---
title: "The Engine Room Evaluation"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06eae2"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06eae2"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06eae2.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06eae2.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "Tees Valley Combined Authority"
published: "2026-08-24"
---

# The Engine Room Evaluation

Buyer: Tees Valley Combined Authority  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06eae2

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## Summary

Tees Valley Combined Authority commissioned an evaluation of The Engine Room, a three-year Arts Council-funded programme supporting the creative sector. The requirement is for evaluation consultancy services, covering assessment of how the programme is delivered and what it achieves. The work supports the authority’s understanding of the programme’s effectiveness and outcomes, rather than the delivery of creative-sector support itself. Delivery is in the Tees Valley area of England. The buyer is a sub-central public authority based in Darlington. This is a focused research and evaluation requirement for organisations able to assess publicly funded programmes, gather and analyse evidence, and present findings that can inform decisions about creative-sector support.

The procurement has been completed and the contract was awarded to Kada Research Limited, an SME. The award was made on 24 August 2026 following a below-threshold limited competition. One lot was used, and three bids were received, all three from SMEs. The awarded value is £39,506 excluding VAT, or £47,407.20 including VAT. The contract is scheduled to run from 14 September 2026 to 13 March 2029, with an optional 12-month extension to a maximum end date of 13 March 2030. The award is active, and the contract signature was scheduled for 11 September 2026. The competition was evaluated through a limited route, but the published information does not set out separate award criteria.

This procurement demonstrates demand from Tees Valley Combined Authority for specialist evaluation of publicly funded creative-sector programmes. A credible future competitor would need consultancy capability in programme evaluation, research design, evidence gathering, data analysis and clear reporting of outcomes. Experience assessing cultural or creative-sector support programmes would be directly relevant, particularly where the work must show whether funding has produced meaningful benefits for participants and the wider sector. The requirement was competed through a below-threshold limited route and attracted three SME bidders, indicating a scale that can suit a focused research consultancy rather than only a large professional-services firm. Suppliers should be able to work with a public authority, manage a multi-year evaluation and turn evidence into practical recommendations.

## Notice

Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) is seeking a provide to deliver an evaluation of the engine room project a 3-year Arts Council Funded creative sector support programme.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080511-2026 |
| Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - limited competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 24 Aug 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 24 Aug 2026 |
| Contract period | 14 Sep 2026 - 13 Mar 2029 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £39,506 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | Tees Valley Combined Authority |
| Locality | DARLINGTON |
| Postcode area | Darlington |
| Postcode | DL2 1NJ |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLC North East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLC3 Tees Valley |
| ITL 3 | TLC33 Darlington |
| Local authority | Darlington |
| Electoral ward | Sadberge & Middleton St George |
| Westminster constituency | Stockton West |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | Kada Research Limited |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

### Codes

- 79419000 - Evaluation consultancy services

## Release History

- 24 Aug 2026 at 16:06 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080511-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080511-2026
  24th August 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- 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-06eae2. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06eae2.json.