--- title: "Soft Market Testing on potential future procurement options for the Electric Theatre" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-bc0dfb95-adc9-11e6-9901-0019b9f3037b" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-bc0dfb95-adc9-11e6-9901-0019b9f3037b" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-bc0dfb95-adc9-11e6-9901-0019b9f3037b.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-bc0dfb95-adc9-11e6-9901-0019b9f3037b.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "GUILDFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL" published: "2016-11-18" --- # Soft Market Testing on potential future procurement options for the Electric Theatre Buyer: GUILDFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-b5fd17-bc0dfb95-adc9-11e6-9901-0019b9f3037b [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-bc0dfb95-adc9-11e6-9901-0019b9f3037b) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-bc0dfb95-adc9-11e6-9901-0019b9f3037b.json) ## Summary The Guildford Borough Council is conducting a soft market testing process titled "Soft Market Testing on potential future procurement options for the Electric Theatre". This initiative is part of the planning stage aimed at securing the future of this important entertainment venue located in Guildford, England. The engagement end date for interested parties to submit their interest is set for 23rd February 2018, with the procurement expected to take place following consultations scheduled from July to September 2016. The industry category for this procurement process is Arts-facility operation services. This tender presents a substantial opportunity for operators in the entertainment sector to engage with the Guildford Borough Council regarding the management and operational strategies for The Electric Theatre. Businesses involved in theatre operations, community event programming, and arts facility management will find this procurement particularly relevant. The Council expresses a preference for operators who can deliver a balanced programme that meets community demand while ensuring financial sustainability, thereby allowing for potential collaborations and partnerships in this vibrant cultural space. ## Notice Guildford Borough Council wishes to secure a strong vibrant future for The Electric Theatre. It is an important entertainment venue in the town and provides a prominent facility for community theatre. We recognise that a skilled operator must have sufficient headroom to put together a commercially sustainable programme of entertainments for which there is strong demand. Alongside this, we would like to see the venue remain as a performing arts facility with community use. This was agreed by the Council's Executive in April 2016 and the report can be found here: http://www2.guildford.gov.uk/councilmeetings/documents/s4920/Item%2006%20-%20Electric%20Theatre%20and%20YAT%20Working%20Group.pdf. Following a public consultation around the future operation of the Theatre 'community use' has been identified largely as 'performances, theatre, festivals and education'. We wish to consult skilled operators in this field as to how these aims can be balanced for The Electric Theatre in the future. To this end, we are conducting soft market testing to garner your views on these aspects plus other important considerations including the procurement route. Thus, the Council may choose a concession or lease route to secure the future of the Theatre. We are keen to control your financial and time involvement in bidding for the work, but at the same time believe that a procurement route with the opportunity to talk about risks which worry you and to give the opportunity to negotiate, would give a better result for both parties. Amanda Hargreaves will be project managing the procurement process on behalf of the Council. She has left her previous role of General Manager of The Electric Theatre and is no longer involved in its day to day operation. Her focus is solely on delivering a fair and open procurement process for the Theatre. Applying If you would like to see us to discuss this opportunity then please write, in no more than one thousand words, describing your interest in the procurement, your past experience in the field and the points you would like to discuss. We plan to undertake soft market testing on 3 consecutive days which will occur close to the centre of Guildford in the date range between July and September. Each party would have two hours with a common agenda and the meeting will be held in Guildford. If you are not seen please rest assured that this will not disadvantage you in any forthcoming formal procurement. All parties that express an interest will receive feedback from the soft market testing event before an Official Journal of the European Union notice is published (marking the start of the formal procurement procedure). Please send your submission to amanda.hargreaves@guildford.gov.uk [Project Manager] and vincent.hunt@guildford.gov.uk [Procurement] by 6th July 2016. Any clarification questions to these e- mail addresses please. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e154f616-688b-40c2-b9f7-f868e0b1c93f | | Notice type | Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Not specified | | 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 | 18 Nov 2016 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 23 Feb 2018 | | 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 | Cancelled | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | GUILDFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL | | Locality | GUILDFORD | | Post town | Guildford | | Postcode | GU2 4BB | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex | | ITL 3 | TLJ25 West Surrey | | Local authority | Guildford | | Electoral ward | St Nicolas | | Westminster constituency | Guildford | | Delivery location | TLJ South East (England) | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services ### Codes - 92320000 - Arts-facility operation services ## Release History - 18 Nov 2016 at 20:17 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e154f616-688b-40c2-b9f7-f868e0b1c93f ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e154f616-688b-40c2-b9f7-f868e0b1c93f 1st June 2016 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/04fbde5d-7ee0-409f-8df4-1e5eba8ae77f PIN prospectus ## Notice URLs - http://www2.guildford.gov.uk/councilmeetings/documents/s4920/Item%2006%20-%20Electric%20Theatre%20and%20YAT%20Working%20Group.pdf ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. 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