---
title: "Critical Friend"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06619d"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06619d"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06619d.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06619d.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "BRAINTREE DISTRICT COUNCIL"
published: "2026-03-04"
---

# Critical Friend

Buyer: BRAINTREE DISTRICT COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06619d

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06619d)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06619d.json)

## Summary

Braintree District Council has concluded the procurement process for the project titled "Critical Friend," focusing on project management consultancy services within the public authority sub-central government category. The contracting process was pursued via a direct procurement method without competition, as it was below threshold. Located in Braintree, United Kingdom, the contract spans from March to December 2026, with DAC Planning serving as the supplier. The award stage concluded with the contract being signed on 13th February 2026, marking it active from 1st March to 31st December 2026, with a value of £75,840 gross.

This tender offers significant opportunities for businesses specialising in project management consultancy services, particularly for those looking to expand within various regions across the United Kingdom, including UKC, UKD, UKE, and beyond. SMEs with a robust portfolio in handling government-related consultancy and consultation analysis processes are well-suited to benefit from similar future opportunities. As Braintree District Council frequently engages with collaborative project management services, companies that can provide comprehensive support and efficient consultation processing stand to gain the most in similar sub-central government sector contracts.

## Notice

Project management and critical friend support from March to December 2026 and support with processing and analysis of consultation responses received through the forthcoming Regulation 18 consultation on the emerging Local Plan.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019253-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - without competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 4 Mar 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 13 Feb 2026 |
| Contract period | 1 Mar 2026 - 31 Dec 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £63,200 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | BRAINTREE DISTRICT COUNCIL |
| Locality | BRAINTREE |
| Post town | Chelmsford |
| Postcode | CM7 9HB |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLH East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLH3 Essex |
| ITL 3 | TLH34 Essex Haven Gateway |
| Local authority | Braintree |
| Electoral ward | Bocking South |
| Westminster constituency | Braintree |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | DAC PLANNING |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 72224000 - Project management consultancy services

## Release History

- 4 Mar 2026 at 07:16 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019253-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019253-2026
  4th March 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.dacplanning.com/contact
- 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-06619d. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06619d.json.