Award

SC22331 - Drainage Works Framework

  • Kent County Council

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-007294

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-03a4f3 (view related notices)

Published 26 February 2025, 2:05pm



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

Kent County Council

Sessions House

Maidstone

ME14 1XQ

Email

marie.lewzey@kent.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKJ4 - Kent

Internet address(es)

Main address

http://www.kent.gov.uk

Buyer's address

http://www.kent.gov.uk

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Regional or local authority

one.5) Main activity

General public services


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

SC22331 - Drainage Works Framework

Reference number

DN655724

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 45000000 - Construction work

two.1.3) Type of contract

Works

two.1.4) Short description

Kent County Council (the Council) is the largest local authority in England covering an area

of 3,500 square kilometres. It has an annual expenditure of over £1bn on goods and services

and a population of 1.6m. The Council provides a wide range of personal and strategic

services on behalf of its residents, operating in partnership with the NHS Kent and Medway

Integrated Care Board, 12 district councils, and 289 parish/town councils.

The Council consists of four directorates:

• Adult Social Care and Health

• Children, Young People and Education

• Growth, Environment and Transport

• Chief Executive’s Department and Deputy Chief Executive's Department

This service is being commissioned on behalf of the Growth, Environment and Transport

directorate.

In 2023, Kent County Council established a £15,000,000 Drainage Framework to facilitate the delivery of the Council's drainage works and maintenance. Three suppliers were appointed to the framework. Work is awarded either via direct awards on a rotational basis or via mini-competition.

The notice details the Council's intention to modify the framework in line with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.

The drainage works consist of providing labour/resources, plant, and materials to carry out all tasks associated with Highway Drainage Maintenance on both highway and non-highway sites.

The framework commenced on 1st August 2023 and is due to expire on 31st July 2027. Once modified, the total framework value will be £22,500,000; however, work is not guaranteed under the framework. This amount will be awarded among the three framework suppliers accordingly in accordance with the Framework rules.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)

Lowest offer: £15,000,000 / Highest offer: £22,500,000 taken into consideration

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 45111240 - Ground-drainage work
  • 45232451 - Drainage and surface works
  • 45232452 - Drainage works
  • 45232453 - Drains construction work
  • 45332300 - Drain-laying work
  • 90000000 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKJ4 - Kent

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The framework is used to facilitate the delivery of the Council's drainage requirements.

Works carried out are considered low risk and includes, but is not limited to, the following activities:

- Scheme works which may include new surface water drainage systems, including drains, pipe work, culverts, pumping stations, and/or new SUDS retro fit features, manholes / Catchpits, soakaways, gullies, improvement works to ponds and lagoons, etc.

- Routine maintenance, such as ironworks, ditching and siding, etc.

- Replace or repair damaged assets which may include broken pipes, deep bore of existing soakaways, broken covers, manholes, gullies, brickwork including headwalls, damaged culverts, etc.

- General Reinstatement works including carriageway repairs.

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No

two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below

  • The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations

Explanation:

Kent County Council is publishing this Voluntary Transparency Notice (VTN) to inform the market of its intention to, 30 days from the date of this notice (26th February 2025), use Regulation 72(1)(b) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 to modify the framework's value by 50%, increasing it from £15,000,000 to £22,500,000. This modification meets the criteria of Regulation 72(1)(b) and is therefore deemed lawful and in accordance with the directive.

The Council anticipates running a competitive tender exercise within the next 24 months to establish a new contractual arrangement for its drainage requirements. Any future opportunities will be published via the Council's procurement portal and the Central Digital Platform.

Once modified, the total framework value will be £22,500,000; however, work is not guaranteed under the framework. This amount will be awarded across the three framework suppliers accordingly, which is why the awarded values below for each supplier show the full range.

four.1.3) Information about a framework agreement

The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes

four.2) Administrative information

four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure

Notice number: 2023/S 000-028221


Section five. Award of contract/concession

Contract No

SC22331/1

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

26 February 2025

five.2.2) Information about tenders

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire

Ferns Surfacing Limited

Tutsham Farm, West Farleigh,

Maidstone, Kent

ME15 0NE

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKJ4 - Kent
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME

Yes

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)

Lowest offer: £1 / Highest offer: £22,500,000 taken into consideration


Section five. Award of contract/concession

Contract No

SC22331/2

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

26 February 2025

five.2.2) Information about tenders

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire

G&J Steele Plant Hire Limited

Hillside Works Old Mill Lane

Aylesford, Kent

ME20 7DT

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKJ4 - Kent
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME

Yes

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)

Lowest offer: £1 / Highest offer: £22,500,000 taken into consideration


Section five. Award of contract/concession

Contract No

SC22331/3

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

26 February 2025

five.2.2) Information about tenders

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire

Steadline Limited

Detling Aerodrome Industrial Estate,

Maidstone, Kent

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKJ4 - Kent
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME

Yes

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)

Lowest offer: £1 / Highest offer: £22,500,000 taken into consideration


Section six. Complementary information

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Kent County Council

County Road,

Maidstone

ME141XQ

Country

United Kingdom