Official UK procurement notice
Christmas Lights 2026-2028 · UK public procurement notice
Authority: Christchurch Town Council (Local council)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe contract covered the design, supply, installation, testing, maintenance and removal of Christmas lighting displays across Christchurch for the 2026-2028 festive seasons, with the option to extend for a further year.
The scope included the provision of all lighting equipment and infrastructure, the installation and operation of displays across key town centre, coastal and community locations, and the lighting of either one or up to seven Christmas trees supplied by the Council.
The service was delivered as a fully managed solution, including project management, maintenance and fault response during the operational period, and compliance with all relevant safety, electrical and highway standards.
The contract was awarded on a fixed-price basis, inclusive of all costs associated with delivery of the service (excluding VAT), including design, labour, equipment, maintenance, and associated risks.
CPV: Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting · Installation services of electrical and mechanical equipment
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1AwardedPublished value£120,000
- Condition of participation
The contractor must demonstrate sufficient operational capacity to provide reactive support throughout the installation, display and removal periods. The contractor must be able to attend site within 4 hours for emergency faults and within 24 hours for non‑urgent issues during the Christmas lighting season. Bidders must provide evidence of having the necessary resources, personnel and equipment to meet these response times.
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Lot awarding rule: The contract will be awarded on the basis of the most economically advantageous tender. Evaluation will consider both price and quality. The following headline criteria will be applied: Quality & Aesthetic Appeal - 40% Assessment of design proposals, visual impact, suitability for locations, technical robustness, and innovation. Cost & Value for Money - 30% Based on the tendered pricing and breakdown per location, including installation, maintenance, removal and associated works. Contract and Project Management - 15% Evaluation of project delivery approach, staffing structure, communication arrangements, quality assurance processes and proposed project plan. Experience & References - 10% Demonstrated relevant experience delivering similar festive lighting contracts within the last five years, with references. Sustainability Measures - 5% Consideration of energy efficiency, recyclability of materials, and environmental management. Compliance & Safety Requirements (Pass/Fail) Tenderers must meet all mandatory compliance requirements including: health and safety policies, working at height assessments, RAMS, relevant accreditations (including HERS where applicable), public liability insurance (£10m), and evidence of capacity to deliver the contract.
- Condition of participation
The contractor must demonstrate sufficient operational capacity to provide reactive support throughout the installation, display and removal periods. The contractor must be able to attend site within 4 hours for emergency faults and within 24 hours for non‑urgent issues during the Christmas lighting season. Bidders must provide evidence of having the necessary resources, personnel and equipment to meet these response times.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Below threshold - open competition
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Below threshold
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 8 Mar 2026, 13:26 GMT
- Last source update
- 18 Jun 2026, 16:45 BST
- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-020669- Latest notice
- Contract award notice (UK6)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0664ccFind a Tender
- Reserved participation area
- K02000001
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 10 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 3 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
- Electronic submission
- Not allowed
Submission address: [email protected]
Submission method and instructions:
All tender submissions must be sent electronically to the email address above. Tenders must include:
A completed Tender Submission Form
All required supporting documentation as set out in the Specification
Contact details for the organisation and the named project lead
Timeline
8 Mar 2026 → 1 Jul 2026 · 5 dates- Tender notice published228 days ago8 Mar 2026, 13:26 GMT
- Clarification questions by202 days ago3 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
- Submission deadline195 days ago10 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
- Latest notice published126 days ago18 Jun 2026, 16:45 BST
- Contract starts114 days ago1 Jul 2026, 00:00 BST
Notice history
7 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 8 Mar 2026- Tender notice published8 Mar 2026, 13:26 GMTUK4
- Tender notice published13 Mar 2026, 13:00 GMTUK4
- Deadline moved to 10 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST13 Mar 2026, 13:00 GMT+5 days · was 5 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
- Tender notice published24 Mar 2026, 10:34 GMTUK4
- Contract award notice published18 Jun 2026, 16:45 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete18 Jun 2026, 16:45 BST
- Contract signature expected10 Jul 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
Published amendments (2)
The tender closing date has been revised from 5th April 2026 to 10th April 2026. The original deadline fell on the Easter bank holiday period, which may have limited the ability of potential bidders to complete and submit their proposals. To ensure fairness, provide adequate time for all interested suppliers, and maintain an open and competitive process, the deadline has been extended by five days…
The deadline for suppliers to submit clarification questions regarding the Christmas Lights contract has been extended. This extension has been made to ensure suppliers have adequate time to seek clarification following the revised tender closing date and to accommodate the contract manager's planned annual leave. All other requirements and documentation remain unchanged.
Routine re-releases (4)
- 2026-03: 1 release · 8 Mar 2026
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sparkx LimitedSMEChristmas Lights Design, Installation and Maintenance Contract 2026-202813 Jul 2026 – 12 Jul 2028Options: The contract includes the option for the Council to procure additional lighting motifs, installation services, or related infrastructure during the contract term, subject to the same pricing structure and performance standards. These purchases will only be made if required to expand or enhance the Christmas lighting scheme and will not exceed the scope of the original contract. | £120,000 | 13 May 2026 | Awarded |
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3final-stage tenders · 4 at stage one | 3 | 0 | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- SPARKX LIMITEDAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (7)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
Notices published for this procedure
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender