Grounds Maintenance Services · UK public procurement notice

Ulster University intends to commence a procurement exercise for Grounds Maintenance Services later this year. The Services will include maintenance on a wide range of Grounds areas, including although not exclusively:

• maintenance of amenity grassed areas.
• seasonal leaf and debris lifting and removal from all surfaces.
• maintenance of planted areas.
• maintenance of seasonal bedding.
• maintenance of wildflower meadows.
• maintenance of newly planted trees.
• maintenance of green roofs.
• total & selective weed control.
• tree surgery & tree maintenance.
• hard surface cleaning.
• winter maintenance, gritting, snow clearance and the like.
• provision of floral displays for Conferencing and Graduation events.
• road gully maintenance.
• roads, car parks and hard surface sweeping.
• management of litter & debris, management of bins, whole area litter picking to include dog waste bins.
• management of green waste.
• management of assistance animals’ compounds.
• management of dedicated plant collections.
• woodland trail maintenance.
• graffiti removal.

It is anticipated that lots may not apply and the University may award a single contract to an Economic Operator. The University welcomes tender submissions from service providers who wish to work together as a consortium, however, consortium members may not be part of more than one consortium.

The indicative timetable for the main stages of the procurement process is anticipated to be as follows:

• Invitation to Tender (ITT) - Q4 2024
• Contract Award - Q1 2025
• Services Commencement - Q1 2025

The purpose of this Prior Information Notice (PIN) and Request for Information (RFI) is to invite potential service providers to express an interest and provide information to assist with the procurement and development of a specification for Grounds Maintenance Services.

The procurement route, duration and type of contract(s) shall be determined following this preliminary market consultation and engagement with market participants.

It is important to note that this PIN/RFI is not a call for competition, a pre-qualification questionnaire, part of any pre-qualification/selection process or a current tender opportunity. Potential service providers will need to express an interest in any future tender opportunity once a Contract Notice is published. Additional information: The anticipated contract period shall be for an initial 4-year contract period with the option to extend for any periods up to and including 48 months.

The estimated total value stated above in Section II.1.5 above includes the initial 4 year contract period and the option to extend the contract for any periods up to and including 48 months.