The Omega Centre Special Education Needs School Refurbishment & Extension

Portsmouth City Council ('the council') is inviting requests to participate from suitably qualified suppliers to deliver the refurbishment & extension of the Omega Arts Centre to form a new school for young people with special education needs & disabilities (SEND).

Site address is: The Omega Arts Centre, 2 Omega Street, Portsmouth PO5 4LP

The estimate contract value is £7.5m and we expect work to commence on site in October 2026 and to complete in March 2028.

The schedule is:

Task Date

Publish above threshold FTS contract notice 13.03.2026

1st Stage - CoP published on Intend 13.03.2026

Deadline for requests for clarification 02.04.26 @ 23:59

Stage 1 CoP submission deadline 17.04.26 @ 12:00

Notification of CoP evaluation results 08.05.2026

Stage 2 ITT documents published on Intend 15.06.2026

Site Visits w/c 29.06.2026

Deadline for requests for clarification 24.07.2026

Stage 2 - Tender return deadline 31.07.2026

Issue assessment summaries / Award notice 07.09.2026

Standstill period (8 days mandatory) 07.09.2026 - 16.09.2026

Contract award confirmation letter 18.09.2026

Mobilisation 02.10.2026 - 29.10.2026

Start on site 30.10.2026

Complete on site 17.03.2028

The Council are looking to appoint a Principal Contractor, with the ability to undertake the works directly The contract is for construction and a design portion. A Planning application has been submitted.

The Council has decided to use a two-stage process to procure the stated requirements; specifically:

• a discrete Conditions of Participation stage to establish a shortlist of up to 4 suppliers

• shortlisted suppliers will subsequently be invited to tender for the works.

The successful supplier will be appointed using a JCT Intermediate Building Contract 2024 with Contractors Design Portion.

The Council is targeting to have awarded this contract by September 2026.

SCOPE

The contractor will take on responsibility for several elements of the design, including but not limited to the elements of the structural, mechanical and electrical services

The works include new build construction, extensions to the existing building, adaptations to the existing building, maintenance works to the existing building, landscape work on the site.

The full design and list of Contractors Design Portions will be issued as part of the tender documents.

The successful contractor will take on the responsibility for preparing the designs for the Contractor Design Portions, demolishing an existing building and delivering the construction of the 4 new buildings/extensions to from a SEND school, they will be expected to co-ordinate and take on the role of Principal Contractor under the CDM Regulations & the Building Safety Act for the works activities.