Find a TenderAwardedContract details notice
Published 6 Feb 2026, 17:22 GMT

Official UK procurement notice

ID 5926179 - DFE Tourism NI Employer Recognition Programme

Official notice

Authority: Tourism Norther Ireland (Central government)·On behalf of: CPD

3 lotsServicesOpen procedureAbove thresholdSME suitable
Published estimate£363,833envelope for 3 lots · £436,600 inc. VAT
Submissions closed 9 Mar 2026awarded 20 May 2026
Awarded to SANS SOUCI CONSULTING LIMITED +2 more3 awards
Contract term 2 yrsends 7 Apr 2028 · starts 8 Apr 2026

What is being bought3 lots · detail below

Published requirement description

Tourism NI is seeking a supplier(s) to deliver a comprehensive set of activities that will support the implementation of the Employer Recognition Programme (ERP). This programme is designed to assist tourism and hospitality businesses across Northern Ireland in improving their people management practices and achieving accreditation under the programme.

CPV: Administration services · Business and management consultancy and related services · Business development consultancy services · Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security · Design and execution of research and development · Evaluation consultancy services · General management consultancy services · Management-related services · Market research services · Research and development consultancy services · Research and development services and related consultancy services · Specialist training services

Lots and requirements (3)Procurement structure

3 lots · all with a published value (£363,833 together) · same conditions of participation on every lot
Lot #1Programme management and administrationAwarded 2 yrsSMEPublished value£28,000

The supplier will oversee the delivery of the Employer Recognition Programme (ERP). The supplier will act as the primary point of contact between Tourism NI, delivery partners and participating businesses, managing timelines, milestones and coordination across all stakeholders.

Contract period: 8 Apr 2026 – 7 Apr 2028 (2 yrs)Value: £28,000 exc. VAT · £33,600 inc. VAT
Delivery: Northern IrelandEligibility: SME eligible
Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)1
  • Technical & professional ability

    CoP1 - Cyber Essentials Certification

Lot #2Employee survey and actionable insightsAwarded 2 yrsSMEPublished value£208,333

The Supplier will deliver and complete complex Learning & Development programmes across a range of business sizes, involving but not limited to the completion & evaluation of independent employee engagement surveys with tourism businesses as part of the defined Employer Recognition Programme. The Supplier will deliver an agreed survey within the business, liaising with the organisational Lead to agree timeframes, the delivery models and ensure maximum participation. The supplier will provide tools to gather employee feedback and generate actionable insights to help businesses improve their people practices. The supplier will also liaise with the providers of the Assessment Framework to ensure the survey addresses the key themes outlined

Contract period: 8 Apr 2026 – 7 Apr 2028 (2 yrs)Value: £208,333 exc. VAT · £250,000 inc. VAT
Delivery: Northern IrelandEligibility: SME eligible
Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)1
  • Technical & professional ability

    CoP1 - Cyber Essentials Certification

Lot #3Mentoring supportAwarded 2 yrsSMEPublished value£127,500

The supplier will provide People focused HR mentoring support to businesses participating in the ERP, helping them implement action plans based on survey results and identified needs.

Contract period: 8 Apr 2026 – 7 Apr 2028 (2 yrs)Value: £127,500 exc. VAT · £153,000 inc. VAT
Delivery: Northern IrelandEligibility: SME eligible
Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)1
  • Technical & professional ability

    CoP1 - Cyber Essentials Certification

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
Conditions of participation · identical on every lot1
  • Technical & professional ability

    CoP1 - Cyber Essentials Certification

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Open procedure
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Awarded
Procurement threshold
Above threshold (FTS publication)
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Yes (GPA)
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
6 Feb 2026, 17:22 GMT
Last source update
3 Jul 2026, 17:30 BST
Award evaluation window
Submission end – 7 Apr 2026
Authority reference
ID 5926179
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-011177
Latest notice
Contract details notice (UK7)
Classification (CPV)
Administration servicesBusiness and management consultancy and related servicesBusiness development consultancy servicesBusiness services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and securityDesign and execution of research and developmentEvaluation consultancy servicesGeneral management consultancy servicesManagement-related servicesMarket research servicesResearch and development consultancy services
+2 moreResearch and development services and related consultancy servicesSpecialist training services
Delivery area
Northern Ireland (UKN)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-064aa6 Find a Tender

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: eTendersNI · Who buys & how to bid on eTendersNI
Supplier login requiredElectronic submission allowedLanguage: EN
Access & registration note: Free Northern Ireland registration
Submission deadline
9 Mar 2026, 15:00 GMT
Clarification deadline
27 Feb 2026, 15:00 GMT
Submission channel
Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission
Allowed
Accepted languages
en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

