---
title: "TD2317 - Management of Derby City Council Leisure Centres"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-059b61"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-059b61"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-059b61.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-059b61.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "DERBY CITY COUNCIL"
published: "2026-01-09"
---

# TD2317 - Management of Derby City Council Leisure Centres

Buyer: DERBY CITY COUNCIL  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-059b61

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## Summary

Derby City Council is actively pursuing a procurement process titled "Management of Derby City Council Leisure Centres," focusing on sports facilities operation services. The procurement is being carried out in Derby, UKF11, with the process currently at the tender stage as of January 2026. The procurement aims to appoint an operator to manage facilities such as the Derby Arena and Springwood Leisure Centre. The contract is anticipated to commence in April 2027, with a projected value between £82 million and £98.4 million over a 20-year term. The tender process follows a competitive flexible procedure, requiring interested parties to participate in multiple stages, including an initial tender submission and potential negotiations.

This procurement presents significant opportunities for businesses that specialise in sports facility management, particularly those with a strong background in enhancing financial stability and promoting community wellbeing. Businesses with experience in capital investment, improving participation rates, and operating large sports venues could find this tender highly beneficial to expand their portfolio and influence. Firms that can offer comprehensive service management, innovative operational strategies, and collaboration skills will likely find this opportunity conducive to growth and long-term partnership with Derby City Council. The procurement notably encourages increased engagement from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs), providing an inclusive platform for a range of potential suppliers.

## Notice

The Authority is undertaking a Procurement for the "Management of Derby City Council Leisure Centres" The Scope of the Contract will include the management of: - Derby Arena (including Cafe 42) - Springwood Leisure Centre This procurement is not divided into Lots. The Council does not consider that subdivision into lots would be appropriate, as this could risk tendering the execution of the Contract excessively technically difficult or expensive, and the need to coordinate different operators for the lots could seriously risk undermining the proper performance of the Contract and achievement of the Services' outcomes. The objective of the procurement will be to secure the most advantageous tender considering the Authority's strategic outcomes whilst maximising the payment to the Authority. In undertaking this procurement, the Authority wishes to achieve the following outcomes: * Establish a long-term partnership with an experienced operator * Financial stability for the Centres through reduced costs and increased income due to a more commercial approach * Capital investment by the Operator for backlog maintenance and future works at the facilities * Planned and funded lifecycle investment, given age of facilities and future requirements * Increased participation of the Centres * Increased participation by those residents who are normally less likely to use a leisure centre * Promotion of improved wellbeing for residents * Positive impact on reducing physical activity and health inequality in the City * Maximise Derby Arena's primary focus as a regional, national, and international, sports venue that supports the City's sporting aspirations. It is anticipated that the Contract will commence in April 2027. The estimated value of the contract over the maximum 20 year term is between PS82m-PS98.4m. This has been calculated based on the total turnover estimated to be generated by the Operator at the Leisure Centres over the maximum 20 year term.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Options: 1 x 4-year extension 2 x 3-year extensions The extensions may not be in this particular order but will be 10 years overall. The full term of the contract including extensions will be 20 years.

Renewal: 1 x 4-year extension 2 x 3-year extensions The extensions may not be in this particular order but will be 10 years overall. Further details will be available once the tender is published. The full term of the contract including extensions will be 20 years.

