Find a TenderCancelledProcurement termination notice
Published 29 Apr 2026, 13:05 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Highways Urban Grass, Shrubs & Hedges Maintenance

Official notice

Authority: Kent County Council (Local council)

2 lotsServicesCompetitive flexible procedureAbove thresholdSME suitableMax 1 lot per supplier
Published estimate£22,500,000total for 2 lots · £22,500,000 inc. VAT
Submissions closed 4 Jun 2026
Lots 2max 1 won per supplier
Contract term 5 yrsends 29 Feb 2032 · up to 28 Feb 2035 with extensions · starts 1 Mar 2027

What is being bought2 lots · detail below

Published requirement description

The Contractor for each lot is responsible for the programmed works and additional ad-hoc provision.

The main service areas comprise of urban grass, shrub and hedge cutting to contribute to visual

amenity and to keep roads and pavements clear of vegetation for the safe passage of highway users.

Works are conducted typically Monday to Friday.

The annual activities required under this contract consist of the following:

  • Six programmed urban grass cutting visits
  • One shrub bed maintenance visit
  • One hedge maintenance visit
  • Two rose bed maintenance visits
  • One conservation verge and wildflower programmed maintenance visit
  • Other programmed activities
  • Ad hoc works

The Council does not guarantee any minimum value, volume of work, or spend under the contract.

The expected total contract value for this procurement amounts to £22,500,000.

This is broken down as follows (all figures are estimates):

-Initial Term 60 months (5 years) totalling £10,125,000 (Lot 1 - £4,556,250 Lot 2 - £5,568,750)

-Optional Extension Term up to 36 months (3 years) totalling £6,075,000 (Lot 1 - £2,733,750 Lot 2 - £3,341,250)

However, to allow for any future increases in funding, any future inflation, Compensation Events, and any other unexpected but in-scope spend, the total maximum contract value will be advertised on the relevant tendering portals (such as the Central Digital Platform, Find a Tender or Contracts Finder) as £22,500,000.

It is expected that there will be the potential for a contract extension of up to 3 years, depending on both the success in achieving the required outcomes, availability of further funding, and any decisions arising as a result of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).

*/*/ PLEASE NOTE, UNDER SECTIONS "LOT 1" & "LOT 2" OF THE FTS NOTICE, IT ADVISES EACH LOT VALUE IS £11,250,000 - THIS SHOULD BE IGNORED AND THE ABOVE INFORMATION REFERRED TO (FTS WILL NOT ALLOW LOT VALUES TO BE INSERTED THAT WHEN ADDED TOGETHER ARE LOWER THAN THE STATED CONTRACT VALUE i.e. £22,500,000*/*/

For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at:

www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/tenders/UK-UK-Maidst… ↗

To respond to this opportunity, please click here:

www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/respond/Q22KU4W92M ↗

  • How the procedure runs: 1. Selection stage (PSQ / Conditions of participation). Minimum Overall Weighted score to be achieved to allow progression to ITT Stage. 2. ITT Stage - Quality response evaluated. The Council will progress the top ranking X (no. TBC) tenderers to Stage 3. 3. Optional Tender Clarification Meetings (previously referred to as Negotiation Stage) - to allow the Council to discuss the bid with each tenderer to clarify elements etc... 4. Optional ISFT Stage - Final Quality submissions assessed, tenderer must achieve minimum quality threshold to be evaluated on price. Lowest priced tenderer for each lot will be awarded the contract (tenderer can only be awarded 1 lot). Full details will be included in the tender documents. Award criteria may be refined prior to ITT stage. More information can be found in the tender documents.

CPV: Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services · Construction work · Landscape gardening services · Real estate services

Lots and requirements (2)Procurement structure

2 lots · all with a published value (£22,500,000 together) · win at most 1 of them · evaluation weights differ by lot
Lot #1EastCancelledRenewal 5 yrsSMEPublished value£11,250,000

The Contractor for Lot 2 - East is responsible for the programmed works and additional ad-hoc provision.

The main service areas comprise of urban grass, shrub and hedge cutting to contribute to visual

amenity and to keep roads and pavements clear of vegetation for the safe passage of highway users.

Works are conducted typically Monday to Friday.

The annual activities required under this contract consist of the following:

  • Six programmed urban grass cutting visits
  • One shrub bed maintenance visit
  • One hedge maintenance visit
  • Two rose bed maintenance visits
  • One conservation verge and wildflower programmed maintenance visit
  • Other programmed activities
  • Ad hoc works

Please note that the proposed lotting structure may be subject to change as a result of Local

Government Reorganisation (LGR). The Council will keep tenderers informed throughout the

procurement process of any such changes.

The Council does not guarantee any minimum value, volume of work, or spend under the contract.

