---
title: "I4C Innovation and Cleantech Centre, Ballymena"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-078c00"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-078c00"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078c00.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078c00.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "Mid and East Antrim Borough Council"
published: "2026-10-20"
---

# I4C Innovation and Cleantech Centre, Ballymena

Buyer: Mid and East Antrim Borough Council  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-078c00

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-078c00)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078c00.json)

## Summary

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council intends to procure construction of the i4C Innovation and Cleantech Centre in Ballymena. The purpose-built facility is intended to support businesses in clean technology, innovation and advanced manufacturing. The proposed development includes offices, collaboration and innovation spaces, light industrial and workshop accommodation, and ancillary facilities. Associated works cover external areas, access, parking, landscaping, utilities and infrastructure. The Council is developing the design and seeking views from experienced contractors and the wider construction market before finalising its procurement strategy and project scope. Whether loose furniture will form part of the construction contract remains under consideration. The delivery location is Ballymena, County Antrim.

This is at the planning stage: the Council is undertaking preliminary market engagement, not inviting tenders. It expects a formal procurement to begin with a preliminary selection questionnaire in January 2027, followed by an invitation to tender in June 2027 and award in December 2027. Contract commencement is anticipated in February 2028, with construction expected to start in May 2028 and completion in December 2029. These are indicative programme dates. The estimated construction contract value is approximately £20 million, including construction and design risk allowances and anticipated construction and tender inflation; it remains subject to design development, cost planning and confirmation of scope. The procurement approach and final tender requirements have yet to be settled. The centre is planned as one lot, considered suitable for SMEs.

The Council is seeking input from contractors with relevant construction experience, and wants to understand market appetite, capacity and likely competition for a project of this scale. It is asking for views on procurement and contracting options, programme durations, buildability, sequencing, delivery risks, supply-chain capacity and lead-in times, inflation, and the information needed to price and manage project risks. Suppliers able to contribute early construction and supply-chain advice may be well placed to inform the developing approach. The Council also wants feedback on sustainability and environmental requirements, including proposed BREEAM objectives, and on social value and opportunities for local supply-chain and SME participation. Responses to the preliminary engagement questionnaire are invited by 16 November 2026 at 5pm; the Council may invite participants to follow-up discussions. No specific accreditations or technical qualifications are set out.

## Notice

1. Preliminary Market Engagement Mid and East Antrim Borough Council intends to undertake Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) in advance of a proposed procurement exercise for the construction of the i4C Innovation & Cleantech Centre in Ballymena. The purpose of this Preliminary Market Engagement is to engage with suitably experienced contractors and the wider construction market to assist the Council in developing and refining its procurement strategy and approach prior to commencement of the formal procurement process. The Council wishes to understand current market capability, capacity and appetite for a project of this nature and to obtain market feedback on matters which may influence the final procurement and delivery strategy. 2. Project Description The proposed i4C Innovation & Cleantech Centre will provide a purpose-designed innovation and cleantech facility in Ballymena, supporting businesses operating within the clean technology, innovation and advanced manufacturing sectors. The proposed development is anticipated to comprise office, collaboration and innovation spaces together with light industrial/workshop accommodation, ancillary facilities and associated external works, access, parking, landscaping, utilities and infrastructure. The current estimated construction contract value is approximately PS20 million, inclusive of allowances for construction and design risk and anticipated construction and tender inflation. This figure is indicative only and remains subject to ongoing design development, cost planning and confirmation of the proposed procurement scope. The inclusion of loose furniture within the construction contract remains under consideration and will be confirmed as the procurement strategy is developed. The project is currently progressing through design development and statutory approval stages. The The project is currently progressing through design development and statutory approval stages. The final scope and procurement documentation remain subject to development and approval. Through this Preliminary Market Engagement exercise, the Council is seeking feedback from the construction market in relation to matters including, but not necessarily limited to: * current contractor interest and appetite for the project; * market capacity and anticipated competition; * proposed procurement and contracting approach; * appropriate tendering and construction programme durations; * buildability and potential construction sequencing considerations; * key project and delivery risks; * current supply-chain constraints and lead-in periods; * inflation and other relevant market conditions; * opportunities for early contractor or supply-chain input; * sustainability and environmental requirements, including the proposed BREEAM objectives; * social value and opportunities for local supply-chain and SME participation; * information that tenderers would require to appropriately understand, price and manage the project risks; and any other matters which respondents consider could improve the deliverability, value for money or procurement of the project. The Council may use information obtained through this exercise to inform the procurement strategy, tender documentation, programme, risk allocation and other aspects of the proposed procurement Interested contractors are invited to participate in the Preliminary Market Engagement exercise. Participants will be asked to provide feedback through Appendix A - Preliminary Market Engagement Questionnaire. The relevant Preliminary Market Engagement information and questionnaire will be made available through https://e-sourcingni.ukp.app.jaggaer.com/. Interested contractors are invited to review the information provided and submit their completed responses through the portal no later than: * Monday 16th November 2026 at 5pm Indicative Procurement Programme The following dates are indicative only and may be subject to change: * Preliminary Market Engagement Notice published: Tuesday 20th October 2026 * Deadline for PME responses: Monday 16th November 2026 * Formal procurement process anticipated to commence (PSQ): January 2027 * Invitation to Tender (ITT) anticipated: June 2027 * Contract award anticipated: December 2027 * Contract commencement anticipated: February 2028 * Construction commencement anticipated: May 2028 * Contract completion anticipated: December 2029

### Planning Information

4.Participation
Interested contractors are invited to participate in the Preliminary Market Engagement exercise.
Participants will be asked to provide feedback through Appendix A – Preliminary Market Engagement Questionnaire.
The relevant Preliminary Market Engagement information and questionnaire will be made available through https://e-sourcingni.ukp.app.jaggaer.com.
Responses should be submitted no later than:
•Monday 16th November 2026 at 5pm
The Council may, where considered beneficial, invite respondents to participate in follow-up discussions or engagement meetings.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099074-2026 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Works |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 20 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 19 Jan 2027 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 Feb 2028 - 31 Dec 2029 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £20,000,000 |
| 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 | Mid and East Antrim Borough Council |
| Locality | BALLYMENA |
| Postcode area | Northern Ireland |
| Postcode | BT43 5EJ |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| ITL 1 | TLN Northern Ireland |
| ITL 2 | TLN0 Northern Ireland |
| ITL 3 | TLN0F Mid and East Antrim |
| Local authority | Mid and East Antrim |
| Electoral ward | Castle Demesne |
| Westminster constituency | North Antrim |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 45 - Construction work
- 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

### Codes

- 45000000 - Construction work
- 71000000 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

## Release History

- 20 Oct 2026 at 14:47 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099074-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099074-2026
  20th October 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://e-sourcingni.ukp.app.jaggaer.com
- https://e-sourcingni.ukp.app.jaggaer.com/
- 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-078c00. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078c00.json.