Timeline

6 Feb 2026 → 3 Jul 2026 · 8 dates
  1. Tender notice published252 days ago
    6 Feb 2026, 17:22 GMT
  2. Clarification questions by231 days ago
    27 Feb 2026, 15:00 GMT
  3. Submission deadline221 days ago
    9 Mar 2026, 15:00 GMT
  4. Award decision expected by192 days ago
    7 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
  5. Contract starts192 days ago
    8 Apr 2026, 00:00 BST
  6. Assessment summaries sent150 days ago
    20 May 2026, 00:00 BST
  7. Standstill ends130 days ago
    8 Jun 2026, 23:59 BST
  8. Latest notice published105 days ago
    3 Jul 2026, 17:30 BST

Notice history

5 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 6 Feb 2026
  1. Tender notice published
    6 Feb 2026, 17:22 GMT
    UK4
  2. Contract award notice published
    28 May 2026, 10:04 BST
    UK6
  3. Status changed to complete
    28 May 2026, 10:04 BST
  4. Contract signature expected
    9 Jun 2026, 23:59 BST
    scheduled
  5. Contract details notice published
    3 Jul 2026, 17:30 BST
    UK7

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 3
Awarded value £327,9253 awards exc. VAT
Bids received 77 from SMEs
Contracts signed 3latest 16 Jun 2026
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Lot 1 · Programme management and administration1 award
SANS SOUCI CONSULTING LIMITEDSMEID 5926179 - DFE Tourism NI Employer Recognition Programme - Lot 1: Programme management and administration10 Jun 2026 – 9 Jun 2028£27,42520 May 2026Awarded
Lot 2 · Employee survey and actionable insights1 award
R-GON Insights LimitedSMEID 5926179 - DFE Tourism NI Employer Recognition Programme - Lot 2: Employee survey and actionable insights10 Jun 2026 – 9 Jun 2028£179,00020 May 2026Awarded
Lot 3 · Mentoring support1 award
GRANT THORNTON NI LLPSMEID 5926179 - DFE Tourism NI Employer Recognition Programme - Lot 3: Mentoring Support10 Jun 2026 – 9 Jun 2028£121,50020 May 2026Awarded

Contracts

  • ID 5926179 - DFE Tourism NI Employer Recognition Programme - Lot 1: Programme management and administration · SANS SOUCI CONSULTING LIMITEDSME

    Signed
    16 Jun 2026
    Value
    £27,425
    Period
    1 Jul 2026 – 30 Jun 2028
    Status
    active

    No agreed KPIs: The value of this contract is below the relevant threshold of £5 million including VAT and as such the reporting and publication of KPIs is not mandated.

  • ID 5926179 - DFE Tourism NI Employer Recognition Programme - Lot 2: Employee survey and actionable insights · R-GON Insights LimitedSME

    Signed
    16 Jun 2026
    Value
    £179,000
    Period
    1 Jul 2026 – 30 Jun 2028
    Status
    active

    No agreed KPIs: The value of this contract is below the relevant threshold of £5 million including VAT and as such the reporting and publication of KPIs is not mandated.

  • ID 5926179 - DFE Tourism NI Employer Recognition Programme - Lot 3: Mentoring Support · GRANT THORNTON NI LLPSME

    Signed
    16 Jun 2026
    Value
    £121,500
    Period
    1 Jul 2026 – 30 Jun 2028
    Status
    active

    No agreed KPIs: The value of this contract is below the relevant threshold of £5 million including VAT and as such the reporting and publication of KPIs is not mandated.

Bid statistics published by the authority

LotBidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
1 · Programme management and administration2final-stage tenders21—
2 · Employee survey and actionable insights2final-stage tenders20—
3 · Mentoring support3final-stage tenders31—

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

3 public bodies on the notice

Tourism Norther Ireland

Contracting authorityPublic authority - central governmentNorthern Irish devolved regulations apply GB-PPON: PPMV-2979-BDPH Floors 10-12, Linum Chambers, Bedford Square, Bedford Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT2 7ESContact email

Other public bodies

  • CPDBeneficiary authority
  • CPD - Supplies and Services DivisionProcess contact pointProcuring entityConstruction and Procurement Delivery, Supplies and Services Division, is a Centre of Procurement Expertise and provides a central procurement function for central government in Northern Ireland.GB-PPON: PVWG-8426-YWXV Belfast, Northern IrelandContact email

Bidders & participating suppliers

3 commercial parties on the notice
  • Grant Thornton NI LLPAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PCXV-4985-DYNN 12 - 15 Donegall Square West, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT1 6JHContact email
  • R-GON Insights LimitedAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PWRH-2319-DMWH 20 Harcourt Street, Dublin, IE, DO2 H364, IEContact email
  • Sans Souci Consulting LimitedAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PNCN-9966-JLQR Lisdarragh House, 23 Derryvolgie Avenue, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT9 6FNContact email

Official documents & specifications (7)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender