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- TD2317 - Preliminary Market Engagement Management of Derby City Council Leisure Centres
TD2317 - Preliminary Market Engagement Management of Derby City Council Leisure Centres
AI Summary
Derby City Council seeks a long-term partner to manage its leisure centers. The chosen operator will be responsible for ensuring the financial stability of the leisure centers by reducing costs and increasing income through a more commercial approach.
Furthermore, the selected partner will need to develop a comprehensive plan for addressing backlog maintenance and funding future investments in the facilities. This plan should include clear timelines, cost estimations, and demonstrate how these investments will enhance the user experience and overall quality of the leisure centers.
The successful candidate will also be expected to prioritize increasing community participation, particularly among underrepresented groups. This will involve implementing targeted outreach programs, developing inclusive facility design strategies, and promoting initiatives that encourage physical activity and healthy lifestyles. Finally, the chosen operator must demonstrate a deep understanding of Derby Arena's unique role as a regional, national, and international sports venue and possess the ability to attract high-profile events while supporting local sporting aspirations.
Description
he Authority is planning to undertake a Tender for the "Management of Derby City Council Leisure Centres"
This is a Preliminary Market Engagement exercise and not a call for competition.
The intention of this notice is to inform the market and gather feedback in relation to a potential future procurement for the Management of Derby City Council Leisure Centres.
The Scope of the service includes Derby Arena; Springwood Leisure Centre; and potentially the Waterside Café, community room and sports facilities at Alvaston Park, and the Orangery and Kiosks at Markeaton Park.
Estimated date of publication of contract notice: 2025-11-01T23:59:59Z
Contract location: UKF11
Engagement process description
Preliminary Market Engagement - Management of Derby City Council Leisure Centres
2. Contracting Authority Details
Name: Derby City Council
Address: Council House, Corporation St, Derby, DE1 2FS
Contact Point: Derby City Council procurement
Website: https://www.eastmidstenders.org/
Contract Type: Service /Concession
3. Purpose of the Notice
This Notice is published to inform the market and gather feedback in relation to a potential future procurement for the Management of Derby City Council Leisure Centres.
This is a Preliminary Market Engagement and not a call for competition.
4. Description of the Requirement
The Authority is planning to undertake a Tender for the "Management of Derby City Council Leisure Centres"
The Scope of the service includes Derby Arena; Springwood Leisure Centre; and potentially the Waterside Café, community room and sports facilities at Alvaston Park, and the Orangery and Kiosks at Markeaton Park. The Services Specification will be based on the Sport England template, made bespoke to this project.
5. Requirement
The objective of the procurement will be to secure the most advantageous tender considering the Authority's strategic outcomes (set out in paragraph 3 below) whilst maximising the payment to the Authority.
In undertaking this procurement, the Authority wishes to achieve the following outcomes
• Establish a long-term partnership with an experience operator
• Financial stability for the Centres through reduced costs and increased income due to a more commercial approach
• Capital investment for backlog maintenance and future investment and operator)
• Planned and funded lifecycle investment, given age of facilities and future requirements
• Increased participation of the Centres
• Increased participation by those residents who are normally less likely to use a leisure centre
• Promotion of improved wellbeing for residents
• Positive impact on reducing physical activity and health inequality in the City
• Maximise Derby Arena's primary focus as a regional, national, and international, sports venue that supports the City's sporting aspirations.
It is anticipated that the Contract will commence in early 2027.
Prior to undertaking the formal procurement process, which is targeted to commence November 2025, Derby City Council is seeking to undertake Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) with the leisure operator market to enable the Authority to better define its service requirements and the procurement process. We are seeking engagement with potential suppliers to:
• Test with the market some of the contractual terms and conditions including use of an agency model.
• Consider how improvement works, and equipment replacement could be delivered and funded as part of the Contract.
• Test the market's appetite to include within the scope of tender, the management of park's catering and sports facilities.
• Understand the market's experience of working with library services as part of a leisure contract.
• Understand the level of interest from the market to tender for this contract.
6. Response Instructions
If you wish to participate in this preliminary market engagement exercise, please follow the link to www.eastmidstender.org and search for TD2317 - Preliminary Market Engagement Management of Derby City Council Leisure Centres. This will enable you to download and complete the Questionnaire.
Please return the questionnaire together with any relevant information to support this process through the procurement portal www.eastmidstender.org by midday on 8th October 2025.
7. Disclaimer
This notice is not a call for competition.
Participation in this engagement will not confer any advantage or disadvantage in any future procurement process.
The Contracting Authority is under no obligation to proceed with any procurement.
No Contract will be awarded as a result of this market engagement exercise.
8. Transparency and Equal Treatment
Any relevant insights or clarifications arising from this engagement will be made available to all potential Suppliers as part of any future tender documentation, to ensure transparency and a level playing field.
