--- title: "Stage Infrastructure Preliminary Market Engagement" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06720d" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06720d" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06720d.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06720d.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "CASTLE POINT BOROUGH COUNCIL" published: "2026-03-23" --- # Stage Infrastructure Preliminary Market Engagement Buyer: CASTLE POINT BOROUGH COUNCIL Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06720d [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06720d) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06720d.json) ## Summary Castle Point Borough Council, in collaboration with the Essex Procurement Partnership, is currently engaged in a pre-procurement market engagement process for the design, supply, and installation of professional-grade stage technical infrastructure at the Mercury Hall, Paddocks Community Centre in Canvey Island, Essex. This initiative is part of the community centre's £2.3 million refurbishment, with the venue accommodating up to 560 individuals for a diverse array of events. The procurement falls under the services category with key dates outlined as follows: responses to the market engagement are due by 7 April 2026, the tender will be published on 13 April 2026, with site visits scheduled for 24 April 2026, and the tender closing on 8 May 2026. Contract evaluation is slated for completion by 26 May 2026 with the award and commencement scheduled for June 2026. This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in stage infrastructure, lighting, or sound system installations. With a budget estimation between £80,000 and £95,000, companies with expertise in these areas can leverage this project for business growth. The scope of work requires the creation of future-proof systems designed to cater for both simple events and complex theatrical productions. Suitable candidates include SMEs capable of providing comprehensive installation services across multimedia equipment, acoustic devices, and diverse infrastructure systems. Interested parties can engage in the planning stage to gather valuable insights by responding to the market engagement initiative, potentially securing a foothold in future procurement processes. ## Notice The management and operation of the Paddocks Community Centre, a community venue in Canvey Island that has recently undergone a PS2.3 million refurbishment. The Mercury Hall has a capacity of 500 seated / 560 standing and hosts a wide variety of events including DJ nights, tribute shows, comedy evenings, bingo, fitness classes, amateur and school theatre productions, pantomime, and meetings.The Council now wishes to procure a contractor to design, supply and install a complete stage technical infrastructure package. The scope includes: a flying and rigging system (motorised and manual elements, with LOLER certification at handover); a full stage lighting system with wash and profile fixtures, dimmable house lighting, and a front-of-house lighting desk with backstage simple controls; a professional sound system including a digital FOH desk, digital multicore, radio microphones, monitor wedges, DI boxes, and an assistive listening device; a motorised projection screen and suitable projector with HDMI connectivity; wireless communications headsets; all associated cabling, power distribution, and control systems. The system must cater for events ranging from simple fitness classes operated without a technician through to full theatrical productions, and should be future-proofed for at least ten years. ### Planning Information Castle Point Borough Council, supported by the Essex Procurement Partnership (EPP), is undertaking a pre-procurement market engagement exercise for the supply and installation of professional-grade stage technical infrastructure at the Mercury Hall, Paddocks Community Centre, Canvey Island, Essex. The Paddocks Community Centre has recently undergone a £2.3 million refurbishment. The Mercury Hall has a capacity of 500 seated / 560 standing and hosts a diverse programme of events including DJ nights, tribute shows, comedy evenings, bingo, fitness classes, amateur and school theatre productions, pantomime, and meetings. The Council wishes to procure a contractor to design, supply and install a complete stage technical infrastructure package. The scope includes: a flying and rigging system (motorised and manual elements, with LOLER certification at handover); a full stage lighting system with wash and profile fixtures, dimmable house lighting, and a front-of-house lighting desk with backstage simple controls; a professional sound system including a digital FOH desk, digital multicore, radio microphones, monitor wedges, DI boxes, and an assistive listening device; a motorised projection screen and suitable projector with HDMI connectivity; wireless communications headsets; and all associated cabling, power distribution, and control systems. The system must serve events ranging from simple fitness classes operated without a technician through to full theatrical productions, and should be future-proofed for at least ten years. The estimated budget for the project is £80,000-£95,000 for supply and installation, with a separate anticipated annual servicing requirement of approximately £1,500 per annum. HOW TO RESPOND: Please download the Market Engagement questionnaire document attached by following this link: https://procontract.due-north.com/Procurer/Advert/View?advertId=8e147aee-be26-f111-813c-005056b64545&fromAdvertEvent=True Complete all relevant sections and return your response via the Procontract messaging function for project EPP0344 by the deadline below. Participation in this market engagement is voluntary and will not advantage or disadvantage any organisation in any future procurement process. KEY DATES: Market Engagement Issued: 23 March 2026 Response Deadline: 7 April 2026 (12:00 noon) Tender Published (via Procontract): 13 April 2026 Site Visit: 24 April 2026 Tender Closes: 8 May 2026 Evaluation Complete: 26 May 2026 Contract Award and commencement: June 2026 CLARIFICATIONS: Any questions or requests for clarification should be submitted through the Procontract messaging function under project reference EPP0344. All clarification responses will be shared with all registered respondents (with any confidential information redacted). EPP and Castle Point Borough Council reserve the right to decline to answer any question if doing so would jeopardise a future procurement exercise. DISCLAIMER: This market engagement is for information-gathering purposes only. It is not an invitation to tender, a request for quotation, or a pre-qualification questionnaire. No contractual commitment will result from this exercise. The Council's current assessment is that a Procurement Act 2023 Open Tender will be the most appropriate route to market for the formal procurement, which will be published separately on Procontract under the same reference (EPP0344). ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026544-2026 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 23 Mar 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 7 Apr 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 7 Jun 2026 - 10 Jul 2026 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £100,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Planning | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | CASTLE POINT BOROUGH COUNCIL | | Locality | BENFLEET | | Post town | Southend-on-Sea | | Postcode | SS7 1TF | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLH East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLH3 Essex | | ITL 3 | TLH37 Essex Thames Gateway | | Local authority | Castle Point | | Electoral ward | Thundersley South | | Westminster constituency | Castle Point | | Delivery location | TLH36 Heart of Essex | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 31 - Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting - 32 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment - 44 - Construction structures and materials; auxiliary products to construction (except electric apparatus) - 51 - Installation services (except software) ### Codes - 31500000 - Lighting equipment and electric lamps - 32322000 - Multimedia equipment - 32342400 - Acoustic devices - 44212320 - Miscellaneous structures - 51310000 - Installation services of radio, television, sound and video equipment ## Release History - 23 Mar 2026 at 20:39 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026544-2026 - 23 Mar 2026 at 20:32 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026543-2026 - 23 Mar 2026 at 19:54 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026523-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026544-2026 23rd March 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026543-2026 23rd March 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026523-2026 23rd March 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://procontract.due-north.com/Procurer/Advert/View?advertId=8e147aee-be26-f111-813c-005056b64545&fromAdvertEvent=True - 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-06720d. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06720d.json.