Invitation to Tender - Communities of Practice Development

Invitation to Tender - Communities of Practice Development is a UK public-sector framework agreement managed by THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR PLACES OF HISTORIC INTEREST OR NATURAL BEAUTY. It is expected to expire around November 2036. CONTEXT Nature Towns and Cities is a UK-wide mission to bring nature and green space to urban areas for everyone's benefit. It is backed by coalition of public, private and third sector organisations committed to putting accessible nature at the heart of vibrant, healthy, resilient places and communities, focusing on those areas that will benefit the most. Over the next 10 years we're aiming to help 5 million more people enjoy better access to green and blue space close to home, and 1 million more children to be able to play in nature on their doorstep. THIS COMMISSION To support places and communities on their journey we have already provided training, peer mentoring, action learning, case studies and how to guides, conferences and events and informal opportunities to collaborate, though the Nature Towns and Cities Network. We now wish to develop and establish a small number of Communities of Practice to connect people and organisations working to create, improve and care for urban nature across the UK. These spaces will connect local government and wider public sector, national NGOs, VCSE organisations and possibly private sector organisations around shared ambitions for greener, fairer, healthier towns and cities. Communities of Practice is a working concept, intended to start coalescing the large Nature Towns and Cities network around purposeful activity on specific themes. We want to create spaces where network members can work through live challenges, share experience, learn from different perspectives and identify practical next steps. This commission will determine what these spaces look and feel like, and how they are delivered. INFORMATION TO BE RETURNED Tender responses should be sent to david.coughlin@nationaltrust.org.uk by the deadline of 12pm (midday) on 18/09/26 and include details of the following: • Outline of your proposed approach, including outputs • Description of your relevant experience, including examples of at least two pieces of similar work you have carried out. • Project timeline or Gantt chart • Key responsibilities of team members and time allocations • Proposed budget breakdown The budget available for this work is £50,000 inc VAT. Please see the full ITT document attached for further details.

When does it re-tender?

The current term is expected to end around November 2036. The re-tender competition typically opens in the months before that date, so the practical window to prepare a bid is roughly February 2036 onward. It was awarded November 2026 for a 10-year term.

How to prepare a bid

A re-tender asks for the same building blocks every time. Have these ready before the notice publishes, most take weeks to assemble:

• Cyber Essentials, and Cyber Essentials Plus if the framework requires it
• Up-to-date insurances (employer, public and professional indemnity)
• Financial evidence: your latest accounts and turnover figures
• Two or three case studies mapped to this framework's scope
• Core policies: equality, health and safety, data protection
• A capacity statement showing you can deliver at the required volume
• Confirm the exact re-tender dates against the source notice; frameworks are frequently extended.

Start a trial to follow this framework and be alerted before the window opens.

CPV codes covered

The Common Procurement Vocabulary codes that describe this framework's scope. Match these to your business to judge relevance.