Scope
Reference
HCC2517236
Description
Herts Fullstop, ("HFS") the trading arm of Hertfordshire County Council ("the Council" or "HCC") is advertising the requirement for a Grounds Maintenance Framework to provide general Grounds Maintenance Services to sites throughout the County.
This Framework may be utilised by all departments of the Council including establishments such as Schools, Fire Stations, Disused Sites, Day Centers, Libraries etc. It may also be used for Grounds Maintenance work outside of the Council as requested by our partners and Customers (this may be outside the geographical area of Hertfordshire in some cases).
The Grounds Maintenance Service includes items such as grass cutting, hedge cutting, sports field line marking, shrub bed maintenance and leaf clearance.
The figures quoted in this notice are for guidance only and have been uplifted to include any possible spend from other sites, bodies/Councils may join at any time during the life of the Framework. However, the Call-Off process, including the Mini-Competition, will be carried out by Hertfordshire County Council. This is a Framework and there is no guarantee of spend. Full details, including current spend, are in the Tender document set. For avoidance of doubt the current annual spend for HCC on this Framework is approximately £2,000,000.00 however this varies on an annual basis.
The Council will procure this Framework using the Open Procedure as defined in the Procurement Act 2023
Full details of the requirement and context of the procurement can be found in the Specification of the Framework Document. Organisations wishing to take part in this project are invited to 'express an interest' and also 'opt in' which will give access to the full procurement documents in the e-tendering system.
To be considered as a Tenderer you must complete and submit a Tender by the deadline of 12 noon on the Wednesday 21st January 2025.
Please allow sufficient time to make your return, as Tender submissions cannot be uploaded and submitted after this return deadline.
Please ensure that where possible documents are uploaded as a PDF and that file names are succinct. Any questions relating to this procurement must be made via correspondence on the website, in accordance with the procurement documents, and can be addressed to the main contact as shown in the details above.
Tenderers should be aware that due to the nature of the Services provided, any Framework formed as a result of this procurement process shall be executed as a deed. Tenderers should seek independent legal advice on the implications of this prior to submitting their Tender, where appropriate. Please note that the Framework requirements will be subject to available financial resources, supplier performance and flexibility to meet changing demands.
To access this opportunity please visit https://in-tendhost.co.uk/supplyhertfordshire/aspx/Home.
If you are experiencing problems In-Tend offer a help section which includes a dedicated UK support desk which can be contacted via email: support@in-tend.co.uk or Telephone: +44 1144070065 for any website/technical questions, Monday to Friday, 8:30-17:00.
The Council reserves the right at any time to cease the procurement process and not award the Framework or to award only part of the opportunity described in this notice. If the Council takes up this right, then they will not be responsible for or pay the expenses or losses, which may be incurred by any organisation or tenderer as a result.
Commercial tool
Establishes a framework
Total value (estimated)
- £60,000,000 excluding VAT
- £72,000,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2030
- 4 years
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 77314000 - Grounds maintenance services
Framework
Maximum number of suppliers
Unlimited
Maximum percentage fee charged to suppliers
0%
Framework operation description
If the Council decides to source Services through the Framework, then it may satisfy its requirements for Services by awarding a Contract following a Mini Competition conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Framework. Full details are in the tender document set.
Award method when using the framework
With competition
Contracting authorities that may use the framework
Establishing party only
Participation
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation
Please refer to the Instructions to Tenderers document.
Technical ability conditions of participation
Please refer to the Instructions to Tenderers document.
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
12 December 2025, 12:00pm
Tender submission deadline
21 January 2026, 12:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
15 April 2026
Recurring procurement
Publication date of next tender notice (estimated): 27 November 2030
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality | Weightings - Price 40%, Quality 60%. Please refer to Section 4 of the Instructions to Tenderers for a full breakdown of the Award Criteria. |
Quality | 60% |
| Price | Weightings - Price 40%, Quality 60%. Please refer to Section 4 of the Instructions to Tenderers for a full breakdown of the Award Criteria. |
Price | 40% |
Other information
Payment terms
Invoices are to be submitted to the Council, in accordance with the Prices and Payment clause in the Conditions of the Framework. Payment will normally be made within thirty (30) days of receipt of a correct invoice.
Description of risks to contract performance
In furtherance of the UK Government's plans for English devolution, Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) is consulting on plans for the reorganisation of local government structures in its county. This reorganisation may result in the county, district and borough councils of Hertfordshire being re-organised into a multi tiered unitary authority. HCC is required to submit its full plan for re-organisation to UK Government by November 2025, and any changes are estimated to take effect in April 2028 (although this is subject to change). Such changes could directly affect the structure, scope, or continuation of the contract beyond 1st April 2028. Whilst it is anticipated that existing contracts will be novated to the replacement authority, HCC can offer no guarantee at this stage.
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Documents
Associated tender documents
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/supplyhertfordshire/aspx/Home
Please either register or log in to the above web address, and then 'express interest' and 'opt in' in order to view the full set of documentation relating to this tender opportunity.
Contracting authority
Hertfordshire County Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PWJT-5264-WYMY
Robertson House, Six Hills Way
Stevenage
SG1 2FQ
United Kingdom
Region: UKH23 - Hertfordshire
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government