9. Anticipated Procurement Timeline
Market engagement: 15th September - 8th October 2025
Procurement notice publication (anticipated): November 2025
Invitation to submit Tender: January 2026
Evaluation of Tenders: April 2026
Dialogue - May 2026
Final Tenders: June / July 2026
Preferred Bidder Recommended: September 2026
Contract commencement: early 2027
Please note, this timetable may be altered.
Lot: 1
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted: En
This is a Preliminary Market Engagement exercise and not a call for competition.
The intention of this notice is to inform the market and gather feedback in relation to a potential future procurement for the Management of Derby City Council Leisure Centres.
The Scope of the service includes Derby Arena; Springwood Leisure Centre; and potentially the Waterside Café, community room and sports facilities at Alvaston Park, and the Orangery and Kiosks at Markeaton Park.
Estimated date of publication of contract notice: 2025-11-01T23:59:59Z
Contract location: UKF11
Engagement process description
Preliminary Market Engagement - Management of Derby City Council Leisure Centres
2. Contracting Authority Details
Name: Derby City Council
Address: Council House, Corporation St, Derby, DE1 2FS
Contact Point: Derby City Council procurement
Website: https://www.eastmidstenders.org/
Contract Type: Service /Concession
3. Purpose of the Notice
This Notice is published to inform the market and gather feedback in relation to a potential future procurement for the Management of Derby City Council Leisure Centres.
This is a Preliminary Market Engagement and not a call for competition.
4. Description of the Requirement
The Authority is planning to undertake a Tender for the "Management of Derby City Council Leisure Centres"
The Scope of the service includes Derby Arena; Springwood Leisure Centre; and potentially the Waterside Café, community room and sports facilities at Alvaston Park, and the Orangery and Kiosks at Markeaton Park. The Services Specification will be based on the Sport England template, made bespoke to this project.
5. Requirement
The objective of the procurement will be to secure the most advantageous tender considering the Authority's strategic outcomes (set out in paragraph 3 below) whilst maximising the payment to the Authority.
In undertaking this procurement, the Authority wishes to achieve the following outcomes
• Establish a long-term partnership with an experience operator
• Financial stability for the Centres through reduced costs and increased income due to a more commercial approach
• Capital investment for backlog maintenance and future investment and operator)
• Planned and funded lifecycle investment, given age of facilities and future requirements
• Increased participation of the Centres
• Increased participation by those residents who are normally less likely to use a leisure centre
• Promotion of improved wellbeing for residents
• Positive impact on reducing physical activity and health inequality in the City
• Maximise Derby Arena's primary focus as a regional, national, and international, sports venue that supports the City's sporting aspirations.
It is anticipated that the Contract will commence in early 2027.
Prior to undertaking the formal procurement process, which is targeted to commence November 2025, Derby City Council is seeking to undertake Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) with the leisure operator market to enable the Authority to better define its service requirements and the procurement process. We are seeking engagement with potential suppliers to:
• Test with the market some of the contractual terms and conditions including use of an agency model.
• Consider how improvement works, and equipment replacement could be delivered and funded as part of the Contract.
• Test the market's appetite to include within the scope of tender, the management of park's catering and sports facilities.
• Understand the market's experience of working with library services as part of a leisure contract.
• Understand the level of interest from the market to tender for this contract.
6. Response Instructions
If you wish to participate in this preliminary market engagement exercise, please follow the link to www.eastmidstender.org and search for TD2317 - Preliminary Market Engagement Management of Derby City Council Leisure Centres. This will enable you to download and complete the Questionnaire.
Please return the questionnaire together with any relevant information to support this process through the procurement portal www.eastmidstender.org by midday on 8th October 2025.
7. Disclaimer
This notice is not a call for competition.
Participation in this engagement will not confer any advantage or disadvantage in any future procurement process.
The Contracting Authority is under no obligation to proceed with any procurement.
No Contract will be awarded as a result of this market engagement exercise.
8. Transparency and Equal Treatment
Any relevant insights or clarifications arising from this engagement will be made available to all potential Suppliers as part of any future tender documentation, to ensure transparency and a level playing field.
9. Anticipated Procurement Timeline
Market engagement: 15th September - 8th October 2025
Procurement notice publication (anticipated): November 2025
Invitation to submit Tender: January 2026
Evaluation of Tenders: April 2026
Dialogue - May 2026
Final Tenders: June / July 2026
Preferred Bidder Recommended: September 2026
Contract commencement: early 2027
Please note, this timetable may be altered.
Lot: 1
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted: En
Details
Status:
Forecast
Sectors:
92610000 - Sports facilities operation services
Place of origin:
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Places of performance:
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Deadline:
Jan 2, 2027, 12:00 AM
Contract duration:
Start date: 02 January 2027, End date: 01 January 2037
Contract type:
Services
Publication date:
Sep 16, 2025
Created date:
Sep 17, 2025
Update date:
Oct 21, 2026
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