--- title: "Soft Market Testing - Leisure Centres" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-76866452-9b88-48cc-87ea-42eb8de85f2a" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-76866452-9b88-48cc-87ea-42eb8de85f2a" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-76866452-9b88-48cc-87ea-42eb8de85f2a.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-76866452-9b88-48cc-87ea-42eb8de85f2a.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "SWALE BOROUGH COUNCIL" published: "2024-12-24" --- # Soft Market Testing - Leisure Centres Buyer: SWALE BOROUGH COUNCIL Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-b5fd17-76866452-9b88-48cc-87ea-42eb8de85f2a [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-76866452-9b88-48cc-87ea-42eb8de85f2a) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-76866452-9b88-48cc-87ea-42eb8de85f2a.json) ## Summary Swale Borough Council is currently in the planning stage for a public procurement process titled "Soft Market Testing - Leisure Centres" under the industry category of Sports facilities operation services (CPV code 92610000). Located in the South East region of the United Kingdom, this procurement process focuses on exploring potential management options for leisure facilities, including Sheppey Leisure Complex in Sheerness, Swallows Leisure Centre in Sittingbourne, and potentially Faversham Pools in Faversham. The planning phase includes an engagement end date set for 24th March 2025, with responses to the market testing due by 12 noon on 17th January 2025. Major investment in Sheppey Leisure Complex is also scheduled to commence in February 2025 and complete in March 2027. This tender presents opportunities for businesses involved in managing sports and leisure facilities, especially those experienced in operating multiple sites. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs) may find this tender particularly relevant. Participation in this soft market testing exercise enables businesses to influence early-stage planning, potentially securing lucrative long-term contracts starting from April 2027. Organisations equipped to deliver comprehensive management services across diverse leisure assets are well-suited to compete in this procurement process. ## Notice Swale Borough Council (SBC) is conducting a soft market testing exercise to explore potential management options for its leisure facilities from April 2027. We would like to invite your organisation to participate in this process. SBC currently owns two wet and dry leisure facilities, Sheppey Leisure Complex, Sheerness (incorporating Sheppey Healthy Living Centre and Sheerness Swimming Pool) and Swallows Leisure Centre, Sittingbourne, both of which are leased to Swale Community Leisure Trust (SCLT). SCLT employs Serco Leisure as their managing agents to operate the facilities on a day-to-day basis. There is planned major investment into the dryside facilities at Sheppey Leisure Complex in Sheerness which is due to commence in February 2025 and complete in March 2027. Swallows Leisure Centre in Sittingbourne has recently undertaken a refurbishment. As part of the procurement, we are considering the inclusion of a third facility alongside the two sites stated above; this facility, known as Faversham Pools, Faversham, is currently split in ownership between SBC and Faversham Pools Trust. The full site is currently operated by this registered charity. We would appreciate your feedback on the points contained in the attachment. Your response to this opportunity would be greatly valued. Please respond to the questions by: 12 noon on Friday 17th January 2025. Should you have any questions or require further information, please use the portal messaging function. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/aa6a2314-afc5-42e7-8a59-4c66ca1ae364 | | Notice type | Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Not specified | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 24 Dec 2024 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 24 Mar 2025 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | SWALE BOROUGH COUNCIL | | Locality | SITTINGBOURNE | | Post town | Rochester | | Postcode | ME10 3HT | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLJ4 Kent | | ITL 3 | TLJ43 Kent Thames Gateway | | Local authority | Swale | | Electoral ward | Roman | | Westminster constituency | Sittingbourne and Sheppey | | Delivery location | TLJ South East (England) | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services ### Codes - 92610000 - Sports facilities operation services ## Release History - 24 Dec 2024 at 10:11 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/aa6a2314-afc5-42e7-8a59-4c66ca1ae364 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/aa6a2314-afc5-42e7-8a59-4c66ca1ae364 24th December 2024 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder - https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=aee01c02-dec1-ef11-8133-005056b64545 Advert ## Notice URLs - http://www.swale.gov.uk/ ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-76866452-9b88-48cc-87ea-42eb8de85f2a. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-76866452-9b88-48cc-87ea-42eb8de85f2a.json.