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Find a TenderAwarded without competitionContract details notice
Published 19 May 2025, 11:28 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Culture Learning and Libraries

Official notice

Authority: Nottinghamshire County Council (Local council)

ServicesDirect awardLight touch regimeVCSE suitable
Sectors: Recreational, cultural and sporting services (92) Delivery: North East (UKC)North West (UKD)Yorkshire & Humber (UKE)
+6 moreEast Midlands (UKF)West Midlands (UKG)East of England (UKH)London (UKI)South East (UKJ)South West (UKK)
Awarded value£23,200,000published award · exc. VAT
Awarded 13 Mar 2026no call for competition
Awarded to CULTURE, LEARNING AND LIBRARIES (MIDLANDS), Culture, Learning & Libraries (Midlands) trading as Inspire
Contract term 2 yrsends 31 Mar 2028 · starts 1 Apr 2026

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Culture Learning and Libraries (Midlands) trading as Inspire - direct award on substantially the same terms as the current contract. The proposed new contract will commence on 1 April 2026 and end on 31 March 2028.

CPV: Library, archives, museums and other cultural services

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published
Lot #1Awarded 2 yrsVCSE
Contract period: 1 Apr 2026 – 31 Mar 2028 (2 yrs)
Delivery: North East, North West, Yorkshire & Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East, South WestEligibility: VCSE eligible
92500000 Library, archives, museums and other cultural services

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Direct award
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Awarded without competition
Procurement threshold
Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime
Light touch regime
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Direct award (no call for competition)
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
19 May 2025, 11:28 BST
Last source update
25 Sept 2026, 15:34 BST
Authority reference
DN776845
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-091107
Latest notice
Contract details notice (UK7)
Classification (CPV)
Library, archives, museums and other cultural services
Delivery area
North East (UKC)North West (UKD)Yorkshire & Humber (UKE)East Midlands (UKF)West Midlands (UKG)East of England (UKH)London (UKI)South East (UKJ)
+1 moreSouth West (UKK)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0516af Find a Tender
Why no open competition
Additional Repeat Extension Partial Replacement
Published justification

The direct award appointment being made is via ground 7, Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23) is possible due to:

(a) a change in supplier would result in the contracting authority receiving goods, services or works that are different from, or incompatible with, the existing goods, services or works, and

(b) the difference or incompatibility would result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operation or maintenance.

How it was run

Official notice
Submission deadline
—

Timeline

19 May 2025 → 25 Sept 2026 · 5 dates
  1. Planning notice published
    19 May 2025, 11:28 BST
  2. Next notice expected
    2 Jun 2025, 23:59 BST
  3. Standstill ends205 days ago
    25 Mar 2026, 23:59 GMT
  4. Contract starts199 days ago
    1 Apr 2026, 00:00 BST
  5. Latest notice published22 days ago
    25 Sept 2026, 15:34 BST

Notice history

7 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 19 May 2025
  1. Pipeline notice published
    19 May 2025, 11:28 BST
    UK1
  2. Transparency notice published
    3 Jul 2025, 10:03 BST
    UK5
  3. Status changed to complete
    3 Jul 2025, 10:03 BST
  4. Procurement method changed
    3 Jul 2025, 10:03 BST
  5. Contract award notice published
    13 Mar 2026, 09:57 GMT
    UK6
  6. Contract signature expected
    27 Mar 2026, 23:59 GMT
    scheduled
  7. Contract details notice published
    25 Sept 2026, 15:34 BST
    UK7
Routine re-releases (4)
  • 2025-05: 1 release · 19 May 2025

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded value £23,200,0001 award exc. VAT
Contracts signed 1latest 31 Mar 2026
Awarded toValueDateStatus
CULTURE, LEARNING AND LIBRARIES (MIDLANDS)VCSE, Culture, Learning & Libraries (Midlands) trading as InspireVCSEjoint award1 Apr 2026 – 31 Mar 2028£23,200,00013 Mar 2026Awarded

Contracts

  • Inspire - direct award · CULTURE, LEARNING AND LIBRARIES (MIDLANDS)VCSE, Culture, Learning & Libraries (Midlands) trading as InspireVCSE

    Signed
    31 Mar 2026
    Value
    £23,200,000
    Period
    1 Apr 2026 – 31 Mar 2028 · up to 31 Mar 2030 with extensions
    Status
    active
    Extensions
    The Parties may agree, at least six months (6) before the Expiry Date, unless the Parties agree otherwise, to extend the Contract Term for a period of up to two (2) years in increments of no less than 12 months upon the terms and conditions of the Agreement.

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Nottinghamshire County Council

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-PPON: PBCV-5152-BXBP County Hall, Loughborough Road, Nottingham, East Midlands, NG2 7QPContact email

Bidders & participating suppliers

2 commercial parties on the notice

Official documents & specifications (5)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Tender pack and attachments

Notices published for this procedure

  • Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Transparency notice awardTransparency noticeUK5Transparency notice on Find a Tender
  • Pipeline notice planningPipeline noticeUK1Pipeline notice on Find a Tender