---
title: "Support for Communities Framework 2026-2030"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000837694"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000837694"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000837694.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000837694.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS ENTERPRISE"
published: "2026-08-06"
---

# Support for Communities Framework 2026-2030

Buyer: HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS ENTERPRISE  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000837694

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## Summary

Highlands and Islands Enterprise, situated in Inverness, UK, is inviting tenders for its "Support for Communities Framework 2026-2030." The procurement, designated under the economic affairs category, aims to provide practical support to community organisations and social enterprises. This open procedure tender is at the 'tender' stage, with submissions due by 10th September 2026, and the awarding commencing on the same date. The framework, valued at GBP 600,000, covers service delivery in the UKM6 region, with the contract initially running from November 2026 for three years, extendable by one year.

This tender presents significant business potential, particularly for companies experienced in organisational development, project development, financial management, and sustainability initiatives. Its emphasis on themes like Fair Work and Net Zero aligns with current best practices, catering to businesses ready to support social enterprises. The open procurement and framework agreement, with an allowance for up to seven participants, facilitate a competitive yet accessible entry for qualified firms. Additionally, companies that can adapt to changing service needs and adhere to procurement regulations will find this an excellent opportunity to grow their public sector portfolio.

## Notice

The Framework is an alternative means of providing a range of practical hands-on support (not advice, which is available through HIE's Specialist Advice Framework) to community organisations and social enterprises that lack the capacity or a particular skill-set to timeously progress an opportunity. This is added value support and must complement the existing social enterprise support ecosystem and, therefore, must not duplicate services already available via other HIE Frameworks e.g. Board Healthcheck and Skills Training or other public sector/public sector supported organisations, e.g. Business Gateway, Just Enterprise, etc. It is expected that these services will be required from November 2026 for an initial period of 3 years, with HIE having the option to extend for a period or periods together not exceeding 1 year following the Initial Term. The 3 year budget currently available to deliver this service is between GBP 400,000 and GBP 450,000 (excluding VAT). The total estimated value of the framework for the full framework duration including the extension is GBP 600,000, which is the value stated in this notice.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

The main Types of support across a range of sectors are as below: - Organisation Development - Project Development - Impact Measurement - Financial and Procurement Cutting across all of these activities will are the themes of Fair Work, Net Zero and Sustainability. It should be noted that there may be specific project commissions with a clear focus on Net Zero, Fair Work and Sustainability activity. See Appendix A - Scope of Requirements for full requirement details.. Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in Regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Options: HIE reserves the right, on giving reasonable written notice from time to time, to require changes to the Services under the Framework Agreement, including the removal of Services, the addition of new Services, increases or decreases to the Services, or changes to the order in which the Services are to be performed or the locations where the Services are to be provided. HIE shall not require any such change other than where it is permitted by Regulation 72 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. HIE may also modify its call-off contracts, where permitted by Regulation 72, and in accordance with the terms of the relevant call-off contract. Such modifications may include, but are not limited to: -Changes to budget availability. -HIE bringing the services in-house (fully or partially) such that the services are no longer required or reduced services are required. -Reduction or removal of services are required for example where services are no longer required due to changes in organisational strategy or priorities. -Cancellation or pausing of a call-off contract due to changes in the project status. -The addition of similar services, e.g. due to increased demand; where significant inconvenience and/or substantial duplication of costs to HIE can be avoided. -Increases to the volume of the services required. -Change in legislative requirements resulting in increased, reduced or amended services.

Renewal: The Framework will be awarded for an initial period of 3 years with HIE having the option to extend for a period or periods together not exceeding 12 months following the Initial Term.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=AUG561793 |
| Notice type | OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 6 Aug 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 10 Sep 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | HIE reserves the right to re-tender for these services upon termination of the contract or at the end of the contract period, including any extension period. |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £600,000 |
| Lots value | £600,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS ENTERPRISE |
| Locality | INVERNESS |
| Post town | Inverness |
| Postcode | IV2 5NA |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM2 Highlands and Islands |
| ITL 3 | TLM20 Highlands and Islands |
| Local authority | Highland |
| Electoral ward | Inverness South |
| Westminster constituency | Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire |
| Delivery location | TLM6 Highlands and Islands |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 66 - Financial and insurance services
- 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services
- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
- 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
- 90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

### Codes

- 66171000 - Financial consultancy services
- 71314300 - Energy-efficiency consultancy services
- 72224000 - Project management consultancy services
- 79400000 - Business and management consultancy and related services
- 79410000 - Business and management consultancy services
- 79411000 - General management consultancy services
- 79412000 - Financial management consultancy services
- 79418000 - Procurement consultancy services
- 90713000 - Environmental issues consultancy services

## Release History

- 6 Aug 2026 at 00:00 - Tender - OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=AUG561793

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=AUG561793
  Support for Communities Framework 2026-2030 - The Framework is an alternative means of providing a range of practical hands-on support (not advice, which is available through HIE's Specialist Advice Framework) to community organisations and social enterprises that lack the capacity or a particular skill-set to timeously progress an opportunity. This is added value support and must complement the existing social enterprise support ecosystem and, therefore, must not duplicate services already available via other HIE Frameworks e.g. Board Healthcheck and Skills Training or other public sector/public sector supported organisations, e.g. Business Gateway, Just Enterprise, etc. It is expected that these services will be required from November 2026 for an initial period of 3 years, with HIE having the option to extend for a period or periods together not exceeding 1 year following the Initial Term. The 3 year budget currently available to deliver this service is between GBP 400,000 and GBP 450,000 (excluding VAT). The total estimated value of the framework for the full framework duration including the extension is GBP 600,000, which is the value stated in this notice.

## Notice URLs

- http://www.hie.co.uk
- http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
- http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=837694
- http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000837694
- https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ESPD/ESPD_Download.aspx?id=837694
- https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/the-courts/court-locations/inverness-sheriff-court-and-justice-of-the-peace-court

## 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-r6ebe6-0000837694. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000837694.json.