Paisley Halloween Festival - Parade & Town Centre Animation
Estimated Value
Not specified
Deadline
Not specified
Published
12 May 2026
Type
services
Overview
Renfrewshire Council are seeking a highly experienced and established creative company to develop and deliver a parade and town centre animation for Paisley Halloween Festival 2026 on Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th October, and Friday 29th and Saturday 30th October 2027 (with the option of adding year 3 on 27/28 October 2028). The Tender Procedure was conducted in accordance with an above Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) Threshold Open Tender procedure relating to a Services Contract. Additional information: Award of Contract for Paisley Halloween Festival - Parade & Town Centre Animation
AI Analysis
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Renfrewshire Council wants to hire an experienced creative company to design and run a Halloween parade and street entertainment programme in Paisley town centre. The work runs for two guaranteed years (2026 and 2027, with the option to extend to 2028), taking place over two weekends each October.
Requirements
- Must be a highly experienced and established creative company
- Must have proven track record in parade design and delivery
- Must have experience in town centre animation and public events
- Must comply with Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) Threshold Open Tender procedures
- Must be able to deliver across two weekends in October (23rd/24th and 29th/30th)
- Contract includes option for third year (27th/28th October 2028) — supplier must be willing to extend on same terms
Key Tasks & Deliverables
- Design a Halloween parade suitable for Paisley town centre
- Deliver the parade on Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th October 2026
- Deliver the parade on Friday 29th and Saturday 30th October 2027
- Create and deliver town centre animation (entertainment/street activity) across both event weekends each year
- Manage all creative elements including theming, costumes, floats, performers, or other parade content
- Optionally deliver the same programme on 27th/28th October 2028 if option is exercised
How to Read This Tender
- 1This is an 'above GPA Threshold' contract — that means it's worth enough money to be advertised nationally and internationally. It will have formal EU-wide procurement rules, so don't skip compliance steps. Check the full tender documents for contract value, exact timescales, and what 'town centre animation' specifically means to the council.
- 2The 'option' for year 3 is important: the council doesn't have to use it, but you need to price it anyway and be prepared to deliver on the same terms if they choose to exercise it. Factor this into your planning.
- 3Look carefully for: budget available, size/scale expected (how many parade participants, how much street activity, crowd size estimates), what Renfrewshire considers 'highly experienced' (years in business, previous similar events, team size), and insurance/liability requirements.
- 4The dates are specific and split across two weekends each year — check if this is feasible for your team or if you'll need to partner with other suppliers.
- 5Renfrewshire Council may score bids on quality and price. Request the full Invitation to Tender (ITT) document which will detail: scoring criteria, what format your proposal should take, mandatory questions, and deadlines. Don't rely only on this notice.
Tips for Small Businesses
- If you're a small creative agency, consider forming a consortium with a larger event management company or parade specialist — this contract likely demands 'established' status and proven delivery on major public events. A partnership could strengthen your bid without losing control of the creative work.
- Check the social value requirements early. Local authority contracts in Scotland often ask for community benefit commitments (e.g. hiring local performers, training opportunities, community involvement). This can be a competitive advantage for SMEs rooted in the local area.
- The two-weekend format and option for a third year suggests the council wants stability and relationship building. Emphasise continuity, consistency, and your ability to scale up if they extend. Offer ideas for how the parade could evolve year-on-year to keep it fresh.
Before you bid, buyers check
two years of filed accountsyour financial standingturnover vs contract valueyour Companies House recordcash flow for 30-day termscredit scores and ratios
Actions
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How to Apply
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Key Dates
Published
12 May 2026
Submission deadline
Not specified
Notice type
award
Source
find a tender
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