Official UK procurement notice
Sports and Leisure Management Limited Outsourced Services
Authority: Watford Borough Council (Local council)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionWatford Borough Council intends to enter a deed of variation with Sports and Leisure Management Limited (the Contractor) as the outsourced provider of leisure management services. SLM acts as the principle in providing leisure services from the council owned premises at Woodside, Central and the paddling pool at Cassiobury Park. SLM will act as agent of the council, with SLM providing leisure services on behalf of the council in the council’s name. The Underlying Contract was originally procured under Procurement Notice Watford Sports facilities operation services 2017/S 049-089978:, published on 10th March 2017. The opportunity to change the status, follows the successful litigation taken by Chelmsford City Council in 2022 and subsequently HMRC revised its guidance in 2023 in relation to the VAT treatment of leisure services provided by local authorities.
CPV: Physical well-being services · Recreational, cultural and sporting services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedLot #1The Authority appointed the Contractor to provide the leisure services pursuant to the…
The Authority appointed the Contractor to provide the leisure services pursuant to the Underlying Contract and Leases for the management and operation of the Council's leisure portfolio. The Authority intends to enter a deed of variation with the Contractor to modify the Underlying Contract, the effect of which will be the following:
- To identify the agency agreement between the parties, the extent to which the Contractor will act as the Authority's Agent, and areas where it will act as Principal;
- The Operator shall be appointed as the Authority’s Agent to provide the Leisure Services and Maintenance Services (together the “Agency Services”) but shall continue to carry out other services (specifically, food, beverages and retail) as an independent supplier to the Authority (the “Supplier Services”);
- The Restated Leisure Management Agreement does not materially alter the risk position of the parties;
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).
Published sub-criteria (4)
- Quality: 50
- Quality: 50
- Price: 50
- Price: 50
Published award criteria (4)
- Price: 50
- Quality: 50
- Price: 50
- Quality: 50
- Price carries 100 of 200 points: a 10% discount moves about 10 points. This one is won on the number: sharpen the price before polishing the prose.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record · publisher note attached- Procedure method
- Negotiated without publication of a contract notice
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- 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
- 8 Jul 2025, 19:05 BST
- Last source update
- 8 Jul 2025, 19:05 BST
- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-038405- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-055b8aFind a Tender
- Why no open competition
No tenders or no suitable tenders/requests to participate in response to restricted procedure; The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator due to absence of competition for technical reasons
- Published justification
This VTN gives notice that the Authority is entering into a deed of variation (the "Contract") to make certain changes summarised in this VTN. A procurement procedure is not necessary on the basis that the award of the Deed of Variation of the Underlying Contract is permitted pursuant to Regulation 72 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The Underlying Contract concerns the provision of a range of operation, management and related services, by the Contractor, in relation to four sports and leisure facilities and two theatres. The Underlying Contract will be varied for the adoption of an agency model for the future operation and management of the four sports and leisure facilities. Under the current structure, the Contractor acts as Principal in the supply of leisure facilities to the public, so that the Authority is not making the supplies of leisure services. Under the new agency model, the Contractor would make supplies to the public as an Agent of the Authority. This modification is being made in accordance with regulation 72 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. Namely, the proposed modification is not substantial within the meaning of regulation 72(8) on the basis that: 1. the modification does not render the Underlying Contract materially different in character - the proposed modification remains limited to the same type, scope and nature of services, where the services will be delivered to the same facilities. The modifications only concern contractual changes to establish an agency model for VAT purposes so that the Contract to provide leisure services to the public on the Authority’s behalf and other ancillary modifications. 2. the Council has satisfied itself that the modification does not introduce conditions which would have (a) allowed for the admission of other candidates, (b) allowed for the acceptance of another tender, or (c) attracted additional participants in the procurement procedure - the change to an agency model for VAT purposes does not change the service requirement or the way in which those services are provided, and is unlikely to have changed the outcome of the procurement. 3. The modification does not change the economic balance in favour of the contractor in a manner which was not provided for in the contract – The Authority has satisfied itself that the new agency model and VAT arrangement does not impact on the Contractor’s Operating Costs and Management Fee under the Underlying Contract, which remains reflective of market costs and does not amount to an over-compensation of the services to be provided. The agency model will allow for a more certain financial position to the Authority and will provide a greater surplus share than previously anticipated. 4. As per our comments at 1. above, the modification does not extend the scope of the contract. For the reasons set out above, the proposed modification does not constitute a substantial modification and is permitted by regulation 72 of the Concession Contracts Regulations 2015.
Publisher note: To view this notice, please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=964569199 GO Reference: GO-202578-PRO-31324775
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sports & Leisure Management Ltd | £63,000,000 † | — | Awarded |
Contracts
Contract 038405-2025-1 · Sports & Leisure Management Ltd
- Signed
- 7 Jul 2025
- Value
- £63,000,000
- Status
- active
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- Sports and Leisure Management LtdAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications
Official links; attachments are not copiedNo document links were published on the notice.