Fitness Framework Market Engagement Notice
Summary
Durham County Council has issued a Preliminary Market Engagement notice under the Procurement Act 2023 to gauge market interest in a fitness framework covering exercise classes at leisure facilities and community settings across County Durham. The estimated framework value is £800,000 over four years, with responses due by 24 April 2026. The notice is particularly aimed at SMEs and VCSEs and is suitable for gym-based and pool-based fitness providers.
What changed
Durham County Council is conducting preliminary market engagement to inform a future procurement framework for fitness services valued at £800,000 excluding VAT over four years (August 2026 to July 2030). The engagement seeks input from fitness companies, including gym-based and pool-based operators, interested in delivering exercise classes in Council leisure facilities and community settings across County Durham. This replaces various informal agreements currently in place.\n\nProviders must register at open-uk.org to access response questions. Completed responses are due by Friday 24 April 2026 at 12 noon. The formal tender notice is estimated to be published on 15 May 2026. Companies wishing to participate should register interest by the engagement deadline and provide substantive feedback on the proposed framework structure.
What to do next
- Register at open-uk.org to access written response questions for the market engagement
- Submit completed engagement responses by 24 April 2026 at 12 noon
- Monitor for the formal tender notice expected 15 May 2026
Source document (simplified)
Planning
Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) for a Framework for Fitness Companies and/or Pool Based Fitness Companies to deliver exercise classes and other sessions in Leisure Facilities and Community Settings within County Durham
- Durham County Council UK2: Preliminary market engagement notice - Procurement Act 2023 - view information about notice types
Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-030604
Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-067b3d
Published 1 April 2026, 5:16pm
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Contents
Scope Engagement Participation Submission Contracting authority
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Reference
OPEN2026422
Description
The Council are inviting suppliers to participate in preliminary engagement to gain insight from the market with the purpose of making any potential future framework opportunity well framed, feasible, focused and of likely interest to the market.
We are seeking interest from fitness companies, including gym based and pool based, who are interested in delivering exercise classes within our Leisure Facilities and Community Settings across County Durham. A variety of informal agreements are currently in place across the Council. We now intend to formalise these arrangements by establishing a new framework that will support improved consistency and quality.
This notice forms part of our preliminary market engagement, offering you the opportunity to share feedback and comments before the framework is released for formal tender submissions.
Please note the contract value is based on the total framework value over a 4 year period and is expected to include a range of providers, so this opportunity is particularly suitable for SMEs.
Commercial tool
Establishes a framework
Total value (estimated)
- £800,000 excluding VAT
- £960,000 including VAT Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2030
- 4 years
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
Sporting services
Contract locations
- UKC14 - Durham CC
Engagement
Engagement deadline
24 April 2026
Engagement process description
Interested providers can access the written response questions, free of charge, by registering with open-uk.org
The deadline for completed responses is Friday 24th April 2026 at 12 noon.
Participation
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
15 May 2026
Contracting authority
Durham County Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PMPB-8772-VYWM Corten House, Dunholme Close
Durham
DH1 5WB
United Kingdom
Email: zoe.embleton@durham.gov.uk
Website: http://www.durham.gov.uk /
Region: UKC14 - Durham CC
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government
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