Tender: Strategic Delivery Partner for Derbyshire Local Government Reorganisation to Two Unitary Authorities

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Derbyshire County Council is seeking a supplier for a Strategic Delivery Partner to provide programme leadership, implementation support, specialist expertise, independent assurance and additional delivery capacity to support the implementation of Local Government Reorganisation across Derbyshire following the Ministerial decision of 16 July 2026 to create two unitary authorities: Northern Derbyshire (Bolsover, Chesterfield, Derbyshire Dales, High Peak, North East Derbyshire and 21 parishes from Amber Valley) and Southern Derbyshire (Derby City, Erewash, South Derbyshire and 14 parishes from Amber Valley). The successful supplier will work alongside elected members, officers and programme leads from mobilisation through Vesting Day and, if required, a post-vesting stabilisation period, operating within an Intelligent Client model to support a safe, effective and legally compliant transition with strong governance, risk management, service continuity and delivery of programme outcomes. The contract covers all programme phases (Mobilisation and Transition Planning; Design and Development; Implementation; Vesting Day Readiness and Delivery; Post-Vesting Stabilisation and Transformation) and requires support across specialist themes including programme management, finance, HR and workforce, legal and governance, ICT and digital, customer and service transformation, communications and engagement, organisational design and change management, procurement and commercial, assets and property, data and insight, and programme assurance. Suppliers must demonstrate significant experience of complex public sector transformation and reorganisation, strong programme management capability, access to specialist resources, and the ability to mobilise rapidly within a complex multi-authority environment.