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Support for Communities Framework 2026-2030

Highlands and Islands Enterprise

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

06 Aug 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Highlands and Islands Enterprise is procuring a framework for practical, hands-on support to community organisations and social enterprises across the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. The support is intended for organisations that lack the capacity or specialist skills to progress opportunities in good time. It must add to, rather than duplicate, existing social enterprise and public-sector support. Services cover organisation development, project development, impact measurement, and financial and procurement support. Fair Work, Net Zero and sustainability are themes across the requirement, with potential commissions focused specifically on these areas. This is a services opportunity covering business support, management consultancy and related professional services. The framework provides an alternative to advice-led support and is managed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

The procurement has reached tender: Highlands and Islands Enterprise invited offers through an open procedure, with electronic submission required. It is a single-lot framework with up to seven participants. The tender deadline and bid opening were set for 10 September 2026 at 12:00. The framework has an initial contract period of 1,080 days, expected to begin in November 2026, with extension options of up to a further 12 months. The estimated value for the full four-year duration is GBP 600,000 excluding VAT; the available three-year budget is GBP 400,000 to GBP 450,000 excluding VAT. Price carries 40% of the evaluation. Prompt Payment Standard and community benefits are pass/fail requirements, with further quality scoring and minimum thresholds set out in the tender documents. Bids must remain valid until 9 November 2026.

This opportunity suits consultancies, social enterprise specialists and professional service providers able to deliver practical support directly to community organisations and social enterprises. Relevant capability includes organisation and project development, impact measurement, financial management and procurement. Suppliers should be able to work across varied sectors and tailor support to organisations with limited internal capacity, while complementing existing support rather than duplicating it. Experience of Fair Work, Net Zero and sustainability work is relevant, including the ability to deliver focused commissions in these areas. The requirement calls for named staff and their professional qualifications, so bidders need an experienced, appropriately qualified delivery team. Strong providers will also be able to manage multiple assignments, work collaboratively within the wider support ecosystem, evidence community benefits and meet the framework’s cyber-security and administrative requirements.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Support for Communities Framework 2026-2030

Notice Description

The Framework is an alternative means of providing a range of practical hands-on support (not advice, which is available through HIE's Specialist Advice Framework) to community organisations and social enterprises that lack the capacity or a particular skill-set to timeously progress an opportunity. This is added value support and must complement the existing social enterprise support ecosystem and, therefore, must not duplicate services already available via other HIE Frameworks e.g. Board Healthcheck and Skills Training or other public sector/public sector supported organisations, e.g. Business Gateway, Just Enterprise, etc. It is expected that these services will be required from November 2026 for an initial period of 3 years, with HIE having the option to extend for a period or periods together not exceeding 1 year following the Initial Term. The 3 year budget currently available to deliver this service is between GBP 400,000 and GBP 450,000 (excluding VAT). The total estimated value of the framework for the full framework duration including the extension is GBP 600,000, which is the value stated in this notice.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The main Types of support across a range of sectors are as below: - Organisation Development - Project Development - Impact Measurement - Financial and Procurement Cutting across all of these activities will are the themes of Fair Work, Net Zero and Sustainability. It should be noted that there may be specific project commissions with a clear focus on Net Zero, Fair Work and Sustainability activity. See Appendix A - Scope of Requirements for full requirement details.. Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in Regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Options: HIE reserves the right, on giving reasonable written notice from time to time, to require changes to the Services under the Framework Agreement, including the removal of Services, the addition of new Services, increases or decreases to the Services, or changes to the order in which the Services are to be performed or the locations where the Services are to be provided. HIE shall not require any such change other than where it is permitted by Regulation 72 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. HIE may also modify its call-off contracts, where permitted by Regulation 72, and in accordance with the terms of the relevant call-off contract. Such modifications may include, but are not limited to: -Changes to budget availability. -HIE bringing the services in-house (fully or partially) such that the services are no longer required or reduced services are required. -Reduction or removal of services are required for example where services are no longer required due to changes in organisational strategy or priorities. -Cancellation or pausing of a call-off contract due to changes in the project status. -The addition of similar services, e.g. due to increased demand; where significant inconvenience and/or substantial duplication of costs to HIE can be avoided. -Increases to the volume of the services required. -Change in legislative requirements resulting in increased, reduced or amended services.

Renewal: The Framework will be awarded for an initial period of 3 years with HIE having the option to extend for a period or periods together not exceeding 12 months following the Initial Term.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000837694
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=AUG561793
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

66 - Financial and insurance services

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

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

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

CPV Codes

66171000 - Financial consultancy services

71314300 - Energy-efficiency consultancy services

72224000 - Project management consultancy services

79400000 - Business and management consultancy and related services

79410000 - Business and management consultancy services

79411000 - General management consultancy services

79412000 - Financial management consultancy services

79418000 - Procurement consultancy services

90713000 - Environmental issues consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£600,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
£600,000 £500K-£1M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
6 Aug 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
10 Sep 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
HIE reserves the right to re-tender for these services upon termination of the contract or at the end of the contract period, including any extension period.

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Highlands and Islands Enterprise
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
INVERNESS
Postcode
IV2 5NA
Postcode Area
Inverness
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM2 Highlands and Islands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM20 Highlands and Islands
Delivery Location
TLM6 Highlands and Islands
Local Authority
Highland
Electoral Ward
Inverness South
Westminster Constituency
Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire

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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