Planning

Grounds Maintenance Services

  • University of Ulster

F01: Prior information notice (prior information only)

Notice identifier: 2024/S 000-024722

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-04882b

Published 6 August 2024, 4:08pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

University of Ulster

Block X Room X031, Cromore Road

Coleraine

BT52 1SA

Contact

Donal Quinn

Email

d.quinn@ulster.ac.uk

Telephone

+44 2870123456

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKN - Northern Ireland

Internet address(es)

Main address

www.ulster.ac.uk

one.3) Communication

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at

https://e-sourcingni.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.shtml

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law

one.5) Main activity

Education


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Grounds Maintenance Services

Reference number

project_27285

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 77300000 - Horticultural services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

Grounds Maintenance Services - Request for Information (RFI)

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £1,300,000

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 44113910 - Winter-maintenance materials
  • 77100000 - Agricultural services
  • 77211500 - Tree-maintenance services
  • 77310000 - Planting and maintenance services of green areas
  • 77311000 - Ornamental and pleasure gardens maintenance services
  • 77312000 - Weed-clearance services
  • 77313000 - Parks maintenance services
  • 77314000 - Grounds maintenance services
  • 77314100 - Grassing services
  • 77315000 - Seeding services
  • 77330000 - Floral-display services
  • 77340000 - Tree pruning and hedge trimming
  • 90511300 - Litter collection services
  • 90610000 - Street-cleaning and sweeping services
  • 90620000 - Snow-clearing services
  • 90630000 - Ice-clearing services
  • 90640000 - Gully cleaning and emptying services
  • 90690000 - Graffiti removal services
  • 90914000 - Car park cleaning services
  • 90918000 - Bin-cleaning services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKN0 - Northern Ireland
Main site or place of performance

Ulster University campuses in Northern Ireland at Coleraine, Derry ~ Londonderry, Jordanstown Sports Village (JSV) and Knocktarna House (Coleraine).

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Ulster University intends to commence a procurement exercise for Grounds Maintenance Services later this year. The Services will include maintenance on a wide range of Grounds areas, including although not exclusively:

• maintenance of amenity grassed areas.

• seasonal leaf and debris lifting and removal from all surfaces.

• maintenance of planted areas.

• maintenance of seasonal bedding.

• maintenance of wildflower meadows.

• maintenance of newly planted trees.

• maintenance of green roofs.

• total & selective weed control.

• tree surgery & tree maintenance.

• hard surface cleaning.

• winter maintenance, gritting, snow clearance and the like.

• provision of floral displays for Conferencing and Graduation events.

• road gully maintenance.

• roads, car parks and hard surface sweeping.

• management of litter & debris, management of bins, whole area litter picking to include dog waste bins.

• management of green waste.

• management of assistance animals’ compounds.

• management of dedicated plant collections.

• woodland trail maintenance.

• graffiti removal.

It is anticipated that lots may not apply and the University may award a single contract to an Economic Operator. The University welcomes tender submissions from service providers who wish to work together as a consortium, however, consortium members may not be part of more than one consortium.

The indicative timetable for the main stages of the procurement process is anticipated to be as follows:

• Invitation to Tender (ITT) - Q4 2024

• Contract Award - Q1 2025

• Services Commencement - Q1 2025

The purpose of this Prior Information Notice (PIN) and Request for Information (RFI) is to invite potential service providers to express an interest and provide information to assist with the procurement and development of a specification for Grounds Maintenance Services.

The procurement route, duration and type of contract(s) shall be determined following this preliminary market consultation and engagement with market participants.

It is important to note that this PIN/RFI is not a call for competition, a pre-qualification questionnaire, part of any pre-qualification/selection process or a current tender opportunity. Potential service providers will need to express an interest in any future tender opportunity once a Contract Notice is published.

two.2.14) Additional information

The anticipated contract period shall be for an initial 4-year contract period with the option to extend for any periods up to and including 48 months.

The estimated total value stated above in Section II.1.5 above includes the initial 4 year contract period and the option to extend the contract for any periods up to and including 48 months.

two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice

2 December 2024


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

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

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

Please note that the Request for Information (RFI) questionnaire for this opportunity will be accessible on the eSourcing NI platform. This RFI questionnaire also contains further information on the opportunity which can be accessed on the following portal website: https://e- sourcingni.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.shtml.

This RFI questionnaire should be completed by interested providers and submitted via eSourcing NI as directed no later than 13 September 2024.

The information contained within this notice may be subject to change within the final Contract Notice published in relation to this opportunity.

The University will, once the Contract Notice and procurement documents have been published, welcome interest from all capable potential service providers. However, interested parties are advised that they must ultimately satisfy the minimum requirements of the initial selection criteria that will be set out in the procurement documents, in order to be considered for shortlisting to proceed to the next stage, Invitation to Tender (ITT) award criteria of the procurement process.