Islington Garrett Street Workspace Operator Tender – 7 Year Lease

Islington Council is inviting tenders from established, socially focused workspace or makerspace operators to take on the delivery and long-term management of a new Affordable Workspace/Makerspace. 10-14 Garrett Street is a historically significant Grade II listed former stables building. The opportunity includes a seven year peppercorn lease and Services Concession Contract, awarded in exchange for delivering affordable workspace provision and robust social value outcomes aligned with the Council’s priorities.

Operators have a unique opportunity include makerspace, creative facilities, creative industries, and crafts and provide space to deliver training, events and support to underrepresented local people into employment within the creative and making industries. It is envisaged that the building could support practical making businesses across various creative industries from woodwork to textile, metal work to ceramics.

This vision does not preclude the submission of innovative and high-quality bids for the workspace that also meet the council’s priorities.

Lots

This concession contract is not being divided into lots.

Further details will be provided in the invitation to tender.

Contract period

The duration will be 84 months from an estimated start date of 5th October 2026

with no option to extend.

Value of the contract

The estimated total value of this contract is £3,404,450 over the maximum 84 months. This is based on £486,350 per annum.

Award criteria (Selection Stage)

At the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) stage, the Authority will assess bidders against selection (award) criteria comprising exclusion grounds, conditions of participation (including economic and financial standing, and technical and professional ability), and project-specific minimum requirements. Assessment of these elements will be undertaken on a pass/fail basis. Bidders that fail to meet any mandatory requirement or provide insufficient information may be excluded from further participation in the procurement process.

Bidders that successfully pass the selection stage will be evaluated against project-specific selection questions using a scoring methodology on a scale of 0 to 5, as set out in the PSQ documentation. In order to be shortlisted, bidders must achieve a minimum score of 3 (meeting the Authority’s requirements) for each scored question. The Authority will invite to tender the six highest scoring bidders, or such greater number in the event of a tie at the cut-off point. Shortlisting will be based solely on the information provided in response to the PSQ.

Award criteria (Invitation to Tender Stage)

The contract will be awarded to the bidder submitting the Most Advantageous Tender, assessed on the basis of quality and price. Tenders will be evaluated using a total weighting of 100%, comprising 40% quality (method statements) and 60% commercial and social value considerations.

Bidders are required to respond to all elements of the ITT. Evaluation will be undertaken in accordance with the criteria set out below. Failure to complete mandatory elements, including the Social Value Matrix or Financial Model, may result in the tender being deemed non-compliant and excluded from further evaluation.

Click to access documents and express your interest – https://procontract.due-north.com/Supplier/Advert/View?advertId=8201e4e4-c952-f111-813c-005056b64545&fromProjectDashboard=False&fromRfxSummary=False&selectWorkgroup=False&fromAdvertEvent=False&fromActivityDashboard=False

How to express an interest

If you wish to apply for this contract opportunity please follow these steps:

• Register your organisation free of charge via the London Tenders Portal

• When you receive an email confirming your username and password use these to log on to the London Tenders Portal and express your interest in 2223-0331 Garrett Street Affordable Workspace Project – 70332200: Commercial property management services

• Shortly after you have expressed interest, you will receive a second email containing a link to access the procurement documents.

Award criteria (Selection Stage)

At the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) stage, the Authority will assess bidders against selection (award) criteria comprising exclusion grounds, conditions of participation (including economic and financial standing, and technical and professional ability), and project-specific minimum requirements. Assessment of these elements will be undertaken on a pass/fail basis. Bidders that fail to meet any mandatory requirement or provide insufficient information may be excluded from further participation in the procurement process.

Bidders that successfully pass the selection stage will be evaluated against project-specific selection questions using a scoring methodology on a scale of 0 to 5, as set out in the PSQ documentation. In order to be shortlisted, bidders must achieve a minimum score of 3 (meeting the Authority’s requirements) for each scored question. The Authority will invite to tender the six highest scoring bidders, or such greater number in the event of a tie at the cut-off point. Shortlisting will be based solely on the information provided in response to the PSQ.

Award criteria (Invitation to Tender Stage)

The contract will be awarded to the bidder submitting the Most Advantageous Tender, assessed on the basis of quality and price. Tenders will be evaluated using a total weighting of 100%, comprising 40% quality (method statements) and 60% commercial and social value considerations.

Bidders are required to respond to all elements of the ITT. Evaluation will be undertaken in accordance with the criteria set out below. Failure to complete mandatory elements, including the Social Value Matrix or Financial Model, may result in the tender being deemed non-compliant and excluded from further evaluation.

