Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Kent County Council
Sessions House
Maidstone
ME14 1XQ
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKJ4 - Kent
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
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