Award

Annual Festive Lights

  • Manchester City Council

UK6: Contract award notice - Procurement Act 2023 - view information about notice types

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-049261

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-050566 (view related notices)

Published 15 August 2025, 4:20pm



Scope

Reference

P-0336

Description

This procurement is for Design & Provision of Manchester's Christmas Lighting Scheme.

The contract period will be for 5 years. It is intended for the contract to commence 07th November 2025.

The procurement encompasses the following lots:

Lot 1 - Core Lighting Scheme:

The Supplier will be required to install and maintain energy-efficient LED Lighting in existing tree locations as identified in Appendix I.

This lot also includes the provision of artistic high-quality motifs, fit with the city centre in existing column mounts, and the installation of artistic and dynamic displays in the existing fixing points on Deansgate and King Street as identified in Appendix I.

Suppliers will be asked to provide a scheme based on gold, silver and bronze options for each specific location

The Bronze level package for an area will be at standard level provision, with options to upgrade the content to silver and gold.

MCC and partners will select the appropriate scheme for each individual location - and seek private sector sponsorship to upgrade key areas in line with stakeholder ambitions.

Lot 2 - Ground Level Feature Installations:

The Supplier will be required to provide creative solutions to install up to 8 ground level feature installations within Manchester city centre.

Lot 3 - New large Scale Santa Feature:

The Supplier will be required to design, manufacture, install, derig, store and maintain a new iconic Santa feature for Manchester, each year across the term of the 5-year contract.


Lot 1. Core Lighting Scheme

Description

The Supplier will be required to install and maintain energy-efficient LED Lighting in existing tree locations as identified in Appendix I.This lot also includes the provision of artistic high-quality motifs, fit with the city centre in existing column mounts, and the installation of artistic and dynamic displays in the existing fixing points on Deansgate and King Street as identified in Appendix I.Supplier's will be asked to provide a scheme based on gold, silver and bronze options for each specific locationThe Bronze level package for an area will be at standard level provision, with options to upgrade the content to silver and gold. MCC and partners will select the appropriate scheme for each individual location - and seek private sector sponsorship to upgrade key areas in line with stakeholder ambitions.


Lot 2. Ground Level Feature Installations

Description

The Supplier will be required to provide creative solutions to install up to 8 ground level feature installations within Manchester city centre.


Lot 3. New large scale Santa Feature

Description

The Supplier will be required to design, manufacture, install, derig, store and maintain a new iconic Santa feature for Manchester, each year across the term of the 5-year contract


Contract 1. Annual Festive Lights - Lot 1 Core Lighting Scheme

Lots

Lot 1. Core Lighting Scheme

Supplier

Contract value

  • £757,826.50 excluding VAT
  • £909,391.80 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Award decision date

15 August 2025

Date assessment summaries were sent to tenderers

15 August 2025

Standstill period

  • End: 27 August 2025
  • 8 working days

Earliest date the contract will be signed

1 September 2025

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 7 November 2025 to 6 November 2030
  • 5 years

Main procurement category

Services

CPV classifications

  • 31522000 - Christmas tree lights
  • 79952000 - Event services

Contract locations

  • UKD33 - Manchester

Contract 2. Annual Festive Lights - Lot 2 Ground Level Feature Installations

Lots

Lot 2. Ground Level Feature Installations

Supplier

Contract value

  • £647,144.10 excluding VAT
  • £776,572.92 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Award decision date

15 August 2025

Date assessment summaries were sent to tenderers

15 August 2025

Standstill period

  • End: 27 August 2025
  • 8 working days

Earliest date the contract will be signed

1 September 2025

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 7 November 2025 to 6 November 2030
  • 5 years

Main procurement category

Services

CPV classifications

  • 31522000 - Christmas tree lights
  • 79952000 - Event services

Contract locations

  • UKD33 - Manchester

Contract 3. Annual Festive Lights - Lot 3 New large Scale Santa Feature

Lots

Lot 3. New large scale Santa Feature

Supplier

Contract value

  • £449,950 excluding VAT
  • £539,940 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Award decision date

15 August 2025

Date assessment summaries were sent to tenderers

15 August 2025

Standstill period

  • End: 27 August 2025
  • 8 working days

Earliest date the contract will be signed

1 September 2025

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 7 November 2025 to 6 November 2030
  • 5 years

Main procurement category

Services

CPV classifications

  • 31522000 - Christmas tree lights
  • 79952000 - Event services

Contract locations

  • UKD33 - Manchester

Information about tenders

Lot 1. Core Lighting Scheme

  • 4 tenders received
  • 4 tenders assessed in the final stage:
    • 4 submitted by small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
    • 0 submitted by voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
  • 1 supplier awarded contracts
  • 3 suppliers unsuccessful (details included for contracts over £5 million)

Lot 2. Ground Level Feature Installations

  • 3 tenders received
  • 3 tenders assessed in the final stage:
    • 3 submitted by small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
    • 0 submitted by voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
  • 1 supplier awarded contracts
  • 2 suppliers unsuccessful (details included for contracts over £5 million)

Lot 3. New large scale Santa Feature

  • 3 tenders received
  • 3 tenders assessed in the final stage:
    • 3 submitted by small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
    • 0 submitted by voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
  • 1 supplier awarded contracts
  • 2 suppliers unsuccessful (details included for contracts over £5 million)

Procedure

Procedure type

Open procedure


Suppliers

BLACHERE ILLUMINATION UK LIMITED

  • Companies House: SC152939
  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PLHL-6276-XGTN

Unit O, Baird Road, Eastfield Industrial Estate

Glenrothes

KY7 4PA

United Kingdom

Region: UKM72 - Clackmannanshire and Fife

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes

Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No

Supported employment provider: No

Public service mutual: No

Contract 3. Annual Festive Lights - Lot 3 New large Scale Santa Feature

MK ILLUMINATION (UK) LIMITED

  • Companies House: 04366174
  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PMVR-9922-TGQM

Unit 1 Witton Business Park

Blackburn

BB2 2TS

United Kingdom

Region: UKD41 - Blackburn with Darwen

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes

Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No

Supported employment provider: No

Public service mutual: No

Contract 1. Annual Festive Lights - Lot 1 Core Lighting Scheme

Contract 2. Annual Festive Lights - Lot 2 Ground Level Feature Installations


Contracting authority

Manchester City Council

  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PLNV-8798-LDMP

Town Hall Extension

Manchester

M60 2LA

United Kingdom

Region: UKD33 - Manchester

Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government