Scope
Description
Background
Powys County Council is seeking to engage with suppliers in the materials handling market, as part of pre-tender engagement exercise to gain information to inform an upcoming procurement for the provision of Waste Handling Plant Equipment. The Council operates three Waste Transfer Sites (WTS) across the County of Powys; located in Abermule, Rhayader and on the out-skirts of Brecon. The current 'fleet' is of considerable age, some of which is beyond economical repair which has led to the requirement for spot hire to fulfil materials handling requirements.
The Council is currently reviewing options of outright purchase, contract hire or lease of equipment to fulfil the materials handling requirements at WTS sites in the long-term.
Current Situation
At present, the Council operate the following machines:
Brecon:
- JCB Wastemaster 541-70
- JCB Wastemaster 542-70
- JCB Teletruk - rotating forks
Rhayader:
- JCB Wastemaster 542-70
- Manitou MT625H
- JCB Teletruk - rotating forks
Abermule:
- JCB Wastemaster 542-70
- JCB Wastemaster
- JCB Teletruk - rotating forks
The machines load a variety of materials including, but not limited to;
- Loose refuse
- Loose plastic
- Bagged / loose food waste
- Green waste
- Paper/card
- Loose glass
The Council operate a fleet of Romaquip Kerb-Sort recycling vehicles, to allow staff at WTSs to empty the food waste compartments, the Council utilise JCT Tele-trucks with rotating fork attachments. On the small 7.5 tonne and 3.5 metre wheelbase variant of the Romaquip vehicles, the food pods must be lifted from the vehicle and the load rotated into a strategic storage container; on the larger vehicles the food pods are manually removed from the vehicle, collected and emptied into the static container.
Baled plastic, steel and aluminium is unloaded at the WTS and transported elsewhere for reuse, the machines therefore must be have the ability to load these bales onto a curtain sided articulated trailer located at the WTS sites.
Loose plastics are loaded into a high sided (rigid bodied) trailer, currently using a 541-7 / 542-70 telehandler fitted with a large capacity grab bucket. There are then transported to recycling plants outside of the county.
Due to the environments in which the machines are operating and the attraction of vermin, the machine must be protected by armoured cables where possible. The presence of glass means that solid tyres are also mandatory within the specification.
Due to past Health and Safety concerns, the machines must NOT have landing legs.
- Additional attachments include:
- Sweeper bucket
- Grab bucket
Maintenance
As Waste and Recycling is a statutory service, it is important downtime is reduced. At this moment in time, the Council's preferred option would be to lease machines with a repair and maintenance package, however this will be dependant on cost.
Regardless of procurement option, the Council would like to explore maintenance packages and extended warranties. To reduce downtime, the Council would be interested in technology that allows the supplier a 'live view' of machine faults and diagnosis to reduce downtime by being able to bring replacement parts direct to site.
Commercial tool
Establishes a dynamic market
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 December 2025 to 30 November 2028
- Possible extension to 19 November 2030
- 4 years, 11 months, 19 days
Main procurement category
Goods
CPV classifications
- 42900000 - Miscellaneous general and special-purpose machinery
- 43200000 - Earthmoving and excavating machinery, and associated parts
- 43000000 - Machinery for mining, quarrying, construction equipment
Contract locations
- UKL24 - Powys
Engagement
Engagement deadline
4 July 2025
Engagement process description
Format of Pre-Tender Engagement
The Council is undertaking this pre-tender engagement with an aim of understanding the following from this market engagement exercise:
- The scope of the current market
- Market expectations regarding information required for tender
- Feedback on satisfaction of health and safety considerations of equipment types and their suitability for the characteristics of the individual WTS sites and operations undertaken
- Feedback on financing options
- Feedback on maintenance and support provision
Suppliers who wish to engage with the Council prior to publication of a tender are invited to contact the Council at the email address in this notice by no later than 5pm on 4th July 2025 (04/07/2025).
The Council is proposing to hold individual meetings (up to an hour long) with interested suppliers who respond within the above specified timescale. It is anticipated that those meetings will be held on week commencing 7th July 2025 (07/07/2025) and week commencing 14th July 2025 (14/07/2025) via Microsoft Teams.
Non-participation in this market engagement process does not preclude any potential suppliers from participating in the formal procurement process.
Participation
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
15 August 2025
Contracting authority
Powys County Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PQBT-5413-HMDT
County Hall
Llandrindod Wells
LD1 5LG
United Kingdom
Contact name: Tom Simmons
Email: thomas.simmons@powys.gov.uk
Region: UKL24 - Powys
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government
Devolved regulations that apply: Wales