Network for Neighbourhoods

Procurement reference

CPD4130038

Procurement description

MHCLG is seeking to award a contract for the provision of services for Network for Neighbourhoods. The services include core network support, demand-led support, bespoke support to places and Neighbourhood Boards, mentoring, peer learning, specialist advice, learning resources, digital or reusable products, Early Adopters support, implementation support and related programme support.

The contract is anticipated to have an initial period of 2 years and 3 months, from contract signature to31 March 2029, with an option for MHCLG to extend for up to a further 12 months, to 31 March2030. Any extension will be at MHCLG's sole discretion and subject to continuing need, affordability, budget availability, approvals, supplier performance, value for money and compliance with applicable law.

The maximum budget for the initial contract term, to31 March 2029, is £13,030,000 excluding VAT. Tenders exceeding the Authority's stipulated cost thresholds may be treated as non-compliant and rejected.

Internal financial approvals for the contract are still being finalised. MHCLG expects these approvals to be confirmed as soon as reasonably practicable and, in any event, before conclusion of the procurement. No contract will be awarded or entered into unless and until all necessary internal approvals have been obtained. Publication of the Tender Notice, ITT or any other procurement document does not constitute a commitment by MHCLG to award or enter into a contract.

Full details can be found in the procurement documents.

Main category

Services

Delivery regions

• UK - United Kingdom

Total value (estimated, excluding VAT)

18030000.00 GBP to 18030000.00GBP

Contract dates (estimated)

18 December 2026, 00:00AM to 31 March 2029, 23:59PM

Extension end date (if all the extensions are used): 31 March 2030

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MCHLG)

Procedure type

Competitive flexible procedure

Is the total value above threshold?

Above threshold

Trade agreements

Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

CPV classifications

• 75200000 - Provision of services to the community
• 80500000 - Training services
• 71000000 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services
• 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
• 79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

Delivery regions

• UK - United Kingdom

Lot value (estimated)

18030000.00 GBP Excluding VAT

21636000.00 GBP Including VAT

Sustainability

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)

Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)

Contract start date (estimated)

18 December 2026, 00:00AM

Contract end date (estimated)

31 March 2029, 23:59PM

Extension end date (estimated)

31 March 2030, 23:59PM

Can the contract be extended?

Yes

Description of extensions

MHCLG reserves the right to extend the contract for up to a further 12 months (to 31st March 2030). Any extension will be at MHCLG's sole discretion and subject to continuing need, affordability, budget availability, approvals, Supplier performance, value for money and compliance with applicable law. The extension option does not create any obligation on MHCLG to extend the Contract, commit funding, or commission any minimum volume of Services during the extension period.

For transparency, MHCLG's current planning assumption is that the value of any optional extension period would be approximately £4m-£5m,based on a broadly comparable annualised level of service to the initial contract period and subject to the pricing/indexation mechanism set out in the procurement documents and contract. The estimated total value of the contract, including the optional extension period, is therefore approximately £17.03m-£18.03m excluding VAT. The actual value of any extension may be lower, and the extension may not be used. No minimum level of demand-led activity or spend is guaranteed.

Does the lot include options?

Yes

Description of options

1. MHCLG has identified a known risk that the level, timing, complexity or mix of demand for Network for Neighbourhoods services may materially exceed current planning assumptions. The precise profile will depend on referrals, diagnostic activity, programme learning, place readiness, Early Adopter progress and service uptake during delivery. Because of its nature, this risk cannot be fully addressed in the Contract as awarded and, if available capacity or the agreed service mix proved insufficient, it could jeopardise satisfactory performance of the Contract. If the risk materialises otherwise than through an act or omission of MHCLG or the Supplier, MHCLG may consider a modification to the value, volume, annual profile or mix of Services. Any modification would be subject to affordability, approvals, value for money, public interest, proportionality, transparency and section74 and Schedule 8 of the Procurement Act 2023; would go no further than necessary; and would not exceed any applicable statutory limit. This creates no commitment to modify or increase the Contract.

Suppliers must price the requirement on the basis that the agreed annual and overall Contract budget limits will apply. A reprofile within the existing overall Contract value may be considered only where permitted by the Contract and supported by the necessary budget, financial and governance approvals. Any change to a contractual annual cap, the overall Contract value or other contractual obligation will be subject to formal Contract Variation and applicable procurement law.

2. In accordance with section 43 of the Procurement Act, the Authority reserves the right to switch from a competitive tendering procedure to the direct award of the Network for Neighbourhoods contract where no, or no suitable, tenders have been received in that competitive tendering procedure and the Authority considers that award under section 19 is not possible. For this Procurement, the relevant competitive tendering procedure is the Competitive Flexible Procedure under section 20(2)(b) of the Act.

3. Possible subsequent contract for similar services: In accordance with Schedule 5, paragraph8 of the Procurement Act 2023, MHCLG may, at its sole discretion, award a subsequent public contract to the successful Supplier without a further competitive tendering procedure where that contract is for services similar to those provided under this Contract and all applicable statutory conditions are satisfied. This may include further or continued provision of Network for Neighbourhoods services of the same or similar nature to those described in the procurement documents. Any such award would be subject to continuing need, affordability, approvals, value for money, Supplier performance, transparency requirements and applicable law. MHCLG gives no commitment that any subsequent contract will be awarded.

Award criteria

Description of risks to contract performance

MHCLG has identified a known risk that the level, timing, complexity or mix of demand for Network for Neighbourhoods services may materially exceed current planning assumptions. The precise profile will depend on referrals, diagnostic activity, programme learning, place readiness, Early Adopter progress and service uptake during delivery. Because of its nature, this risk cannot be fully addressed in the Contract as awarded and, if available capacity or the agreed service mix proved insufficient, it could jeopardise satisfactory performance of the Contract. If the risk materialises otherwise than through an act or omission of MHCLG or the Supplier, MHCLG may consider a modification to the value, volume, annual profile or mix of Services. Any modification would be subject to affordability, approvals, value for money, public interest, proportionality, transparency and section74 and Schedule 8 of the Procurement Act 2023;would go no further than necessary; and would not exceed any applicable statutory limit. This creates no commitment to modify or increase the Contract.

Suppliers must price the requirement on the basis that the agreed annual and overall Contract budget limits will apply. A reprofile within the existing overall Contract value may be considered only where permitted by the Contract and supported by the necessary budget, financial and governance approvals. Any change to a contractual annual cap, the overall Contract value or other contractual obligation will be subject to formal Contract Variation and applicable procurement law.

Tender submission deadline

06 October 2026, 17:00PM

Enquiry deadline

24 September 2026, 17:00PM

Date of award of contract

30 November 2026, 23:59PM

Submission address and any special instructions

All communications and tender submissions must be made through the MHCLG Atamis e-SourcingPortal.https://atamis-5407.my.site.com/login?locale=usOnce you have clicked to register your interest on the Portal, you then need to navigate to My Proposals and Quotes where you should have visibility of the documents.Under the Document tab within the procurement-project record the documents are listed and can be downloaded.Suppliers must ensure that their nominated point of contact on the Portal is accurate and kept up to date.Suppliers wishing to participate must register their organisation on the Central Digital Platform before responding to the ITT and must ensure that core supplier information is complete, accurate and up to date.

May tenders be submitted electronically?

Yes

Languages that may be used for submission

• English