Scope
Reference
P1113
Description
Birmingham City Council (the "Council") wishes to establish a framework for the provision of Supply of spring / summer bedding and horticultural products
The goods and services are required to be delivered within Birmingham. The framework will commence on or around 1st March 2026 and will be in place for a period of 3 years with the option to extend for a further 1 year subject to satisfactory performance, business needs and funding availability.
This framework will be to supply finished plant material and sundries, so the nursery can carry out its contractual obligations to supply BCC Parks with their bedding requirements, Floral Enhancement requirements for the cities BID Areas, external plant production & provide a service to the public via the retail outlet.
The framework agreement will be for the sole use of Birmingham City Council
The framework will consist of 5 lots;
• Lot 1 The supply of Plant Production
• Lot 2 The supply of Finished Bedding
• Lot 3 The supply of Horticultural sundries e.g. containers etc.
• Lot 4 The supply of Compost
• Lot 5 The supply of Speed Planters
Tenderers may bid for one or more or all Lots.
A maximum of 3 Providers will be appointed to each lot.
The Framework Agreement and Call-off Contract have been included in the tender document pack.
Commercial tool
Establishes a framework
Total value (estimated)
- £680,000 excluding VAT
- £816,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2029
- Possible extension to 1 March 2030
- 4 years, 1 day
Description of possible extension:
With the option to extend for a further 1 year subject to satisfactory performance, business needs and funding availability.
Main procurement category
Goods
CPV classifications
- 03120000 - Horticultural and nursery products
- 03121000 - Horticultural products
- 03121100 - Live plants, bulbs, roots, cuttings and slips
- 03451000 - Plants
- 03451100 - Bedding plants
- 77120000 - Composting services
Lot constraints
Description of how multiple lots may be awarded:
Tenderers may bid for one or more or all Lots. A maximum of 3 Providers will be appointed to each lot.
Lot 1. The supply of Plant Production
Description
To Supply a various selection of Perennial, Annual & Pot plant plugs, that are disease free, well rooted & ready to pot on.
Lot value (estimated)
- £128,000 excluding VAT
- £153,600 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 2. The Supply of Finished Bedding Plants
Description
To supply Summer, Autumn & Floral enhancement finished bedding. Must conform to BS3936 & be free from Pest & disease.
Lot value (estimated)
- £266,000 excluding VAT
- £319,200 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 3. The Supply of Horticultural Materials/Sundries
Description
Supply high quality horticultural materials, sundries & some Ad-hoc horticultural supplies. To include nursery equipment such as patio containers & baskets that are required for the general day-to-day running of the nursery & all the associate tasks in plant production.
Lot value (estimated)
- £128,000 excluding VAT
- £153,600 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 4. Supply of Compost
Description
To supply a professional Quality Mix designed to look after plants in hanging baskets, containers, general bedding, potting & multipurpose retail mix. Can be delivered lose, bulk bags or individual bags & must be sourced from FSC certified forest.
Lot value (estimated)
- £140,000 excluding VAT
- £168,000 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 5. The Supply of Speed Planters
Description
To Supply a number of pre-planted speed planter units, that can be used for basket or container planting.
Lot value (estimated)
- £18,000 excluding VAT
- £21,600 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Framework
Maximum number of suppliers
15
Maximum percentage fee charged to suppliers
0%
Framework operation description
The Framework Agreement and Call-off Contract are included in the tender document pack.
There are two routes which the Council can utilise to award Call-Off Contracts for the goods/ services required, either calling-off without competition or by conducting a further competition. Under the framework contracts can only be awarded to the approved framework providers. The Council will identify the call-off route which best meets its requirements but retains the option to use either method.
Call-off without competition - The provider ranked first for each Lot will be approached to confirm if they are able to meet the Council's timescales and confirm their costs to deliver the goods/services. If they are able to do so, they will be awarded the Call-Off Contract.
Further competition - All the providers for the relevant Lot of the framework will be invited to tender for the goods/services. Only those providers awarded under each Lot will be able to tender for competition within the individual lot.
A maximum of 3 Providers will be appointed to each lot.
