---
title: "SDS - Critical Friend"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-078285"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-078285"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078285.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078285.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "West of England Combined Authority"
published: "2026-10-07"
---

# SDS - Critical Friend

Buyer: West of England Combined Authority  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-078285

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-078285)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078285.json)

## Summary

The West of England Combined Authority commissioned a critical-friend service to review and scrutinise work on its Spatial Development Strategy. This is specialist advisory work in urban environmental development planning, intended to provide independent challenge and review as the strategy is developed. The work covers Bristol and the wider West of England area, including the neighbouring areas represented by the delivery locations. The buyer is a regional public authority. The requirement is focused on strategic spatial planning rather than general consultancy: the supplier’s role is to examine the authority’s strategy-related work and provide scrutiny as a critical friend.

The procurement is complete and the contract is active. The Combined Authority used a below-threshold limited competition. Richard Wood Associates Ltd was selected and the contract was signed on 27 August 2026. Its value is £150,000 excluding VAT (£180,000 including VAT). The contract runs from 27 August 2026 to 31 December 2028, with an option to extend for up to 12 months in six-month increments; the maximum stated end date is 31 December 2029. The procurement was arranged as one lot. The published information describes the service and limited competition route but does not set out an evaluation formula or specific eligibility requirements.

For a supplier that did not win, this award shows that the Combined Authority has commissioned dedicated independent scrutiny for its Spatial Development Strategy, rather than relying only on internal review. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need to demonstrate sound understanding of strategic spatial planning and urban environmental development, together with the ability to assess strategy-related work critically and constructively. The critical-friend role calls for clear, balanced challenge and advice that can help a public authority test its work as the strategy progresses. Relevant experience supporting regional planning bodies or comparable public-sector strategy work would be commercially pertinent, although no particular accreditation, staffing level or qualification is stated as a requirement.

## Notice

Provision for a supplier to act as a Critical Friend to review and scrutinise works relating to the Spatial Development Strategy.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/094725-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - limited competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 7 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 27 Aug 2026 - 31 Dec 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £150,000 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | West of England Combined Authority |
| Locality | BRISTOL |
| Postcode area | Bristol |
| Postcode | BS1 6AL |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLK5 West of England |
| ITL 3 | TLK51 Bristol, City of |
| Local authority | Bristol, City of |
| Electoral ward | Central |
| Westminster constituency | Bristol Central |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | Richard Wood Associates |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

### Codes

- 90712100 - Urban environmental development planning

## Release History

- 7 Oct 2026 at 13:06 - AwardUpdate - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/094725-2026
- 7 Oct 2026 at 11:59 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/094668-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/094725-2026
  7th October 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/094668-2026
  7th October 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/about-us/contact-us/

## 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-078285. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078285.json.