Evaluation Criteria Table

Criteria Sub-criteria Description Weighting

Quality (Method Statements) Vision and sustainability Strategic vision for the workspace, including long-term social, economic and environmental value 10%

Management and mobilisation Approach to mobilisation, workspace operation, tenant engagement and community activation 10%

Operations, H&S and compliance Day-to-day management, statutory compliance, maintenance and safe operation 10%

Occupancy, risk and performance management Approach to occupancy, financial sustainability, risk identification and mitigation 10%

Social Value Social Value proposal and TOMs commitments Delivery of measurable social value outcomes aligned to Council priorities, including completion of Social Value Matrix 30%

Financial / Commercial Financial model and assumptions Robustness and deliverability of the financial model, including income, costs and key assumptions 30%

Total 100%

Scoring Approach

Quality and Social Value responses will be evaluated using a scored methodology (details set out in the ITT), taking into account the extent to which responses demonstrate a clear, deliverable and well-evidenced approach aligned with the Authority’s requirements. The Financial Model will be assessed on the credibility, transparency and sustainability of the bidder’s proposed operating model and supporting assumptions.

The Authority reserves the right to seek clarification of any aspect of a tender submission. The final award decision will be based on the overall combined score across all criteria, with the highest scoring compliant tender being recommended for award as the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT) in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023.

Islington Council is inviting tenders from established, socially focused workspace or makerspace operators to take on the delivery and long-term management of a new Affordable Workspace/Makerspace. 10-14 Garrett Street is a historically significant Grade II listed former stables building. The opportunity includes a seven year peppercorn lease and Services Concession Contract, awarded in exchange for delivering affordable workspace provision and robust social value outcomes aligned with the Council’s priorities.

Operators have a unique opportunity include makerspace, creative facilities, creative industries, and crafts and provide space to deliver training, events and support to underrepresented local people into employment within the creative and making industries. It is envisaged that the building could support practical making businesses across various creative industries from woodwork to textile, metal work to ceramics.

This vision does not preclude the submission of innovative and high-quality bids for the workspace that also meet the council’s priorities.

Lots

This concession contract is not being divided into lots.

Further details will be provided in the invitation to tender.

Contract period

The duration will be 84 months from an estimated start date of 5th October 2026

with no option to extend.

Value of the contract

The estimated total value of this contract is £3,404,450 over the maximum 84 months. This is based on £486,350 per annum.

Award criteria (Selection Stage)

At the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) stage, the Authority will assess bidders against selection (award) criteria comprising exclusion grounds, conditions of participation (including economic and financial standing, and technical and professional ability), and project-specific minimum requirements. Assessment of these elements will be undertaken on a pass/fail basis. Bidders that fail to meet any mandatory requirement or provide insufficient information may be excluded from further participation in the procurement process.

Bidders that successfully pass the selection stage will be evaluated against project-specific selection questions using a scoring methodology on a scale of 0 to 5, as set out in the PSQ documentation. In order to be shortlisted, bidders must achieve a minimum score of 3 (meeting the Authority’s requirements) for each scored question. The Authority will invite to tender the six highest scoring bidders, or such greater number in the event of a tie at the cut-off point. Shortlisting will be based solely on the information provided in response to the PSQ.

Award criteria (Invitation to Tender Stage)

The contract will be awarded to the bidder submitting the Most Advantageous Tender, assessed on the basis of quality and price. Tenders will be evaluated using a total weighting of 100%, comprising 40% quality (method statements) and 60% commercial and social value considerations.

Bidders are required to respond to all elements of the ITT. Evaluation will be undertaken in accordance with the criteria set out below. Failure to complete mandatory elements, including the Social Value Matrix or Financial Model, may result in the tender being deemed non-compliant and excluded from further evaluation.

How to express an interest

If you wish to apply for this contract opportunity please follow these steps:

• Register your organisation free of charge via the London Tenders Portal

• When you receive an email confirming your username and password use these to log on to the London Tenders Portal and express your interest in 2223-0331 Garrett Street Affordable Workspace Project – 70332200: Commercial property management services

• Shortly after you have expressed interest, you will receive a second email containing a link to access the procurement documents.

Click to access documents and express your interest – https://procontract.due-north.com/Supplier/Advert/View?advertId=8201e4e4-c952-f111-813c-005056b64545&fromProjectDashboard=False&fromRfxSummary=False&selectWorkgroup=False&fromAdvertEvent=False&fromActivityDashboard=False

How to express an interest

If you wish to apply for this contract opportunity please follow these steps:

• Register your organisation free of charge via the London Tenders Portal

• When you receive an email confirming your username and password use these to log on to the London Tenders Portal and express your interest in 2223-0331 Garrett Street Affordable Workspace Project – 70332200: Commercial property management services

• Shortly after you have expressed interest, you will receive a second email containing a link to access the procurement documents.

Islington Town Hall

London

N1 2UD

United Kingdom

Contact name: Christine Huston

Email: christine.huston@islington.gov.uk

Website: http://www.islington.gov.uk/

Region: UKI43 – Haringey and Islington

Organisation type: Public authority – sub-central government