Business Support North East Framework

Published 20 Oct 2026

20 Oct 2026

Deadline in 21 days

North East Combined Authority

Primary CPV: 79411100 *
Business development consultancy services
Location: 🇬🇧 Durham County, North East
Value: No value specified
Contract: 2.3 years Duration
01/01/2027 31/03/2029
Contract Types: 79 *Business services: law, marketing, consu...
Full CPV Breakdown
SME suitable: Not stated

Publisher Address

The Lumen, St James' Boulevard, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE4 5BZ, United Kingdom · UKC14

Contact

procurement@northeast-ca.gov.uk

Award Criteria

Quality (100%)

FULL DOCUMENTATION

OPEN-PR-02102026122317339 · Bidding Documents

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North East Combined Authority

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Same CPV code

79411100 *

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Reference: OPEN-PR-02102026122317339

Business North East is a new region-wide approach to business support developed by the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority (North East MSA) in partnership with the seven constituent local authorities. It will provide a simplified, coordinated and accessible business support system for entrepreneurs and businesses across the North East. The model will include a regional hub and use local authority networks to maintain strong relationships with businesses. The wider Business North East programme is expected to operate through five integrated areas of activity across the business lifecycle: Inspire - increase entrepreneurial awareness and aspiration, particularly amongst younger people and underrepresented groups. Explore - improve enterprise readiness and strengthen the quality of business propositions entering the support system. Start - increase business creation and improve business survival prospects through tailored support and business development assistance. Succeed - improve productivity, innovation, technology adoption and business resilience amongst established businesses. Grow - support ambitious businesses to scale, create jobs, access finance and enter new markets. The North East MSA intends to establish a framework to provide a flexible route through which a range of specialist business support, enterprise and related services may be commissioned in support of Business North East and wider regional economic priorities. It is anticipated that the framework will encompass a broad range of services, across five separate Lots: 1. Enterprise, Entrepreneurship and Business Start-up 2. Business Growth, Productivity and Specialist Support 3. High Growth, Scale-up and Investment 4. Sector, Cluster and Supply Chain Development 5. Business Engagement, Training and Programme Support These areas reflect the anticipated breadth of Business North East, which is intended to respond to business needs including access to finance, productivity, workforce development, innovation, digital adoption, mentoring and growth support. The Framework is intended to enable the North East MSA and constituent local authorities to identify suitably qualified suppliers with the capability and experience to deliver services within one or more of these areas. The approach is intended to accommodate a diverse supplier market, including organisations capable of delivering broad business support programmes alongside specialist providers with expertise in particular sectors, business needs or forms of intervention. It will also support the development of new and emerging provision as business needs, economic conditions and regional priorities evolve. Please see the Market Engagement event recording below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPiuaxY_5JE

Full CPV breakdown

79411100 — Business development consultancy services (primary)

Notice details

Buyer type: Local authority
Competition: Open competition (any supplier can bid)
Contract type: Services
Lots: 5
Procurement method: Open procedure
Main category: Services
Above threshold: Yes
Legal basis: UKPGA 2023/54
Notice status: Active
Renewal: 3x 12 month increments
Framework agreement: Yes
Framework details: 1. Competitive Selection Process All eligible Suppliers appointed to the relevant Lot are invited to tender. The Call-Off Documentation sets out the requirement, budget or Contract Value, pricing basis, timescale, contract terms and award criteria. Evaluation will normally be based on 70% Quality and 30% Price, although criteria must be relevant and proportionate to the individual requirement. The contract is awarded to the Supplier achieving the highest weighted score, subject to meeting any minimum requirements and obtaining the necessary approvals. This route is best suited to requirements where Suppliers need to propose different methodologies, delivery models or prices. 2. Award without further competition All eligible Suppliers within the relevant Lot are assessed using the objective capability-based Supplier-selection mechanism fixed in the Framework. No new award criteria can be introduced and Suppliers cannot submit a new or materially improved tender. As price was not evaluated when Suppliers joined the Framework, price does not form part of the selection assessment. The selected Supplier may be asked to confirm acceptance of the stated budget, Contract Value and payment basis. If the highest-ranked Supplier declines or cannot deliver, the same mechanism may be applied to the next-ranked Supplier. This route is best suited to requirements that can be clearly matched to the capability, capacity and availability information established through the Framework. For either route, the requirement must fall within the relevant Lot, Framework scope, term and value, and The North East MSA must complete the necessary governance, conflicts, exclusions, record-keeping and publication requirements. The North East MSA also reserves the right to use other appropriate procurement or delivery routes where necessary.
Submission method: https://www.open-uk.org
Award decision expected: 30 Nov 2026
Reserved / special regime: Light Touch
Number of lots: 5
Language: EN
Published: 20 Oct 2026 11:32
Deadline: 13 Nov 2026 17:00
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-077ace
Notice ID: OPEN-PR-02102026122317339

Lots (5)

Lot 1: Enterprise, Entrepreneurship and Business Start-up Support

The North East MSA is seeking proposals for the design, mobilisation and delivery of an integrated programme to provide a coordinated pathway supporting individuals from the earliest stages of considering self-employment or entrepreneurship through to business start-up, early trading and progression into wider business...