Official UK procurement notice
Dry Recycling Contract · UK public procurement notice
Authority: East London Waste Authority (Public body)·On behalf of: London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionELWA is procuring a contract for the provision of the following services (without limitation):
The scope of the Contract includes:
receiving, treating and managing onward movement of delivered Contract Waste, which is dry recycling collected from households and commercial customers by the Constituent Councils, typically comprising:
paper;
card;
plastic bottles;
plastic pots, tubs and trays;
plastic film;
aluminium cans;
steel cans;
foil;
aerosols;
cartons; and
glass bottles and jars.
Contract Waste will be delivered to the successful Bidder(s)' nominated delivery point (either a waste treatment facility or an intermediary facility provided by the successful Bidder(s)) in bulk articulated vehicles by the RHRRC Contractor after the Contract Waste has been delivered by the Constituent Councils to one of the Authority WTS. The successful Bidder(s) may also propose to receive direct deliveries of Contract Waste from the Constituent Councils to its facilities;
Contract Waste may be delivered as a single co-mingled stream;
Provision of capacity to treat dry recycling materials;
Management, recycling and treatment of products, residues and rejected waste, including transport;
Maximising the recycling and beneficial use of products, residues and rejected waste; and
Reporting and monitoring of environmental compliance. Please see "Competitive flexible procedure description" section of this tender notice and the procurement documents for full details of:
1 - the competitive flexible procedure that ELWA is conducting pursuant to s. 20 of the Procurement Act 2023; and
2 - ELWA's requirements for the Contract.
(Defined terms used in the above list of services are detailed in the draft contract and procurement documents.)
The Authority conducted initial preliminary market engagement in September and October 2025 (Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-052844). As part of the exercise, the Authority published a Market Operator Briefing Note in which it explained that the main objective of the contract is to maximise recycling of dry recycling materials. Seven organisations participated in this exercise and provided feedback in respect of:
The Authority's procurement strategy;
Assumptions for evaluation;
Contract interface as the Authority has separately procured a reception, haulage, reuse and recycling centre contract;
Waste acceptance protocols and vehicles that can/cannot be accepted at facilities;
Processes for identifying and recording contamination;
Plastic film and carton recycling arrangements;
Payment mechanisms;
Experiences of performance management frameworks; and
Social value.
In addition, the Authority conducted additional market engagement in February 2026 (Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-014917) to seek views in respect of proposals to divide the Contract into lots, or whether to procure a single contract for 100% exclusivity of all dry recycling material. Three organisations participated in this exercise and feedback in respect of approach was mixed.
Consequently, at the Invitation to Submit Initial Tenders stage, the Authority will invite Bidders to submit Initial Tenders on the assumption that an award for 25% exclusivity of the Authority's annual tonnage will be made. However, the highest-scoring Bidder will be entitled to confirm whether it wishes to have 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% exclusivity. In the event the highest-scoring Bidder selects 75%, 50% or 25%, the second highest-scoring Bidder will be invited to select what % exclusivity it wishes to deliver, and so on until 100% exclusivity has been awarded.
This approach could result in 1 - 4 Bidders being awarded a % of exclusivity of the Authority's annual tonnage.
In each of the preliminary market engagements, it was clearly specified that participation in the preliminary market engagement was/is not a requirement for participation in this procurement.
The contract value is based on ELWA's estimate at the date of publication of the Tender Notice and the draft procurement documents and includes extension of the contract for five years following expiry of the initial 5-year and 3-month service delivery term. The estimated value also includes any services which may be required during the initial 5-year and 3-month service delivery period. Therefore, the estimated value is not necessarily the final value of the Contract and ELWA reserves the right to vary this contract value (either higher or lower) in the event the scope of the contract varies throughout its term. It is intended as a guide to Bidders and the actual value is intended to cover delivery of ELWA's requirements over the full possible 10-year term.
- Not divided into lots: ELWA considered division into lots as part of its PME exercise and the market provided mixed view. Consequently, whilst not dividing the contract into specific lots, Bidders will submit Initial Tenders on the assumption that an award for 25% exclusivity of the Authority's annual tonnage will be made. However, the highest-scoring Bidder will be entitled to confirm whether it wishes to have 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% exclusivity. In the event the highest-scoring Bidder selects 75%, 50% or 25%, the second highest-scoring Bidder will be invited to select what % exclusivity it wishes to deliver, and so on until 100% exclusivity has been awarded. This approach could result in 1 - 4 Bidders being awarded a % of exclusivity of the Authority's annual tonnage.
