Find a TenderAwardedContract details notice

Published 12 Mar 2026, 13:41 GMT

Official UK procurement notice

Framework Agreement for a Contract for Thinning Works across its woodland estate

Authority: Durham County Council (Local council)

Framework agreement2 lotsServicesBelow threshold - open competitionBelow thresholdSME suitable

Sectors: Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services (77) Delivery: North East (UKC)North West (UKD)Yorkshire & Humber (UKE)

+6 more

East Midlands (UKF)West Midlands (UKG)East of England (UKH)London (UKI)South East (UKJ)South West (UKK)

Framework ceiling (notional)£150,000envelope for 2 lots · framework ceiling, not attributable revenue

Submissions closed 13 Apr 2026awarded 30 Apr 2026

Lots 2see the lot list below

Framework period 11 moends 31 Mar 2027 · up to 31 Mar 2028 with extensions · starts 1 May 2026

What is being bought2 lots · detail below

Published requirement description

Framework Agreement for a Contract for Thinning Works across its

woodland estate.

The opportunity is issued as multiple Lot contract split into two Lots. The sites generally

fall into one of two categories as below and bidders are invited to tender for either one or

both Lots.

Lot 1 with 32 sites each offer more than 4 hectares (ha) of thinning per site. These sites

are expected to make a financial return for the contractor which may cover their costs but

this is not guaranteed. Bids to carry out the work for Lot 1 should reflect the fact that it is

likely to be substantial timber thinnings to be brought to market by the Contractor.

Lot 2 with 17 sites each offer less than 4 ha of thinning per site. These sites offer less

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volume and sometimes poorer extraction access or poorer opportunities to stack timber.

Bids to carry out work for Lot 2 will reflect the small-scale nature of this work and the

likelihood of a low volume of thinnings to be brought to the market by the Contractor.

For each Lot, the Council intends to appoint a successful Contractor as number one

ranked bidder on the framework. The second placed bidder will be ranked second on the

Framework for each Lot and held in reserve

CPV: Forestry services

How this framework works

From the published notice

Type: Closed framework
Call-offs: call-offs may be awarded directly or by further competition
Places: up to 4 suppliers · 2 appointed
Framework period: 11 mo · up to 1 yr 11 mo from 1 May 2026

Published description of the framework

The opportunity is issued as multiple Lot contract split into two Lots. The sites generally

fall into one of two categories as below and bidders are invited to tender for either one or

both Lots.

For each Lot, the Council intends to appoint a successful Contractor as number one

ranked bidder on the framework. The second placed bidder will be ranked second on the

Framework for each Lot and held in reserve

Lots and requirements (2)Procurement structure

2 lots · all with a published value

Every one of these 2 lots carries the same published figure, £150,000: it is the framework's maximum for the whole notice, not each lot's own budget, and no share per lot is published. The cards below say ceiling above rather than repeat it.

Lot #132 SitesAwardedRenewal 11 moSMEceiling above

The source published no individual description for this lot.

Contract period: 1 May 2026 – 31 Mar 2027 (11 mo) · up to 31 Mar 2028 with extensions

Delivery: North EastEligibility: SME eligible

Extensions: The initial duration of the proposed Framework contract is 11 months and contractors are required to complete the works within this timescale. However, if additional funding is available and subject to additional funding being available for this contract from the contract end date, the Council reserves the right (at its sole discretion) to exercise its option to extend for a period of up to 12 months. Currently there is no additional funding in place for the extension so the end date is 31/3/2027.

77200000 Forestry services

Lot #217 SitesAwardedRenewal 11 moSMEceiling above

The source published no individual description for this lot.

Contract period: 1 May 2026 – 31 Mar 2027 (11 mo) · up to 31 Mar 2028 with extensions

Delivery: North EastEligibility: SME eligible

77200000 Forestry services

What it takes to win
i
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 more

What this means for your bid

“Framework Agreement for a Contract for Thinning Works across its…” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, up to 4 suppliers, not a single contract: call-offs may be direct or by further competition.

