The verdict in three sentences
A local authority website rebuild above roughly GBP 30,000 (about EUR 35,000) must be advertised, and the quality of the specification decides 80% of the contract's success. A 60% quality, 40% price weighting remains the safest way to avoid abnormally low bids that end in costly change requests. Accessibility compliance and UK data residency are no longer optional: make them pass or fail requirements, with evidence requested at the selection stage.
Which route for which budget in 2026
Under the Procurement Act 2023, the estimated contract value covers the whole term, including maintenance and application support. A common mistake is to price only the build, then exceed a threshold once four years of support are added.
| Estimated contract value (whole term) | Route | Minimum publicity | Observed tender period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below GBP 30,000 (EUR 35,000) | Direct award with quotes | None, 3 quotes recommended | 10 to 20 days |
| GBP 30,000 to 75,000 (EUR 35,000 to 90,000) | Below-threshold competition | Find a Tender or Contracts Finder notice | 21 to 30 days |
| EUR 90,000 to procurement threshold | Below-threshold competition or framework call-off | Formal notice, clarification window | 30 to 40 days |
| Above the services threshold (about GBP 214,000) | Open or competitive flexible procedure | Find a Tender | 35 to 52 days |
| Framework (G-Cloud, Digital Outcomes) | Call-off under framework rules | Framework portal | 2 to 6 weeks |
Observed budgets for a council serving 50,000 to 300,000 residents range from EUR 35,000 to 120,000: EUR 25,000 to 60,000 for the build, the rest for 3 to 4 years of maintenance, hosting and improvements.
What the specification must lock down
Disputes come from vague scope. The specification should describe templates, volumes and data flows, not just a list of pages.
| Requirement | Recommended wording | Indicative 2026 cost |
|---|---|---|
| Accessibility (PSBAR 2018, WCAG 2.2 AA) | Full compliance targeted, independent audit at delivery, accessibility statement | Audit EUR 3,500 to 8,000 |
| Data residency and security | Data hosted in the UK, Cyber Essentials Plus, documented supply chain | EUR 150 to 600 per month |
| Content migration | Quantified volume: pages, news items, PDFs | EUR 2,000 to 9,000 |
| Online services | Listed connectors (forms, events, maps, open data) | EUR 3,000 to 15,000 |
| Multilingual content | Languages and translated volume specified | EUR 2,500 to 7,000 |
| Exit and reversibility | Full content export, source code, documentation | Included, must be required |
| Staff training | Number of sessions and editors | EUR 1,000 to 3,000 |
For authorities in Wales, plan a full Welsh version under the Welsh language standards from day one, as it affects templates and budget.
Building a scoring grid that protects the authority
The 60% quality and 40% price split is the most common. Break quality down into published, scored sub-criteria:
- Methodology and schedule: 20 points
- Quality of the requested prototype or use case: 15 points
- Accessibility approach and references: 10 points
- Security, hosting, exit plan: 10 points
- Assigned team and availability: 5 points
Invite the top three bidders to a 45-minute presentation. It confirms that the team pitched is the team that will deliver.
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Mini case study
Mark, digital lead of a district council serving 85,000 residents in the East Midlands, estimates his requirement: EUR 42,000 for the build, EUR 900 per month for maintenance and hosting over 4 years (EUR 43,200), plus EUR 6,000 for an accessibility audit and training. Total: EUR 91,200, so a formal notice is required. He receives 7 bids between EUR 68,000 and 118,000. The cheapest bid scores 40 points on price but 31 out of 60 on quality, i.e. 71. A EUR 89,000 bid scores 30.6 on price (68,000 / 89,000 × 40) and 52 on quality, i.e. 82.6. Mark awards it, with a EUR 150 penalty per calendar day of delay and an independent accessibility audit before acceptance.
FAQ
Can we split build and maintenance to stay below the threshold?
No, artificial splitting is prohibited: value is assessed on the overall requirement and the full term. A EUR 30,000 build plus EUR 15,000 of maintenance must be treated as a EUR 45,000 contract.
Should we mandate a specific CMS?
It is better to require an open or well-documented CMS with guaranteed exit than a brand. Naming a product requires adding "or equivalent".
How long between publication and go-live?
Allow 30 to 52 days of tender period, 3 to 4 weeks of evaluation, then 4 to 7 months of delivery, i.e. 7 to 10 months overall.
How do we spot an abnormally low bid?
A bid more than 30% below the average of the others should trigger a written request for justification. Without a convincing answer, the authority may exclude it.
Should the supplier carry out the accessibility audit?
Ideally not: an independent auditor, for EUR 3,500 to 8,000, provides a neutral view and a defensible compliance rate.
Let's scope your project. We help you estimate the requirement, write a specification priced by lot and prepare a scoring grid for a EUR 35,000 to 120,000 rebuild. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
