The Omega Centre Special Education Needs School Refurbishment - Preliminary Market Engagement

Portsmouth City Council (The 'Council') are seeking assistance from the market to understand the market's interest, capacity and capability, with a view to developing the procurement strategy and tender documentation to meet needs, objectives, statutory obligations and best value duties for the procurement of a Contractor to refurbish & extend the existing Omega Arts Centre, Portsmouth, to create a school for children & young people with special needs. This proposed project will provide up to 76 places for young people with severe autism & learning difficulties. Estimated value of construction contract is £7,500,000. Work to commence on site October 2026, with completion March 2028. Proposed Contract Terms is JCT Standard Building Contract with Contractor's Design. The project's scope of works includes; - Refurbishment of the two of the existing historic buildings - Demolition of a modern kiln room - Delivering 3No small extensions & 1No new build block - A comprehensive landscape scheme The buildings will be vacant throughout the contract period, however there is a live school & a public park immediately adjacent which will require access for emergency & refuse vehicles throughout the duration of the works. PROPOSED PROCUREMENT PROCEDURE Following pre market engagement, it is the Council's intention to run the procurement process using the Competitive Flexible Procedure. The Council will issue an initial Conditions of Participation stage for applications via submission of a completed Procurement Selection Questionnaire (PSQ) and associated documentation in accordance with the provisional timetable below. The council anticipates shortlisting the highest scoring 4 - 5 contractors from assessment of the returned PSQ submissions, who will then be invited to tender. Publish Tender Notice 27.02.26 Issue PSQ for shortlisting on Intend 27.02.26 PSQ Return deadline 27.03.26 at 12:00 Notify contractors after PSQ evaluation 17.04.26 ITT published on Intend 15.06.2026 Site visits w/c 29.06.2026 Deadline for clarifications 24.07.2026 at 23:59 Tender return deadline 31.07.2026 at 12:00 Issue assessment summaries 07.09.2026 Publish award notice on fts 07.09.2026 End of standstill period 17.09.2026 Contract Award Confirmation letter 18.09.2026 Contract Execution 19.09 - 01.10.2026 Mobilisation 02.10 - 29.10.2026 Works commence on site (18 Months) 30.10.2026 Completion of works on site 17.03.2028