Award method when using the framework
Either with or without competition
Contracting authorities that may use the framework
Establishing party only
Participation
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation
Lot 1. The supply of Plant Production
Lot 2. The Supply of Finished Bedding Plants
Lot 3. The Supply of Horticultural Materials/Sundries
Lot 4. Supply of Compost
Lot 5. The Supply of Speed Planters
Lot 1 The supply of Plant Production
Lot 2 The supply of Finished Bedding
Lot 3 The supply of Horticultural sundries e.g. containers etc.
Lot 4 The supply of Compost
Lot 5 The supply of Speed Planters
All conditions of participation are detailed in the tender documents, including the following requirements: bidder's financial capacity, legal capacity and technical ability.
Technical ability conditions of participation
Lot 1. The supply of Plant Production
Lot 2. The Supply of Finished Bedding Plants
Lot 3. The Supply of Horticultural Materials/Sundries
Lot 4. Supply of Compost
Lot 5. The Supply of Speed Planters
Lot 1 The supply of Plant Production
Lot 2 The supply of Finished Bedding
Lot 3 The supply of Horticultural sundries e.g. containers etc.
Lot 4 The supply of Compost
Lot 5 The supply of Speed Planters
All technical specifications related to this Framework Agreement can be accessed via the tender documents.
Particular suitability
Lot 1. The supply of Plant Production
Lot 2. The Supply of Finished Bedding Plants
Lot 3. The Supply of Horticultural Materials/Sundries
Lot 4. Supply of Compost
Lot 5. The Supply of Speed Planters
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
24 September 2025, 12:00pm
Submission type
Tenders
Tender submission deadline
1 October 2025, 12:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
This framework agreement is being issued using the Council's e-tendering system 'In-tend' and organisations must ensure that they are registered users. The procurement process will be managed using this system and therefore all bids must be submitted by Tenderers via the 'in-tend' system. https://in-tendhost.co.uk/birminghamcc Registration and use of in-tend is free. All correspondence for this procurement process must be via the in-tend correspondence function and you should not contact any individual directly either by email or by telephone. If you are already a registered user, you do not have to re-register. If you are unable to register with in-tend or are experiencing difficulties, please email the etendering@birmingham.gov.uk. Tender deadline submission is noon on 1st October 2025.
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
21 November 2025
Award criteria
Lot 1. The supply of Plant Production
Lot 3. The Supply of Horticultural Materials/Sundries
Lot 4. Supply of Compost
Lot 5. The Supply of Speed Planters
| Name | Description | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Simple description | The award criteria carries a total weighting of 100%, this is split between the following sections: The overall weighting for the quality criteria is 60%. The overall weighting for the price criteria... |
Price |
Weighting description
The award criteria carries a total weighting of 100%, this is split between the following sections: The overall weighting for the quality criteria is 60%. The overall weighting for the price criteria is 40% For full details please refer to the procurement documents.
Lot 2. The Supply of Finished Bedding Plants
| Name | Description | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Simple description | The award criteria carries a total weighting of 100%, this is split between the following sections: The overall weighting for the quality criteria is 40%. The overall weighting for social value is 20%... |
Price |
Weighting description
The award criteria carries a total weighting of 100%, this is split between the following sections: The overall weighting for the quality criteria is 40%. The overall weighting for social value is 20% and the overall weighting for the price criteria is 40% For full details please refer to the procurement documents.
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Competitive flexible procedure description
This will be detail in the tender documentation.
Justification for not publishing a preliminary market engagement notice
A well-established nature of the UK bedding plant and horticultural supply sector. The market is mature, with a wide range of capable suppliers both local and national who are familiar with the requirements of public sector contracts, particularly those involving seasonal bedding plants, compost, and horticultural sundries and who could undertake the work. Bedding plants remain a core category in garden centre sales, particularly during spring and early summer, with strong consumer demand driven by interest in seasonal colour and pollinator-friendly varieties.
Contracting authority
Birmingham City Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PCJJ-4826-QMLZ
Council House, 1 Victoria Square
Birmingham
B1 1BB
United Kingdom
Contact name: Commercial and Procurement Services
Email: etendering@birmingham.gov.uk
Region: UKG31 - Birmingham
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government