### Planning Information

Preliminary Market Engagement - Management of Derby City Council Leisure Centres
2. Contracting Authority Details
Name: Derby City Council
Address: Council House, Corporation St, Derby, DE1 2FS
Contact Point: Derby City Council procurement
Website: https://www.eastmidstenders.org/
Contract Type: Service /Concession
3. Purpose of the Notice
This Notice is published to inform the market and gather feedback in relation to a potential future procurement for the Management of Derby City Council Leisure Centres.
This is a Preliminary Market Engagement and not a call for competition.
4. Description of the Requirement
The Authority is planning to undertake a Tender for the "Management of Derby City Council Leisure Centres"
The Scope of the service includes Derby Arena; Springwood Leisure Centre; and potentially the Waterside Café, community room and sports facilities at Alvaston Park, and the Orangery and Kiosks at Markeaton Park. The Services Specification will be based on the Sport England template, made bespoke to this project.
5. Requirement
The objective of the procurement will be to secure the most advantageous tender considering the Authority's strategic outcomes (set out in paragraph 3 below) whilst maximising the payment to the Authority.
In undertaking this procurement, the Authority wishes to achieve the following outcomes
• Establish a long-term partnership with an experience operator
• Financial stability for the Centres through reduced costs and increased income due to a more commercial approach
• Capital investment for backlog maintenance and future investment and operator)
• Planned and funded lifecycle investment, given age of facilities and future requirements
• Increased participation of the Centres
• Increased participation by those residents who are normally less likely to use a leisure centre
• Promotion of improved wellbeing for residents
• Positive impact on reducing physical activity and health inequality in the City
• Maximise Derby Arena's primary focus as a regional, national, and international, sports venue that supports the City's sporting aspirations.
It is anticipated that the Contract will commence in early 2027.
Prior to undertaking the formal procurement process, which is targeted to commence November 2025, Derby City Council is seeking to undertake Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) with the leisure operator market to enable the Authority to better define its service requirements and the procurement process. We are seeking engagement with potential suppliers to:
• Test with the market some of the contractual terms and conditions including use of an agency model.
• Consider how improvement works, and equipment replacement could be delivered and funded as part of the Contract.
• Test the market's appetite to include within the scope of tender, the management of park's catering and sports facilities.
• Understand the market's experience of working with library services as part of a leisure contract.
• Understand the level of interest from the market to tender for this contract.
6. Response Instructions
If you wish to participate in this preliminary market engagement exercise, please follow the link to https://www.eastmidstenders.org/ and search for TD2317 - Preliminary Market Engagement Management of Derby City Council Leisure Centres. This will enable you to download and complete the Questionnaire.
Please return the questionnaire together with any relevant information to support this process through the procurement portal https://www.eastmidstenders.org/ by midday on 8th October 2025.
7. Disclaimer
This notice is not a call for competition.
Participation in this engagement will not confer any advantage or disadvantage in any future procurement process.
The Contracting Authority is under no obligation to proceed with any procurement.
No Contract will be awarded as a result of this market engagement exercise.
8. Transparency and Equal Treatment
Any relevant insights or clarifications arising from this engagement will be made available to all potential Suppliers as part of any future tender documentation, to ensure transparency and a level playing field.
9. Anticipated Procurement Timeline
Market engagement: 15th September - 8th October 2025
Procurement notice publication (anticipated): November 2025
Invitation to submit Tender: January 2026
Evaluation of Tenders: April 2026
Dialogue - May 2026
Final Tenders: June / July 2026
Preferred Bidder Recommended: September 2026
Contract commencement: early 2027
Please note, this timetable may be altered.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002024-2026 |
| Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Competitive flexible procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning, Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 9 Jan 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 30 Jan 2026 |
| Future notice date | 12 Dec 2025 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 31 Mar 2027 - 31 Mar 2037 |
| Recurrence | 2025-12-13 |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £82,000,000 |
| Lots value | £82,000,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Active |
| Lots status | Active |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DERBY CITY COUNCIL |
| Additional buyers | MAX ASSOCIATES (HOLDINGS) LIMITED |
| Locality | DERBY |
| Post town | Derby |
| Postcode | DE1 2FS |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI4 Inner London - East |
| ITL 3 | TLI45 Lambeth |
| Local authority | Lambeth |
| Electoral ward | Waterloo & South Bank |
| Westminster constituency | Vauxhall and Camberwell Green |
| Delivery location | TLF11 Derby |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

### Codes

- 92610000 - Sports facilities operation services

## Release History

- 9 Jan 2026 at 16:23 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002024-2026
- 20 Nov 2025 at 16:52 - Planning - UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/075836-2025
- 16 Sep 2025 at 14:30 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057026-2025
- 16 Sep 2025 at 14:25 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057021-2025
- 16 Sep 2025 at 13:17 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/056980-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002024-2026
  9th January 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/075836-2025
  20th November 2025 - Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057026-2025
  16th September 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057021-2025
  16th September 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/056980-2025
  16th September 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.max-associates.com
- https://www.derby.gov.uk/
- https://www.eastmidstenders.org/
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## 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-h6vhtk-059b61. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-059b61.json.