Kent County Council: Urban Grass, Shrubs & Hedges - Market Engagement

Contracting authority

Contracting authority:

Kent County Council

Public Procurement Organisation Number:

PLDL-8938-YGYW

Address:

County Hall
Maidstone
ME14 1XQ
UK

Contact name:

Not provided

Email:

matthew.head@kent.gov.uk

Telephone:

Not provided

Website:

Not provided

Organisation type:

REGIONAL_AUTHORITY

Devolved regulations that apply:

None

Procedure

Procedure type:

Competitive flexible procedure

Dynamic market OCID:

Not provided

Competitive flexible procedure description:

1. Selection stage (PSQ / Conditions of participation). Minimum Overall Weighted score to be achieved to allow progression to ITT Stage.

2. ITT Stage - Quality response evaluated. The Council will progress the top ranking X (no. TBC) tenderers to Stage 3.

3. Optional Tender Clarification Meetings (previously referred to as Negotiation Stage) - to allow the Council to discuss the bid with each tenderer to clarify elements etc...

4. Optional ISFT Stage - Final Quality submissions assessed, tenderer must achieve minimum quality threshold to be evaluated on price.

Lowest priced tenderer for each lot will be awarded the contract (tenderer can only be awarded 1 lot).

Full details will be included in the tender documents.

Award criteria may be refined prior to ITT stage. More information can be found in the tender documents.

Preliminary market engagement conducted:

Yes

Dynamic market:

No

Tenders received:

0

Tenders assessed:

0

Tenders from SMEs:

0

Tenders from VCSEs:

0

Special regime:

None

Scope

Title:

Urban Grass, Shrubs & Hedges - Market Engagement

Reference number:

CN250567

Main procurement category:

SERVICES

Description:

The Contractor for each lot is responsible for the programmed works and additional ad-hoc provision.

The main service areas comprise of urban grass, shrub and hedge cutting to contribute to visual
amenity and to keep roads and pavements clear of vegetation for the safe passage of highway users.

Works are conducted typically Monday to Friday.

The annual activities required under this contract consist of the following:

• Six programmed urban grass cutting visits
• One shrub bed maintenance visit
• One hedge maintenance visit
• Two rose bed maintenance visits
• One conservation verge and wildflower programmed maintenance visit
• Other programmed activities
• Ad hoc works

The Council does not guarantee any minimum value, volume of work, or spend under the contract.

The expected total contract value for this procurement amounts to £22,500,000.

This is broken down as follows (all figures are estimates):

-Initial Term 60 months (5 years) totalling £10,125,000 (Lot 1 - £4,556,250 Lot 2 - £5,568,750)

-Optional Extension Term up to 36 months (3 years) totalling £6,075,000 (Lot 1 - £2,733,750 Lot 2 - £3,341,250)

However, to allow for any future increases in funding, any future inflation, Compensation Events, and any other unexpected but in-scope spend, the total maximum contract value will be advertised on the relevant tendering portals (such as the Central Digital Platform, Find a Tender or Contracts Finder) as £22,500,000.

It is expected that there will be the potential for a contract extension of up to 3 years, depending on both the success in achieving the required outcomes, availability of further funding, and any decisions arising as a result of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).

*/*/ PLEASE NOTE, UNDER SECTIONS “LOT 1” & “LOT 2” OF THE FTS NOTICE, IT ADVISES EACH LOT VALUE IS £11,250,000 – THIS SHOULD BE IGNORED AND THE ABOVE INFORMATION REFERRED TO (FTS WILL NOT ALLOW LOT VALUES TO BE INSERTED THAT WHEN ADDED TOGETHER ARE LOWER THAN THE STATED CONTRACT VALUE i.e. £22,500,000*/*/
For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at:
https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/tenders/UK-UK-Maidstone:-Construction-work./Q22KU4W92M

To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/respond/Q22KU4W92M

Total value (estimated):

GBP 22,500,000 including VAT

Maximum number of lots a supplier can bid for:

Not provided

Maximum number of lots a supplier can be awarded:

1

Description of how multiple lots may be awarded:

Not provided

Lots

Description:

The Contractor for Lot 1 - West is responsible for the programmed works and additional ad-hoc provision.

The main service areas comprise of urban grass, shrub and hedge cutting to contribute to visual
amenity and to keep roads and pavements clear of vegetation for the safe passage of highway users.

Works are conducted typically Monday to Friday.

The annual activities required under this contract consist of the following:
• Six programmed urban grass cutting visits
• One shrub bed maintenance visit
• One hedge maintenance visit
• Two rose bed maintenance visits
• One conservation verge and wildflower programmed maintenance visit
• Other programmed activities
• Ad hoc works

Please note that the proposed lotting structure may be subject to change as a result of Local
Government Reorganisation (LGR). The Council will keep tenderers informed throughout the
procurement process of any such changes.


The Council does not guarantee any minimum value, volume of work, or spend under the contract.

The expected total contract value for this procurement amounts to £22,500,000.