- How the procedure runs: Please see the procurement documents for full details but, in summary, the competitive flexible procedure will operate as follows: 1 - All interested organisations invited to submit Conditions of Participation for progression to the initial tender stage of the procurement. 2 - All bidders which pass the Conditions of Participation stage are invited to submit initial tenders. 3 - Submission of initial tenders. 4 - Evaluation of initial tenders and ELWA makes a decision as to whether to make an award to the preferred bidder(s); or proceed to negotiation. If ELWA decides to make an award to the Preferred Bidder(s), it will complete its necessary governance and approvals and issue assessment summaries at this stage. 5 - If ELWA does not make a decision to award the contract after evaluation of initial tenders, it will proceed with negotiation with up to four of the highest-scoring bidders following evaluation and moderation of initial tenders. 6 - ELWA expects to host two negotiation meetings with each bidder, focusing on specific areas to be notified to bidders in an Invitation to Participate in Negotiation. 7 - Bidders submit final tenders. 8 - Evaluation and internal governance approval before notification of the outcome to bidders. As detailed in the ISIT, ELWA reserves the right to update or confirm aspects of the procurement process at any stage during the procurement; or circulate updated documents in respect of the procurement process. If it exercises these rights, it will inform all bidders of the proposed changes and impact on the process and any related documents.
CPV: Non-hazardous refuse and waste treatment and disposal services · Refuse recycling services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1RenewalPublished value£52,668,000
- Economic & financial standing
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation as set out in the Conditions of Participation.
- Technical & professional ability
Technical ability conditions of participation as set out in the Conditions of Participation.
- Condition of participationshortlisting
Bidders should refer to the procurement documents available at lbbd.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.shtml ↗
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Published award criteria (2)
- Quality: Bidders should refer to detail set out in the Invitation to Submit Initial Tender (ISIT). Quality is expected to have a 40% weighting. ELWA reserves the right to refine its award criteria pursuant to section 24 Procurement Act 2023. If ELWA exercises this right, it will republish this tender notice. As an example, ELWA may re-allocate scores/weightings for sub-criteria such as Service Delivery Plans; or it may refine its requirements for Service Delivery Plans.
- Price: Bidders should refer to detail set out in the ISIT. Price is expected to have a 60% weighting. ELWA reserves the right to refine its award criteria pursuant to section 24 Procurement Act 2023. If ELWA exercises this right, it will republish this tender notice.
- Economic & financial standing
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation as set out in the Conditions of Participation.
- Technical & professional ability
Technical ability conditions of participation as set out in the Conditions of Participation.
- Condition of participationshortlisting
Bidders should refer to the procurement documents available at lbbd.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.shtml ↗
- Price carries 60 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 6 points. This one is won on the number: sharpen the price before polishing the prose.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Closed
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 1 Sept 2025, 14:34 BST
- Last source update
- 7 Apr 2026, 11:59 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 5 Feb 2027
- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-031386- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05916dFind a Tender
- How it runs
Please see the procurement documents for full details but, in summary, the competitive flexible procedure will operate as follows:
1 - All interested organisations invited to submit Conditions of Participation for progression to the initial tender stage of the procurement.
2 - All bidders which pass the Conditions of Participation stage are invited to submit initial tenders.
3 - Submission of initial tenders.
4 - Evaluation of initial tenders and ELWA makes a decision as to whether to make an award to the preferred bidder(s); or proceed to negotiation. If ELWA decides to make an award to the Preferred Bidder(s), it will complete its necessary governance and approvals and issue assessment summaries at this stage.
5 - If ELWA does not make a decision to award the contract after evaluation of initial tenders, it will proceed with negotiation with up to four of the highest-scoring bidders following evaluation and moderation of initial tenders.
6 - ELWA expects to host two negotiation meetings with each bidder, focusing on specific areas to be notified to bidders in an Invitation to Participate in Negotiation.
7 - Bidders submit final tenders.
8 - Evaluation and internal governance approval before notification of the outcome to bidders.
As detailed in the ISIT, ELWA reserves the right to update or confirm aspects of the procurement process at any stage during the procurement; or circulate updated documents in respect of the procurement process. If it exercises these rights, it will inform all bidders of the proposed changes and impact on the process and any related documents.
- Risks
ELWA has identified the following known risks which meet the description at paragraph 6(a) of Schedule 8, Procurement Act 2023 because if they arise, either individually or otherwise, could jeopardise the satisfactory performance of the contract and, because of their nature, cannot be addressed unambiguously in the draft contract. They are intended to be permitted modifications pursuant to Schedule 8 Procurement Act 2023:
Government changes to waste, energy, carbon, and/or recycling policy not covered by qualifying change in law provisions in the draft contract;
Changes required due to local government re-organisation;
Any works or services which may be needed during, or after, the initial 5-year term, which, if not undertaken, could jeopardise contract performance;
Additional services being brought into this contract from a separate procurement exercise being conducted by ELWA, as ELWA is re-procuring several other waste contracts and these may influence the range and value of services of this contract.
