ID 6663135 - DfC - Strategic Partner Contract

The Department for Communities is seeking to establish a single supplier Strategic Partner Contract for the provision of Professional Services to the Department and its participating Arms-Length Bodies. The successful supplier will be responsible for managing and delivering these services in accordance with the contract specifications and associated documents. The contract is scheduled to begin on 1 February 2027 and run through 31 January 2029, with potential extensions including a two-year option and a final one-year option, potentially extending the term to 31 January 2032. Additionally, the buyer may extend the duration by up to 12 months to ensure continuity during reprocurement, provided three months' written notice is given. Award decisions will be based on quality assessments across five key criteria: proposed methodology (35%), team experience (25%), scenario (20%), contract management (10%), and social value (10%). Tenders must be submitted electronically in English via eTendersNI by the deadline of 7 December 2026 at 3:00pm. The contracting authority reserves the right to add additional service recipients to the contract and may exclude or terminate suppliers who become excludable under Section 57 of the PA 2023.