Castle Point Council Stage Infrastructure Preliminary Market Engagement
Summary
Castle Point Borough Council has issued a preliminary market engagement notice for the design, supply, and installation of a stage technical infrastructure package for the Paddocks Community Centre. The estimated value for the contract is £100,000 excluding VAT, with an estimated contract duration of one month.
What changed
Castle Point Borough Council is seeking to procure a contractor to design, supply, and install a complete stage technical infrastructure package for the Paddocks Community Centre. The scope includes a flying and rigging system, stage lighting, a professional sound system, projection equipment, and wireless communications headsets. The estimated value of the contract is £100,000 excluding VAT, with an estimated contract duration from June 8, 2026, to July 10, 2026.
This notice serves as a preliminary market engagement, with an engagement deadline of April 7, 2026. Interested parties are invited to participate in the engagement process to inform the council's procurement strategy. This is not a tender, and no contract will be awarded at this stage. The council is seeking input on the scope and potential solutions for the stage infrastructure.
What to do next
- Review the preliminary market engagement notice for potential opportunities.
- Submit engagement responses by April 7, 2026, if interested in participating.
Source document (simplified)
Planning
Stage Infrastructure Preliminary Market Engagement
- Castle Point Borough Council UK2: Preliminary market engagement notice - Procurement Act 2023 - view information about notice types
Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-026544
Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-06720d
Published 23 March 2026, 7:54pm
Last edited 23 March 2026, 8:39pm
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- 23 March 2026, 8:39pm (this version)
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Scope
Reference
EPP0344
Description
The management and operation of the Paddocks Community Centre, a community venue in Canvey Island that has recently undergone a £2.3 million refurbishment. The Mercury Hall has a capacity of 500 seated / 560 standing and hosts a wide variety of events including DJ nights, tribute shows, comedy evenings, bingo, fitness classes, amateur and school theatre productions, pantomime, and meetings.The Council now wishes to procure a contractor to design, supply and install a complete stage technical infrastructure package. The scope includes: a flying and rigging system (motorised and manual elements, with LOLER certification at handover); a full stage lighting system with wash and profile fixtures, dimmable house lighting, and a front-of-house lighting desk with backstage simple controls; a professional sound system including a digital FOH desk, digital multicore, radio microphones, monitor wedges, DI boxes, and an assistive listening device; a motorised projection screen and suitable projector with HDMI connectivity; wireless communications headsets; all associated cabling, power distribution, and control systems. The system must cater for events ranging from simple fitness classes operated without a technician through to full theatrical productions, and should be future-proofed for at least ten years.
Total value (estimated)
- £100,000 excluding VAT
- £120,000 including VAT Below the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 8 June 2026 to 10 July 2026
- 1 month, 3 days
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
Lighting equipment and electric lamps
Multimedia equipment
Acoustic devices
Miscellaneous structures
Installation services of radio, television, sound and video equipment
Contract locations
- UKH36 - Heart of Essex
Engagement
Engagement deadline
7 April 2026
Engagement process description
Castle Point Borough Council, supported by the Essex Procurement Partnership (EPP), is undertaking a pre-procurement market engagement exercise for the supply and installation of professional-grade stage technical infrastructure at the Mercury Hall, Paddocks Community Centre, Canvey Island, Essex.
The Paddocks Community Centre has recently undergone a £2.3 million refurbishment. The Mercury Hall has a capacity of 500 seated / 560 standing and hosts a diverse programme of events including DJ nights, tribute shows, comedy evenings, bingo, fitness classes, amateur and school theatre productions, pantomime, and meetings.
The Council wishes to procure a contractor to design, supply and install a complete stage technical infrastructure package. The scope includes: a flying and rigging system (motorised and manual elements, with LOLER certification at handover); a full stage lighting system with wash and profile fixtures, dimmable house lighting, and a front-of-house lighting desk with backstage simple controls; a professional sound system including a digital FOH desk, digital multicore, radio microphones, monitor wedges, DI boxes, and an assistive listening device; a motorised projection screen and suitable projector with HDMI connectivity; wireless communications headsets; and all associated cabling, power distribution, and control systems. The system must serve events ranging from simple fitness classes operated without a technician through to full theatrical productions, and should be future-proofed for at least ten years.
The estimated budget for the project is £80,000-£95,000 for supply and installation, with a separate anticipated annual servicing requirement of approximately £1,500 per annum.
HOW TO RESPOND:
Please download the Market Engagement questionnaire document attached by following this link: https://procontract.due-north.com/Procurer/Advert/View?advertId=8e147aee-be26-f111-813c-005056b64545&fromAdvertEvent=True
Complete all relevant sections and return your response via the Procontract messaging function for project EPP0344 by the deadline below. Participation in this market engagement is voluntary and will not advantage or disadvantage any organisation in any future procurement process.
KEY DATES:
Market Engagement Issued: 23 March 2026
Response Deadline: 7 April 2026 (12:00 noon)
Tender Published (via Procontract): 13 April 2026
Site Visit: 24 April 2026
Tender Closes: 8 May 2026
Evaluation Complete: 26 May 2026
Contract Award and commencement: June 2026
CLARIFICATIONS:
Any questions or requests for clarification should be submitted through the Procontract messaging function under project reference EPP0344. All clarification responses will be shared with all registered respondents (with any confidential information redacted). EPP and Castle Point Borough Council reserve the right to decline to answer any question if doing so would jeopardise a future procurement exercise.
DISCLAIMER:
This market engagement is for information-gathering purposes only. It is not an invitation to tender, a request for quotation, or a pre-qualification questionnaire. No contractual commitment will result from this exercise. The Council's current assessment is that a Procurement Act 2023 Open Tender will be the most appropriate route to market for the formal procurement, which will be published separately on Procontract under the same reference (EPP0344).
Participation
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Contracting authority
Castle Point Borough Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PNQD-4618-BZPT Kiln Road
Benfleet
SS7 1TF
United Kingdom
Contact name: Henry Onyia
Email: Henry.Onyia@essex.gov.uk
Region: UKH37 - Essex Thames Gateway
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government
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