Harborough District Council is offering a chance for leisure industry contractors to tender for a new contract after its Physical Activity Strategy identified the need to refurbish both Lutterworth Sports Centre and Market Harborough Leisure Centre.
The Council’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy aims to promote health and wellbeing and encourage healthy life choices by increasing access and opportunities for residents to take part in physical activity. To deliver this a new 15-year management contract is being tendered set to be in place by 1 April 2024.
The Council has agreed a Capital funding pot of £9.75m million to cover Harborough Leisure Centre and Lutterworth Sports Centre which can be accessed by the successful tenderer to support the redevelopment. The final capital funding amount is to be repaid by the incumbent operator.
An FTS notice with details of the procurement, and access to procurement documentation was published on 16 January 2023.
Another key date for interested parties is 1 February 2023 when a Bidders Day will be held for potential operators.
Following Standard Selection Questions evaluations (SSQ), operators will be invited to submit initial bids in April 2023.
The Initial Tenders will show the cost of continuing the current leisure provision and the cost of the provision with bidders utilising the investment fund. At this time, a decision will be made on which is the best option to proceed and the requirements for the Final Tender can be set.
Through August 2023 bidders will produce their Final Tenders, for submission 15 September 2023, reflecting the Council’s preferred option. Then in October 2023 Council approval will be sought for the preferred partner with a new contract commencing on 1 April 2024.
Cllr Simon Whelband, Harborough District Council’s portfolio holder for health and wellbeing, said: “As part of our Physical Activity Strategy, we identified a mutual aspiration to refurbish the two leisure centres to meet the high national standards. We’re aiming to contribute towards a reduction in carbon emissions, whilst increasing physical activity opportunities and participation to support the physical and mental health and wellbeing of residents across the Harborough district.”
