--- title: "Outsourced Clerking Service" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-069687" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-069687" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-069687.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-069687.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "PETERBOROUGH CITY COUNCIL" published: "2026-05-12" --- # Outsourced Clerking Service Buyer: PETERBOROUGH CITY COUNCIL Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-069687 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-069687) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-069687.json) ## Summary Peterborough City Council is conducting a Preliminary Market Engagement for the outsourcing of its clerking service, classified under administration services within the public authority sector. The procurement focus is on creating a sustainable, high-quality service that supports the council's diverse schools in Peterborough, United Kingdom. Currently at the planning stage, the engagement is open until 12:00 Noon on 9th June 2026, allowing interested suppliers to submit their Expressions of Interest through ProContract. The objective is to gather insights on market capabilities and pricing structures, with the initial service contract period expected to start on 1st September 2026 and conclude on 31st August 2028. This opportunity is particularly favourable for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) specialising in administrative services. By participating, businesses have the potential to expand their footprint in the public sector by contributing to the improvement of governance across educational institutions. Involvement in this preliminary phase can position suppliers favourably for potential future bidding, offering the chance to influence the design of a scalable and efficient clerking service that addresses current challenges such as inconsistent quality and recruitment difficulties. ## Notice The Council supports a diverse range of maintained schools, each with governing boards and committees that must meet regularly and lawfully. Clerks are required to provide professional administrative and procedural support, including agenda preparation, attendance at meetings, advice on governance matters, accurate recording of decisions, and production of compliant minutes. Current arrangements face challenges including recruitment and retention of suitably skilled clerks, maintaining consistent quality across schools, ensuring resilience and cover arrangements, and managing cost pressures. The Council is therefore seeking to understand how the market could deliver a sustainable, high-quality clerking service in a manner that is scalable. Supplier who are interested in this opportunity should submit an Expression of Interest on the ProContract Advert. This will then grant access to the Preliminary Market Engagement document that all Suppliers are asked to complete and return via ProContract by no later than 12:00 Noon on 9th June 2026. THIS IS NOT A CALL FOR COMPETITION. This is a Preliminary Market Engagement Opportunity to understand the current market and pricing structures. Responses will be reviewed and follow up clarification questions may be asked to ensure the Authority can make an informed decision on the future of the clerking service. No supplier selection or supplier preference is implied. ### Planning Information THIS IS NOT A CALL TO COMPETITION. This is a Preliminary Market Engagement event in relation to outsourcing the existing clerking service. This preliminary market engagement event does not form any part of any invitation to tender. Peterborough City Council is issuing this request for information only. Any supplier invited to present to the Authority is doing so to support market research only and to help make any potential procurement process more focused and efficient. No supplier selection or supplier preference is implied. The preliminary market engagement event can be accessed via ProContract at this link: https://procontract.due-north.com/Supplier/Advert/View?advertId=2bd00c22-ec4d-f111-813c-005056b64545&fromProjectDashboard=False&fromRfxSummary=False&selectWorkgroup=False&fromAdvertEvent=False&fromActivityDashboard=False If you do not already have an account with ProContract you can register and create an account for free. Once you have accessed the advert, please click on the green "Register interest in this opportunity". Doing this will allow you to access the Preliminary Market Engagement event and associated document. Once the questions within the document have been completed, please upload your response via ProContract. The event will remain open until 12:00 Noon on 9th June 2026. If you have any questions whilst this event is live and you have already registered your interest, please use the ProContract messaging facility. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/043394-2026 | | 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, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 12 May 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 9 Jun 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 31 Aug 2026 - 31 Aug 2028 | | 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 | Planning | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | PETERBOROUGH CITY COUNCIL | | Locality | PETERBOROUGH | | Post town | Peterborough | | Postcode | PE2 8TY | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLH East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLH4 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough | | ITL 3 | TLH41 Peterborough | | Local authority | Peterborough | | Electoral ward | Fletton and Stanground | | Westminster constituency | North West Cambridgeshire | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 75 - Administration, defence and social security services ### Codes - 75100000 - Administration services ## Release History - 12 May 2026 at 11:26 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/043394-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/043394-2026 12th May 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://procontract.due-north.com/Supplier/Advert/View?advertId=2bd00c22-ec4d-f111-813c-005056b64545&fromProjectDashboard=False&fromRfxSummary=False&selectWorkgroup=False&fromAdvertEvent=False&fromActivityDashboard=False - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents - https://www.peterborough.gov.uk/business/supplying-the-council/supply-opportunities ## 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-069687. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-069687.json.