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 6 May 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission deadline
- 6 May 2026, 12:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 24 Apr 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
1 Sept 2025 → 1 Mar 2027 · 8 dates- Planning notice published1 Sept 2025, 14:34 BST
- Market engagement236 days ago27 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMT
In preparing for the launch of this procurement in April 2026, ELWA has ruled out the potential for splitting the contract into lots by reference to geographical boroughs and therefore seeks views from the market in respect of the following lotting/contract options:
1 - If ELWA does not divide the contract into lots, and seeks to procure a single contract for exclusivity of all dry recycling material, would your organisation participate in the procurement and be able to process 100% of the total estimated annual tonnage?
2 - If ELWA does divide the contract into lots, it has considered whether to divide the contract into lots based on exclusivity % of the total estimated annual tonnage. E.g. lots for 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% of the total estimated annual tonnage. If ELWA adopts this approach, it seeks feedback from market operators as to:
- their preferred exclusivity % of ELWA's annual tonnage, and which of the below options respondents would bid for;
- two lots: one of 75% exclusivity of ELWA's annual tonnage and one for 25% exclusivity, with suppliers able to bid for and subsequently win either lot, resulting in either one or two suppliers being selected; and
- two lots: one for 50% exclusivity of ELWA's annual tonnage and one for 25% exclusivity, with suppliers able to bid for and subsequently win either lot, resulting in a minimum of two suppliers (if the winner of the 50% lot also wins the 25% lot + one other 25% supplier) or three suppliers if there is one winner of the 50% lot and 2 bidders from the 25% lot); ELWA could also reserve the right to discontinue the 25% lot if it receives a number of bids for the 50% lot (subsequently resulting in two suppliers each being awarded 50% exclusivity).
3 - As an alternative to lots, ELWA could structure the procurement so that bidders submit proposals on the assumption that an award for 25% exclusivity of ELWA's annual tonnage will be made. However, the highest-scoring bidder is able to confirm whether it wishes to have 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% exclusivity. In the event the highest-scoring bidder selects 75%, 50% or 25%, the second highest-scoring bidder is able to select what % exclusivity it wishes to deliver, and so on until 100% exclusivity has been awarded. This approach could result in 1 - 4 suppliers being awarded a % of exclusivity of ELWA's annual tonnage. Pricing for exclusivity % higher than 25% (e.g. 50%, 75% or 100%) will be calculated by multiplying the successful bidder's tendered pricing for 25% exclusivity by the % exclusivity it will actually deliver (e.g. 75% exclusivity = tendered pricing multiplied by 3).
4 - ELWA also welcomes feedback on a proposal to have a sifting stage where bidders confirm which lot they are interested in, prior to submitting the Procurement Specific Questionnaire/Conditions of Participation. ELWA would then confirm the lots based on maximising participation in the procurement (and to reduce the burden on bidders in the event lots are discontinued following the Conditions of Participation stage).
ELWA would appreciate responses to these questions being submitted to [email protected] by 17:00 on by Friday 27 February 2026, with the subject heading "DRC Lotting PME".
ELWA appreciates the time and effort of respondents in participating in this PME exercise.
Market operators may submit any clarification questions, enquiries or further information regarding the conduct of the preliminary market engagement to ELWA to [email protected].
Though encouraged, engagement in this preliminary market engagement exercise is not a requirement for participation in the forthcoming procurement, which shall be formally commenced through publication of a Tender Notice.
- Tender notice published198 days ago7 Apr 2026, 11:59 BST
- Next notice expected197 days ago7 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
- Clarification questions by181 days ago24 Apr 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission deadline169 days ago6 May 2026, 12:00 BST
- Today22 Oct 2026
- Award decision expected byin 107 days5 Feb 2027, 23:59 GMT
- Contract startsin 130 days1 Mar 2027
Notice history
5 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 1 Sept 2025- Preliminary market engagement notice published1 Sept 2025, 14:34 BSTUK2
- Preliminary market engagement notice published18 Feb 2026, 15:52 GMTUK2
- Tender notice published7 Apr 2026, 11:59 BSTUK4
- Status changed to active7 Apr 2026, 11:59 BST
- Procurement method changed7 Apr 2026, 11:59 BST
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
3 public bodies on the noticeOther public bodies
- London Borough of Barking and DagenhamBeneficiary authority
- London Borough of Barking and Dagenham CouncilProcuring entitySupporting with the management of the Bravo portal
Official documents & specifications (4)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specifications The Conditions of Participation (COP) document is available at https://lbbd.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.shtml. In addition, the ISIT and draft contract are also available. Please note that in respect of the ISIT and draft contract, ELWA reserves the right to update the documen…
Notices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender