Find a TenderAwardedContract details notice
Published 10 Apr 2026, 13:23 BST

Official UK procurement notice

GMCA1903 - Production Fund Manager

Official notice

Authority: Greater Manchester Combined Authority (Local council)

ServicesBelow threshold - open competitionBelow thresholdSME suitableVCSE suitable
Published estimate£140,000≈ £140k / year · £168,000 inc. VAT20% above final estimate
Submissions closed 30 Apr 2026awarded 3 Jun 2026
Awarded to LITTLE DIPPER PRODUCTIONS LTD
Contract term 1 yrends 24 May 2027 · up to 24 May 2028 with extensions · starts 25 May 2026

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is seeking to award a contract for the provision of GMCA1903 GM Production Fund Manager.

In March 2026, GMCA announced a £10.5m Production Fund as part of its commitment to Good Growth in Greater Manchester. Opening in early summer 2026, the Fund will support both inward-investing and home-grown film and television projects that deliver clear economic, skills and industry benefits for the city-region. It represents a step change in Greater Manchester's approach to the screen sector, building on a strong existing ecosystem and creating the conditions for significant long-term growth.

GMCA is now seeking to appoint a Production Fund Manager to lead delivery of this flagship programme. The Fund Manager will act as the primary interface between GMCA and the screen sector, providing expert guidance to applicants, brokering relationships, assessing funding proposals and presenting clear, evidence-based recommendations to the GM Production Fund Investment Committee.

Working collaboratively across the screen industry and with GMCA, the Fund Manager will play a central role in ensuring funded productions maximise economic, cultural and skills impact, while helping position and promote the Fund as a high-quality, internationally credible offer. Operating as a trusted, sector-facing partner, the Fund Manager will work closely with GMCA and local and national industry stakeholders, including local screen offices, to provide strategic support for the growth, resilience and competitiveness of Greater Manchester's screen sector.

The initial contract period will be for 12 months, with the option to extend for up to an additional 12 months. It is intended for the contract to commence on 25th May 2026.

CPV: Business and management consultancy and related services

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · value published
Lot #1AwardedRenewal 1 yrSMEVCSEPublished value£140,000
Contract period: 25 May 2026 – 24 May 2027 (1 yr) · up to 24 May 2028 with extensionsValue: £140,000 exc. VAT · £168,000 inc. VAT
Delivery: North WestEligibility: SME eligibleVCSE eligible
Extensions: The initial contract period will be for 12 months, with the option to extend for up to an additional 12 months. It is intended for the contract to commence on 25th May 2026. The maximum budget available for the initial 12 month period is up to £70,000 (excluding VAT). The GMCA reserves the right to extend this contract for an additional 12 months, at a value of up to £70,000 (excluding VAT). Therefore, the estimated total value of the contract, including all optional extension periods, is up to a maximum of £140,000 (excluding VAT).

What it takes to win
i

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 more
How bids were scored

Lot awarding rule: Tenders will be assessed on the basis of 90% Quality and 10% Price. The full award criteria can be found within the procurement documentation published with the opportunity.

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
10 Apr 2026, 13:23 BST
Last source update
4 Jun 2026, 15:12 BST
Authority reference
DN812577
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-032840
Latest notice
Contract details notice (UK7)
Classification (CPV)
Business and management consultancy and related services
Delivery area
North West (UKD)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-068005 Find a Tender

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: ProContract (Due North) · Who buys & how to bid on ProContract
Supplier login requiredElectronic submission allowed
Access & registration note: Free · short registration with manual review; public opportunity list
Submission deadline
30 Apr 2026, 12:00 BST
Clarification deadline
24 Apr 2026, 12:00 BST
Submission channel
Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission
Allowed
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

All tenders must be submitted via The Chest (the North West Procurement Portal) - www.the-chest.org.uk ↗.

The Chest reference for this opportunity is DN812577.

All tender responses must be submitted via The Chest. For the avoidance of doubt, tenders received in any other way will be rejected.

Timeline

10 Apr 2026 → 4 Jun 2026 · 5 dates
  1. Tender notice published195 days ago
    10 Apr 2026, 13:23 BST
  2. Clarification questions by181 days ago
    24 Apr 2026, 12:00 BST
  3. Submission deadline175 days ago
    30 Apr 2026, 12:00 BST
  4. Contract starts151 days ago
    25 May 2026, 00:00 BST
  5. Latest notice published140 days ago
    4 Jun 2026, 15:12 BST

Notice history

3 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 10 Apr 2026
  1. Tender notice published
    10 Apr 2026, 13:23 BST
    UK4
  2. Contract details notice published
    4 Jun 2026, 15:12 BST
    UK7
  3. Status changed to complete
    4 Jun 2026, 15:12 BST

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded value (inc. VAT) £168,0001 contract inc. VAT; no net value published
Contracts signed 1latest 3 Jun 2026
Awarded toValueDateStatus
LITTLE DIPPER PRODUCTIONS LTD£168,000 inc. VAT †—Awarded

Contracts

  • Contract 1 · LITTLE DIPPER PRODUCTIONS LTD

    Signed
    3 Jun 2026
    Value
    £168,000 inc. VAT
    Period
    3 Jun 2026 – 27 May 2027 · up to 27 May 2028 with extensions
    Status
    active
    Extensions
    Subject to continued need, available budget and satisfactory performance.

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Greater Manchester Combined Authority

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-PPON: PXBN-3793-LCTQ 56 Oxford Street, Manchester, North West, M1 6EUContact email

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice
  • LITTLE DIPPER PRODUCTIONS LTDAwarded supplierGB-COH: 15897886GB-PPON: PMGL-9918-QTJG 32 Mulberry Way, Doncaster, Yorkshire & Humber, DN3 3UEContact email

Official documents & specifications (2)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details notice on Find a Tender
  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender