Open tenders / Legal, finance & audit
Open tender · Notice 102761-2026
Durham County Council - Appointment of an Independent Person to the Pension Fund
- Value
- £170k
- Closes
- 27 Nov 2026 (19 days)
- Where
- North East
- Lots
- 1
- Suitable for SMEs
- Yes, says the buyer
- Contract
- 30 Dec 2026 – 31 Dec 2029
In plain English
Durham County Council Pension Fund wants an experienced Independent Person to give independent expertise, scrutiny and challenge on how the fund is governed and run, in the North East. The contract runs from 30 December 2026 to 31 December 2029 and is estimated at £170,000 in total; bids are due by 27 November 2026.
Good fit for: Independent pensions consultants or small pensions governance firms, including sole traders, with senior experience of local government pension funds.
- Needs significant pensions experience
We are looking for a highly credible pensions professional with significant experience in pension fund governance, investment, funding and administration.
- Regulated investment advice not included
Regulated investment advice is excluded.
Written with AI from the official notice. Check the notice before relying on it.
What the buyer says
Durham County Council Pension Fund is seeking an experienced Independent Person. The role carries no delegated authority and does not affect statutory responsibilities. The Independent Person will provide independent expertise, scrutiny and challenge to support effective governance, oversight and decision-making. We are looking for a highly credible pensions professional with significant experience in pension fund governance, investment, funding and administration. This can either be a sole trader or an Organisation. Services will include review of investment, funding, governance and administration arrangements; scrutiny of advice, performance, risk, responsible investment and pooling; assurance on controls, conflicts, data, cyber resilience and continuity; attendance at Committee meetings; and support for agreed member development. Regulated investment advice is excluded. The successful supplier will play a key role in supporting good governance, effective decision-making and regulatory compliance across one of the largest LGPS funds in England and Wales. This is an exciting opportunity to influence strategic decision-making and contribute to the long-term success of the Fund on behalf of its Scheme members and Scheme employers. The core service includes attendance at five meetings in each annual cycle: four Pension Fund Committee meetings and one annual meeting
Getting the documents
open-uk.org (the buyer's own site, usually free to register).
Procedure: Below threshold - open competition (Open: anyone can bid (a lower-value contract with lighter rules)). Published 29 Oct 2026.
What similar contracts went for
Similar contracts went for £90k to £140k (2 since 2026; 2 won by small firms).
| Contract | Won by | Value | Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Devon Pension Fund Independent Person Devon County Council | Apex Investment Advisers Ltd SME | £90k | 17 Aug |
| Independent Person LGPS Worcestershire County Council | Dalriada Trustees Limited SME | £140k | 13 Jul |
From the award notices on Find a Tender and Public Contracts Scotland. Values are as each notice states them and cover the contract's whole term: most notices give the value before VAT, but about one in seven gives only a figure including VAT. AI picked these as the same kind of work and can be wrong, so check what each one included before you price.
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