UK Public Sector Contracts & Tenders

St Helens Council is undertaking soft market testing ahead of a forthcoming procurement for an Independent Regulation 44 Visitor Service. The Council currently commissions Regulation 44 inspections for two of its children's homes. However, due to recent service expansion, Regulation 44 inspections are now required for five children's homes, with a potential sixth home expected to open in the near future. Further expansion of provision is also possible during the lifetime of the contract.

St Helens Council are looking to procure an Electric Scissor Lift to use in the workshop and possibly around the depot for the fleet team. The piece of equipment must reach approx. 9m, have a load capacity of 250kg and take up to 2 people. The council would be looking to undertake a demonstration of a range of suitable scissor lifts - brochures are welcome to be included as part of your response to this EOI. The Council is looking to purchase an electric scissor lift that meets or exceeds the specification above. During the Soft Market Test we would like to gauge the level of interest.

St Helens Council has recently began the commercialisation phase in the development of a town wide, low carbon heat network. To help shape and inform the next steps of the proposed heat network, St Helens Council is conducting a Soft Market Testing (SMT) exercise.

Treatment and Disposal of Household Garden Waste for St Helens Council - Expression of Interest. The council are looking to obtain information from local operators around this project, questions are detailed in the EOI document which can be found on the chest platform.

St Helens Borough Council is undertaking soft market testing to understand market interest in operating a new café facility within the recently refurbished Earlestown Town Hall. As part of the wider regeneration programme for Earlestown, the Grade II listed Town Hall has undergone extensive restoration and refurbishment to bring this landmark building back into civic, cultural, and community use. A new extension has been constructed to the north of the Town Hall to accommodate the café. This purpose‑built space has been designed to act as an inviting, vibrant focal point within the building, offering a high‑quality and welcoming environment for residents, visitors, families, and those working locally. The café will provide approximately 40 internal covers within a seating area of 36.15m², with potential for additional outdoor seating within the Town Hall Courtyard. We would like to take the opportunity to do some `soft market testing', to determine current interest levels in the market. THIS IS NOT A CALL FOR COMPETITION This Soft Market Test is intended to allow interested organisations with relevant experience to outline their views and provide information with no commitment to themselves or the Council.

The St Helens integrated sexual health service includes sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services for a full range of contraception and family planning interventions, services for the management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), targeted young people's sexual health services, outreach and engagement, and health improvement services. St Helens Council would like to take the opportunity to do some `soft market testing' as outlined below, to determine current interest levels in the market to provide the service. Providers are invited to register on The-Chest portal www.the-chest.org.uk download the SMT documents and submit their responses no later than 12 noon on 24th March 2026

St Helens Borough Council Soft Market Test for the Provision of an Adult Short Break Respite Service. We would like to take the opportunity to do some `soft market testing' to help determine current interest levels in the market. Providers are invited to register on The-Chest portal, reference DN771560, download the Soft Market Testing document and complete and submit their responses no later than 12 noon on the 29th April 2025.

St Helens Borough Council currently operates two markets; Earlestown Market and the new St Helens Market Hall. The Council is seeking to understand the market's capacity and appetite to deliver a comprehensive, modern, and community‑focused market operations. As part of the Council's wider regeneration and growth programme, we are seeking to identify operators with the capability, ambition and creativity to elevate these markets to provide high‑quality, diverse, and commercially sustainable operations.

We would like to take the opportunity to do some `soft market testing' as outlined below, to determine current interest levels in the market for a provider to deliver a Falls Management Exercise programme. The Falls Management Exercise (FaME) programme will provide an opportunity for older people at risk of falling to increase their strength and balance and thus reduce their falls risk. The programme is based on best practice from the UK, current evidence base and operates to National Standards. Please fill out the attached form and return via the messaging part of the portal. Deadline 9/5/2025 12pm.

We intend to commission services relating to St Helens Integrated Sexual Health Service under PSR - Most Suitable Provider SRH services: • clear, accessible, and up-to-date information, available in a range of formats, about services providing contraception, sexual and reproductive health services for the whole population, including preventative information targeted at those at highest risk of poor sexual health, • increased uptake of effective methods of contraception, including rapid access to the full range of contraceptive methods (including LARC) for all age groups, • a reduction in unplanned pregnancies (all ages), as evidenced by teenage conception and abortion rates, • Timely access to psychosexual therapies where required/referred.