Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
Norfolk County Council
County Hall, Martineau Lane
Norwich
NR12DH
UK
Contact person: Julie Ward
Telephone: +44 1603224320
E-mail: julie.ward@norfolk.gov.uk
NUTS: UKH15
Internet address(es)
Main address: www.norfolk.gov.uk
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Professional Services to prepare for the delivery of a Spatial Development Strategy in Norfolk and Suffolk: Scoping, Baselining and Infrastructure Planning
Reference number: NCCF43446
II.1.2) Main CPV code
79410000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils have let a contract for the delivery of a Spatial Development Strategy. The Councils have identified the need for additional professional services to support their work in preparing for delivery. The contract will be in the sole name of Norfolk County Council. Norfolk County Council reserves the right to order additional services from the winning bidder if further work is required that arise from this consultancy requirement.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
185 484.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKH1
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils have let a contract for the delivery of a Spatial Development Strategy. The Councils have identified the need for additional professional services to support their work in preparing for delivery. The contract will be in the sole name of Norfolk County Council. Norfolk County Council reserves the right to order additional services from the winning bidder if further work is required that arise from this consultancy requirement.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
II.2.14) Additional information
This was a further competition under ESPO Consultancy Services Framework 664_25 Lot 8f
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition
Justification for selected award procedure:
The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the Directive
Explanation
This was a call off contract against ESPO Consultancy Services 664_25 Lot 8f
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
Section V: Award of contract
Contract No: NCCF43446
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
20/07/2026
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 7
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Ove Arup and Partners Ltd
1312453
London
UK
NUTS: UKI
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 185 481.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
In respect of Local Government Reorganisation ("LGR"), on 7 September 2026 the government withdrew an earlier decision that it was minded to establish three unitary councils for Norfolk and announced a 'rapid review' of its LGR programme in respect of Norfolk and some other areas.
On 4 December 2025, the then Secretary of State for Local Government made a written statement [UIN HCWS1128] stating that the government intended to establish a Mayoral Strategic Authority for Norfolk and Suffolk as soon as possible, and that it was minded to hold inaugural mayoral elections in May 2028.
On 7 September 2026, the current Secretary of State said: "The Prime Minister is really clear that the Government's ambition is to ensure that every area in England has, or is in the process of establishing, a strategic authority by the end of 2027, with strategic authorities in place everywhere by the end of 2028".
Should LGR and/or devolution processes lead to unitary local government in Norfolk and/or to the establishment of a strategic authority covering Norfolk (i) the contract may be transferred, assigned or novated to any successor authority(ies) to the county council, or to any joint body incorporating or formed by any such successor and/or to any strategic authority; and/or (ii) the council or a successor authority or joint body may order services on behalf of other local authorities serving any area within Norfolk's current geographical boundaries.
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
20/10/2026