--- title: "Soft Market Testing - Somers Orchard Affordable Homes Housing Development, Phase 1" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-8d1dbfd9-bf4f-4e3b-be90-fc8e11e100ec" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-8d1dbfd9-bf4f-4e3b-be90-fc8e11e100ec" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-8d1dbfd9-bf4f-4e3b-be90-fc8e11e100ec.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-8d1dbfd9-bf4f-4e3b-be90-fc8e11e100ec.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL" published: "2025-02-12" --- # Soft Market Testing - Somers Orchard Affordable Homes Housing Development, Phase 1 Buyer: PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-b5fd17-8d1dbfd9-bf4f-4e3b-be90-fc8e11e100ec [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-8d1dbfd9-bf4f-4e3b-be90-fc8e11e100ec) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-8d1dbfd9-bf4f-4e3b-be90-fc8e11e100ec.json) ## Summary Portsmouth City Council is in the planning stage of a public procurement process for the Somers Orchard Affordable Homes Housing Development, Phase 1. This project focuses on the construction of multi-dwelling buildings in Portsmouth, Hampshire, under the industry category of works. The procurement involves soft market testing to engage suitable contractors for Phase 1 (Block C) and possibly Phase 2 (Block A) depending on financial and viability assessments. Interested contractors must submit their expressions of interest and necessary documentation by 20th February 2025 at 16:00. Various engagement activities, including briefings and one-to-one meetings, are scheduled from February to March 2025, with the procurement process expected to commence in Q4 2025 and site work starting by Q4 2026. This tender presents significant business growth opportunities for contractors with experience in multi-dwelling building construction. Companies with a strong track record in handling large-scale housing developments, infrastructure, and public realm projects are ideally suited to compete. The procurement will help the selected contractor to establish a substantial portfolio within the public sector and collaborate closely with the Portsmouth City Council to deliver high-quality, affordable housing. Businesses that can demonstrate capacity, effective risk management, and cost efficiency will have a competitive edge in this procurement process. ## Notice Portsmouth City Council (the 'Council') is seeking to engage in open pre-procurement soft market testing discussions with suitably qualified and experienced contractors in respect of a potential forthcoming contracting opportunity concerning the Somers Orchard Affordable Homes Housing Development Phase 1 - Block C & associated infrastructure, enabling works and public realm / landscaping. See link below to view further details on the approved plan for new housing on the Horatia and Leamington sites: https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/plan-for-new-housing-on-horatia-and-leamington-sites-approved/ It is proposed to bring forward the masterplan in phases. The primary goal and focus of this exercise is to identify a procurement strategy to deliver Phase 1 (Block C), however should it be deemed financially beneficial and viability is favourable, the focus may be extended to include Phase 2 (Block A) at the same time or as a future option. The Council envisages securing the contractor in line with the following indicative programme, however it should be noted that the dates below are purely indicative and may be subject to future change. Soft Market Testing Q1 2025 Procurement process Q4 2025 - Q1 2026 Commence on site Q4 2026 - Q1 2027 Complete Q4 2028 onwards (Dates in calendar years) Soft Market Testing Schedule Issue PIN: Monday10th February 2025 Briefing attendance applications: Thursday 20th February 2025 at 16:00 Initial briefing meeting (Teams): Monday 24th February 2025 Submission of (optional) reports: Friday 14th March 2025 121 meetings / presentations: 17th - 28th March 2025 The Council would like to engage in an initial briefing, followed by 1-1 meetings with a maximum of 5 suitably qualified and experienced contractors, in order to gain an understanding of likely market interest, capacity, options, risks and costs. Places at the initial briefing and subsequent 1-1 meetings will be allocated on a first come first served basis to contractors who can provide assurance to the council that they are suitable for inclusion in the soft market testing. To be considered suitable, interested contractors must be able to evidence experience as detailed within the SMT pack. To book a place on the briefing and subsequent 1-1 meetings, contractors are to complete the 'Expression of Interest in SMT application' along with NDA & COI declaration, as detailed within the SMT pack and return this using the correspondence function on Intend by the 20th February at 16:00. Additional information: Is a Recurrent Procurement Type? : No ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e398a83b-4ef2-4642-88c1-ee8b11888948 | | Notice type | Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Works | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 12 Feb 2025 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 12 May 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 | PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL | | Locality | HAMPSHIRE | | Post town | Portsmouth | | Postcode | PO1 2AL | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight | | ITL 3 | TLJ31 Portsmouth | | Local authority | Portsmouth | | Electoral ward | Charles Dickens | | Westminster constituency | Portsmouth South | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 45 - Construction work ### Codes - 45211340 - Multi-dwelling buildings construction work ## Release History - 12 Feb 2025 at 14:25 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e398a83b-4ef2-4642-88c1-ee8b11888948 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e398a83b-4ef2-4642-88c1-ee8b11888948 12th February 2025 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder - https://in-tendhost.co.uk/portsmouthcc/aspx/ Additional information on how to apply for this contract ## Notice URLs - https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/plan-for-new-housing-on-horatia-and-leamington-sites-approved/ ## 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-b5fd17-8d1dbfd9-bf4f-4e3b-be90-fc8e11e100ec. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-8d1dbfd9-bf4f-4e3b-be90-fc8e11e100ec.json.