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record

Procedure method: Below threshold - open competition
Legal basis: UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category: Services
Notice status: Awarded
Procurement threshold: Below threshold
Regulatory regime: Standard
Commercial structure: Framework agreement
Who may use the vehicle: Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
Competition type: Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered: Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement: Unspecified in notice
First published: 12 Mar 2026, 13:41 GMT
Last source update: 8 Jun 2026, 13:28 BST
Authority reference: OPEN2026332
FTS notice number: 2026/S 000-022332
Latest notice: Contract details notice (UK7)
Classification (CPV): Forestry services
Delivery area: North East (UKC)North West (UKD)Yorkshire & Humber (UKE)East Midlands (UKF)West Midlands (UKG)East of England (UKH)London (UKI)South East (UKJ)
+1 more
South West (UKK)
Official registry OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-066863 Find a Tender

How it was run

Official notice

Run through: OPEN-UK

Supplier login requiredElectronic submission allowed

Access & registration note: Free

Appointment period ends: 13 Apr 2026, 12:00 BST
Submission channel: Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission: Allowed

Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

www.open-uk.org ↗

Timeline

12 Mar 2026 → 8 Jun 2026 · 4 dates

Tender notice published217 days ago
12 Mar 2026, 13:41 GMT
Admission / appointment period ends185 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown
13 Apr 2026, 12:00 BST
Contract starts167 days ago
1 May 2026, 00:00 BST
Latest notice published129 days ago
8 Jun 2026, 13:28 BST

Notice history

3 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 12 Mar 2026

Tender notice published
12 Mar 2026, 13:41 GMT
UK4
Contract details notice published
8 Jun 2026, 13:28 BST
UK7
Status changed to complete
8 Jun 2026, 13:28 BST

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast

Suppliers appointed 2admitted to the panel · see the list ↓

Contracts signed 2latest 30 Apr 2026

2 suppliers are admitted to this framework without individual award values or dates, see the supplier list below.

Contracts

All 2 of these contracts carry the same published figure, £60,000, the framework's maximum for the whole notice, not each contract's own value. They are not eleven separate sums.

Framework Agreement for Contract for Thinning Works in Woodland Sites across County Durham Lot 1 32 Sites
Signed
30 Apr 2026
Value
ceiling above
Period
1 May 2026 – 31 Mar 2027 · up to 31 Mar 2028 with extensions
Status
active
Extensions
The initial duration of the proposed Framework contract is 11 months and contractors are required to complete the works within this timescale. However, if additional funding is available and subject to additional funding being available for this contract from the contract end date, the Council reserves the right (at its sole discretion) to exercise its option to extend for a period of up to 12 months. Currently there is no additional funding in place for the extension.
Framework Agreement for Contract for Thinning Works in Woodland Sites across County Durham LOT 2 17 sites
Signed
30 Apr 2026
Value
ceiling above
Period
1 Jun 2026 – 31 Mar 2027 · up to 31 Mar 2028 with extensions
Status
active
Extensions
The initial duration of the proposed Framework contract is 11 months and contractors are required to complete the works within this timescale. However, if additional funding is available and subject to additional funding being available for this contract from the contract end date, the Council reserves the right (at its sole discretion) to exercise its option to extend for a period of up to 12 months. Currently there is no additional funding in place for the extension.

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Durham County Council

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-PPON: PMPB-8772-VYWM Corten House, Dunholme Close, Durham, North East, DH1 5WBContact email

Framework contractors & participating bidders

2 commercial parties on the notice

KOOKABURRA ENVIRONMENTAL LTDFramework contractorGB-COH: 10529430 Holmlea, Hetton Le Hole, Durham, North East, DH5 9JYContact email
Lumley Tree ServicesFramework contractorGB-PPON: PQVN-8551-LNDH 17 Gloucester Close, Great Lumley, Chester le Street, Durham, North East, DH3 4LHContact email

Official documents & specifications (3)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details notice on Find a Tender8 Jun 2026, 13:28 BST
Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details notice on Find a Tender8 Jun 2026, 13:28 BST
Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender12 Mar 2026, 13:41 GMT