed. All submissions and queries should be submitted to the Delta e-procurement platform or sent via email to: Eva Griffin, Leading Lights Project Manager, at eva.griffin@nationalhistoricships.org.uk Submissions should be sent no later than 23rd November 2026. Interviews are expected to take place on the week of 7th or 14th December 2026 at the NHS-UK offices in Greenwich or online via Zoom. Contract start date: January 2027 This project is made possible thanks to support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Greenwich:-Museum-services-and-preservation-services-of-historical-sites-and-buildings./D7M3E6J5WR To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/D7M3E6J5WR

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0795e6
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/103870-2026
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

92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

CPV Codes

92520000 - Museum services and preservation services of historical sites and buildings

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£25,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
£25,000 Under £100K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Nov 2026Today
Submission Deadline
23 Nov 20263 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
4 Jan 2027 - 30 Jun 2027 1-6 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
National Historic Ships UK
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
GREENWICH
Postcode
SE10 9NF
Postcode Area
South East London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI5 Outer London - East and North East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI51 Bexley and Greenwich
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Greenwich
Electoral Ward
Greenwich Park
Westminster Constituency
Greenwich and Woolwich

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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