This is broken down as follows for Lot 1 (all figures are estimates):

-Initial Term 60 months (5 years) - £4,556,250

-Optional Extension Term up to 36 months (3 years) - £2,733,750

However, to allow for any future increases in funding, any future inflation, Compensation Events, and any other unexpected but in-scope spend, the total maximum contract value will be advertised on the relevant tendering portals (such as the Central Digital Platform, Find a Tender or Contracts Finder) as £22,500,000.

It is expected that there will be the potential for a contract extension of up to 3 years, depending on both the success in achieving the required outcomes, availability of further funding, and any decisions arising as a result of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).

*/*/ PLEASE NOTE, UNDER SECTIONS “LOT 1” & “LOT 2” OF THE FTS NOTICE, IT ADVISES EACH LOT VALUE IS £11,250,000 – THIS SHOULD BE IGNORED AND THE ABOVE INFORMATION REFERRED TO (FTS WILL NOT ALLOW LOT VALUES TO BE INSERTED THAT WHEN ADDED TOGETHER ARE LOWER THAN THE STATED CONTRACT VALUE i.e. £22,500,000*/*/

Suitable for SMEs:

Yes

Suitable for VCSEs:

No

Value (estimated):

GBP 11,250,000 including VAT

Contract dates (estimated):

01/03/2027 to 29/02/2032

CPV classifications:

45000000 - Construction work.

70000000 - Real estate services.

71421000 - Landscape gardening services.

77000000 - Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services.

Contract can be extended:

Yes

Extension date:

28/02/2035

Delivery regions:

UKJ46 - West Kent

Award criteria:

Name: Lowest price bid for each lot will be awarded the contract. Full details will be included in the tender documents. / Weighting: 50

Name: Tenderers who meet the minimum quality threshold, will then be evaluated on price. Lowest price bid for each lot will be awarded the contract. Full details will be included in the tender documents. / Weighting: 50

Technical ability conditions of participation:

Detailed in Tender documents.

Description:

The Contractor for Lot 2 - East is responsible for the programmed works and additional ad-hoc provision.

The main service areas comprise of urban grass, shrub and hedge cutting to contribute to visual
amenity and to keep roads and pavements clear of vegetation for the safe passage of highway users.

Works are conducted typically Monday to Friday.

The annual activities required under this contract consist of the following:
• Six programmed urban grass cutting visits
• One shrub bed maintenance visit
• One hedge maintenance visit
• Two rose bed maintenance visits
• One conservation verge and wildflower programmed maintenance visit
• Other programmed activities
• Ad hoc works

Please note that the proposed lotting structure may be subject to change as a result of Local
Government Reorganisation (LGR). The Council will keep tenderers informed throughout the
procurement process of any such changes.


The Council does not guarantee any minimum value, volume of work, or spend under the contract.

The expected total contract value for this procurement amounts to £22,500,000.

This is broken down as follows for Lot 2 (all figures are estimates):

-Initial Term 60 months (5 years) - £5,568,750.

-Optional Extension Term up to 36 months (3 years) - £3,341,250.

However, to allow for any future increases in funding, any future inflation, Compensation Events, and any other unexpected but in-scope spend, the total maximum contract value will be advertised on the relevant tendering portals (such as the Central Digital Platform, Find a Tender or Contracts Finder) as £22,500,000.

It is expected that there will be the potential for a contract extension of up to 3 years, depending on both the success in achieving the required outcomes, availability of further funding, and any decisions arising as a result of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).

*/*/ PLEASE NOTE, UNDER SECTIONS “LOT 1” & “LOT 2” OF THE FTS NOTICE, IT ADVISES EACH LOT VALUE IS £11,250,000 – THIS SHOULD BE IGNORED AND THE ABOVE INFORMATION REFERRED TO (FTS WILL NOT ALLOW LOT VALUES TO BE INSERTED THAT WHEN ADDED TOGETHER ARE LOWER THAN THE STATED CONTRACT VALUE i.e. £22,500,000*/*/

Suitable for SMEs:

Yes

Suitable for VCSEs:

No

Value (estimated):

GBP 11,250,000 including VAT

Contract dates (estimated):

01/03/2027 to 29/02/2032

CPV classifications:

45000000 - Construction work.

70000000 - Real estate services.

71421000 - Landscape gardening services.

77000000 - Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services.

Contract can be extended:

Yes

Extension date:

28/02/2035

Delivery regions:

UKJ44 - East Kent

Award criteria:

Name: Lowest price bid for each lot will be awarded the contract. Full details will be included in the tender documents. / Weighting: 50

Name: Tenderers who meet the minimum quality threshold, will then be evaluated on price. / Weighting: 50

Technical ability conditions of participation:

Detailed in tender documents.

Documents

Associated tender documents:

Not provided

Technical specifications:

Not provided

Submission

Enquiry deadline:

12/05/2026

Tender submission deadline:

04/06/2026 Time: 12.00

Submission address and any special instructions:

https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/

An electronic auction will be used:

No

Languages that may be used for submission:

English

Award decision date (estimated):

30/09/2026

Other information

Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation:

Not provided

Technical ability conditions of participation:

Not provided

Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP):

Not provided

Government Procurement Agreement (GPA):

Not provided

A conflicts assessment has been prepared and revised:

Yes

Other organisations