AWARD OUTCOME
What happened
Cheshire West and Chester Council has awarded and recorded an active contract for temporary Mayoral Investment Fund Phase 2 support to FMK STRATEGIC CONSULTING LTD. The contract supports Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority’s interim investment function while permanent arrangements are developed.
Published outcomeA single active award and contract are recorded for FMK STRATEGIC CONSULTING LTD. The contract record states it was signed on 16 October 2026 and runs to 15 June 2027.
Market significanceThis is a below-threshold, direct services procurement valued at £80,000 excluding VAT (£96,000 including VAT), focused on investment-management and advisory capacity.
AWARDED SUPPLIERS AND LOTS
1 supplier record analysed
FMK STRATEGIC CONSULTING LTD
99% confidenceAward 1 · Lots 1 · £80,000 excluding VAT; £96,000 including VAT GBP · Verified supplier; active award and contract
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Award 1 names the supplier, while contract 1 linked to award 1 records £80,000 net and £96,000 gross. Supplier identity is verified by Companies House number 17203170.
LIFECYCLE
Award or contract stage
Notice type
99% confidenceContract details notice on Find a Tender
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The process identifies the notice type as “Contract details notice on Find a Tender”.
Procurement status
95% confidenceComplete
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Tender lot 1 is marked complete; the process source status is complete.
Award status
99% confidenceActive
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Award 1 is recorded with status active.
Contract status
99% confidenceActive
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Contract 1 is recorded with status active.
Contract signature
99% confidenceSigned 16 October 2026
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Contract 1 gives dateSigned as 2026-10-16.
VALUES
Published values explained
Contract value excluding VAT
99% confidence£80,000
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Contract 1 value.amount is 80000 GBP.
Contract value including VAT
99% confidence£96,000
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Contract 1 value.amountGross is 96000 GBP.
Value allocation
97% confidenceContract-level value for the sole recorded award and supplier
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Contract 1 is linked to award 1, which names one supplier and relates to lot 1.
TIMELINE
Procurement timeline
Contract signed
99% confidence16 October 2026
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Contract 1 dateSigned is 2026-10-16.
Contract start
99% confidence16 October 2026
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Contract 1 period.startDate is 2026-10-16.
Contract end
99% confidence15 June 2027
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Contract 1 period.endDate is 2027-06-15.
Notice published
99% confidence19 October 2026
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The contract details notice publication timestamp is 2026-10-19T12:14:04+01:00.
SCOPE
What was awarded
Service category
99% confidenceBanking and investment services
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The award item carries CPV 66100000, described as Banking and investment services.
Requirement
98% confidenceTemporary investment function support for the Mayoral Investment Fund Phase 2
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The published description states that interim investment-function capacity is required pending permanent Mayoral Investment Fund arrangements.
Activities
98% confidenceManage and refine the investment pipeline; deliver early investment activity; test governance and assessment arrangements; build awareness of investment principles; identify strategic opportunities
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These activities are listed in the published procurement description.
Delivery geography
95% confidenceNorth West England (UKD)
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The award item specifies a delivery address in region UKD.
PROCEDURE
Procedure and competition
Procurement method
99% confidenceDirect
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The tender procurementMethod is recorded as direct.
Method detail
99% confidenceBelow threshold - without competition
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The tender procurementMethodDetails field states “Below threshold - without competition”.
Competition information
99% confidenceInformation not supplied in the published notice.
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No bid count, tenderer list, evaluation results or scoring information is provided.
CONTRACT TERMS
Published contract terms
Contract period
99% confidence16 October 2026 to 15 June 2027
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Contract 1 period runs from 2026-10-16 to 2027-06-15.
Above-threshold status
99% confidenceNo
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Contract 1 records aboveThreshold as false.
Extension or renewal terms
99% confidenceInformation not supplied in the published notice.
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No extension, option or renewal provision is recorded in the supplied contract data.
COMMERCIAL VIEW
Commercial observations
Commercial model
98% confidenceShort-term interim specialist support
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The description describes a temporary investment function pending establishment of permanent arrangements.
Route-to-market signal
99% confidenceThe requirement was placed directly below threshold without competition.
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The recorded procurement method details state “Below threshold - without competition”.
Value interpretation
97% confidenceThe published £80,000 net value is contract-level and is linked to the sole recorded award and supplier.
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One contract is linked to award 1, which records one supplier.
DATA QUALITY
Gaps and source limitations
Supplier verification
99% confidenceVerified legal supplier identity
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Companies House number 17203170 was matched by company number to FMK STRATEGIC CONSULTING LTD.
Award date
99% confidenceInformation not supplied in the published notice.
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Award 1 has no award_date in the supplied data.
Lot detail
99% confidenceLot 1 has no published title, description or separate value.
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The supplied lot record contains status only; its title, description and value are null.
Competition and evaluation
99% confidenceInformation not supplied in the published notice.
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No bids received, bidder identities, scores, award rationale or evaluation detail is included.
SOURCE DATA LIMITATIONS
Information not supplied in the published notice
- No award date is supplied.
- Lot 1 has no published title, description or individual value.
- Information on bids, competing suppliers, evaluation, award rationale and pricing breakdown is not supplied.
- No extension, renewal or option terms are published.
MARKET THEMES
Relevant award themes
FMK STRATEGIC CONSULTING LTDCheshire West and Chester CouncilCheshire and Warrington Combined AuthorityMayoral Investment Fund Phase 2investment services contractdirect award
COMMON QUESTIONS
About this award
Who won the Mayoral Investment Fund Phase 2 support contract?
FMK STRATEGIC CONSULTING LTD, verified under Companies House number 17203170.
What is the contract value?
The contract value is £80,000 excluding VAT and £96,000 including VAT.
When does the contract run?
It starts on 16 October 2026 and ends on 15 June 2027.
How was the contract procured?
The notice records a direct, below-threshold procurement without competition.
ProcuraAxis award analysis supplements, but does not replace, the official award notice, contract data or procurement documents. “Awarded” does not by itself prove that a contract has been signed.