Scope
Reference
DN793196
Description
Blackpool Council is a unitary local authority providing public services to approximately 141,000 residents across 21 wards, making up the Borough of Blackpool.
Blackpool Council is procuring a third-party concessionaire to: (i) invest, develop and operate a 6MVA exemplar data centre (together with ancillary office accommodation); and (ii) to connect the heat generated from the data centre to a proposed local heat network within the Silicon Sands site at the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone.
Blackpool Council believes that by enabling the development of new digital infrastructure, major economic and social benefits can accrue, bringing significant skilled employment and educational opportunities for the local population and encouraging inward investment and growth in high-tech companies, including start-ups operating in AI systems, making Blackpool competitive in the digital economy.
Blackpool Council is procuring a concessions contract for the purposes of section 3(4) and section 8 of the Procurement Act 2023.
The term of the concessions contract will be 3 years (from June 2026), and the land will be made available on a 250 yearlong lease.
Total value (estimated)
- £250,000,000 excluding VAT
- £300,000,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 15 June 2026 to 14 June 2099
- 73 years
Main procurement category
Works
CPV classifications
- 09323000 - District heating
- 45213100 - Construction work for commercial buildings
- 45232141 - Heating works
- 45331000 - Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning installation work
- 48800000 - Information systems and servers
- 71314000 - Energy and related services
- 72510000 - Computer-related management services
- 72700000 - Computer network services
Contract locations
- UKD42 - Blackpool
Justification for not using lots
This procurement is not divided into lots. Following consideration of different delivery model options, Blackpool Council has determined that delivery through a single contract is necessary due to the intrinsically linked nature of the requirements.
Participation
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation
Participation in this procurement is subject to the conditions of participation and associated evaluation methodologies as set out in the RTP, available via Blackpool Council's Procurement Portal: The Chest: https://procontract.due-north.com/.
Technical ability conditions of participation
Participation in this procurement is subject to the conditions of participation and associated evaluation methodologies as set out in the RTP, available via Blackpool Council's Procurement Portal: The Chest: https://procontract.due-north.com/.
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
11 December 2025, 4:00pm
Submission type
Requests to participate
Deadline for requests to participate
19 December 2025, 12:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Suppliers to be invited to tender
Maximum 10 suppliers
Selection criteria:
Financial capacity - pass/fail
Legal capacity - pass/fail
Technical ability - out of 100%
Award decision date (estimated)
29 May 2026
Award criteria
| Name | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial | Price | 30% |
| Quality | Quality | 25% |
| Social Value | Quality | 20% |
| Technical Innovation | Quality | 10% |
| Sustainability | Quality | 10% |
| Job Creation | Quality | 5% |
Other information
Applicable trade agreements
- Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Special regime
Concession
Competitive flexible procedure description
The Council will conduct a multi-stage Competitive Flexible Procedure comprising a participation stage, an initial tendering stage, a negotiation stage, followed by a final tendering stage.
Stage 1 - Participation Stage
During this stage, suppliers will be invited to respond to the Request to Participate document ("RTP") in response to the information requirements set out in Part C of the RTP. Submissions will be evaluated against the evaluation criteria as set out in Part D of the RTP.
A maximum of ten (10) highest scoring suppliers who satisfy and pass the minimum conditions will be shortlisted and invited to the initial tendering stage.
The RTP is available via Blackpool Council's Procurement Portal ProActis: The Chest:
Stage 2 - Initial Tendering Stage
A maximum of ten (10) shortlisted suppliers will be issued with an Invitation to Submit an Initial Tender document ("ISIT").
A maximum of ten (10) shortlisted suppliers will be required to submit their initial tenders in response to the information requirements set out in Part C of the ISIT, initial tenders will be evaluated in accordance with the evaluation criteria as set out in Part D of the ISIT. The detailed procedure for the tendering stage, including the timetable and any clarification rules, will be set out in the ISIT.
Following the submission of initial tenders, the Council will further shortlist three (3) Tenderers who submit the highest scoring Initial Tender responses, provide feedback and will invite those three (3) shortlisted suppliers to enter into negotiations with the Council.
Stage 3 - Negotiation Stage
The three (3) shortlisted suppliers will be issued with an Invitation to Negotiate document ("ITN"). The detailed procedure for the negotiation stage, including the scope, remit, timetable and any clarification rules, will be set out in the ITN.
Stage 4 - Final Tendering Stage
Following the close of the negotiations, the three (3) shortlisted suppliers will be issued with an Invitation to Submit a Final Tender document ("ISFT").
The three (3) shortlisted suppliers will be required to submit their final tenders in accordance with the ISFT. The detailed procedure for the final tendering stage, including the timetable and any clarification rules, will be set out in the ISFT.
The Council intends to award the concessions contract to the highest scoring supplier, i.e. the supplier who submitted the most advantageous tender.
Justification for not publishing a preliminary market engagement notice
In March 2024, Blackpool Council commenced extensive preliminary market engagement, to understand the market including which suppliers would be interested in any future opportunity let by Blackpool Council. Blackpool Council received a number of responses from the market which has led to the development of its procurement strategy and Blackpool Council is publishing this tender notice to identify a suitable partner (i.e. the most advantageous tenderer). This preliminary market engagement activity occurred prior to the commencement of the Procurement Act 2023.
Documents
Associated tender documents
https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert/?advertId=9cef92f2-e9c6-f011-813a-005056b64545&fromProjectDashboard=True
Documents to be provided after the tender notice
via The Chest portal at this direct link:
Technical specifications to be met
https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert/?advertId=9cef92f2-e9c6-f011-813a-005056b64545&fromProjectDashboard=True
Contracting authority
BLACKPOOL COUNCIL
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PHHB-5249-RZVD
PO Box 11, Town Hall
Blackpool
FY1 1NB
United Kingdom
Region: UKD42 - Blackpool
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government