The expected total contract value for this procurement amounts to £22,500,000.

This is broken down as follows for Lot 2 (all figures are estimates):

-Initial Term 60 months (5 years) - £5,568,750.

-Optional Extension Term up to 36 months (3 years) - £3,341,250.

However, to allow for any future increases in funding, any future inflation, Compensation Events, and any other unexpected but in-scope spend, the total maximum contract value will be advertised on the relevant tendering portals (such as the Central Digital Platform, Find a Tender or Contracts Finder) as £22,500,000.

It is expected that there will be the potential for a contract extension of up to 3 years, depending on both the success in achieving the required outcomes, availability of further funding, and any decisions arising as a result of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).

*/*/ PLEASE NOTE, UNDER SECTIONS "LOT 1" & "LOT 2" OF THE FTS NOTICE, IT ADVISES EACH LOT VALUE IS £11,250,000 - THIS SHOULD BE IGNORED AND THE ABOVE INFORMATION REFERRED TO (FTS WILL NOT ALLOW LOT VALUES TO BE INSERTED THAT WHEN ADDED TOGETHER ARE LOWER THAN THE STATED CONTRACT VALUE i.e. £22,500,000*/*/

Contract period: 1 Mar 2027 – 29 Feb 2032 (5 yrs) · up to 28 Feb 2035 with extensionsValue: £11,250,000 exc. VAT · £11,250,000 inc. VAT
Delivery: South EastEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: 3 x 12 month periods.
Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)1
  • Technical & professional ability

    Detailed in tender documents.

Lot #2WestCancelledRenewal 5 yrsSMEPublished value£11,250,000

The Contractor for Lot 1 - West is responsible for the programmed works and additional ad-hoc provision.

The main service areas comprise of urban grass, shrub and hedge cutting to contribute to visual

amenity and to keep roads and pavements clear of vegetation for the safe passage of highway users.

Works are conducted typically Monday to Friday.

The annual activities required under this contract consist of the following:

  • Six programmed urban grass cutting visits
  • One shrub bed maintenance visit
  • One hedge maintenance visit
  • Two rose bed maintenance visits
  • One conservation verge and wildflower programmed maintenance visit
  • Other programmed activities
  • Ad hoc works

Please note that the proposed lotting structure may be subject to change as a result of Local

Government Reorganisation (LGR). The Council will keep tenderers informed throughout the

procurement process of any such changes.

The Council does not guarantee any minimum value, volume of work, or spend under the contract.

The expected total contract value for this procurement amounts to £22,500,000.

This is broken down as follows for Lot 1 (all figures are estimates):

-Initial Term 60 months (5 years) - £4,556,250

-Optional Extension Term up to 36 months (3 years) - £2,733,750

However, to allow for any future increases in funding, any future inflation, Compensation Events, and any other unexpected but in-scope spend, the total maximum contract value will be advertised on the relevant tendering portals (such as the Central Digital Platform, Find a Tender or Contracts Finder) as £22,500,000.

It is expected that there will be the potential for a contract extension of up to 3 years, depending on both the success in achieving the required outcomes, availability of further funding, and any decisions arising as a result of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).

*/*/ PLEASE NOTE, UNDER SECTIONS "LOT 1" & "LOT 2" OF THE FTS NOTICE, IT ADVISES EACH LOT VALUE IS £11,250,000 - THIS SHOULD BE IGNORED AND THE ABOVE INFORMATION REFERRED TO (FTS WILL NOT ALLOW LOT VALUES TO BE INSERTED THAT WHEN ADDED TOGETHER ARE LOWER THAN THE STATED CONTRACT VALUE i.e. £22,500,000*/*/

Contract period: 1 Mar 2027 – 29 Feb 2032 (5 yrs) · up to 28 Feb 2035 with extensionsValue: £11,250,000 exc. VAT · £11,250,000 inc. VAT
Delivery: South EastEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: 3 x 12 month periods.
Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)1
  • Technical & professional ability

    Detailed in Tender documents.

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
How bids were scored

Lots publish different evaluation splits; there is no single procedure weighting.

LotPriceSplit
1 · East100%
2 · West100%
What this means for your bid
  • Price carries 100 points on every lot: a 10% discount moves about 10 points.

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
Cancelled
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
29 Apr 2026, 13:05 BST
Last source update
30 Apr 2026, 16:10 BST
Award evaluation window
Submission end – 30 Sept 2026
Authority reference
CN250567
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-039173
Latest notice
Procurement termination notice (UK12)
Classification (CPV)
Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural servicesConstruction workLandscape gardening servicesReal estate services
Delivery area
South East (UKJ44)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-068df3 Find a Tender
How it runs
  1. Selection stage (PSQ / Conditions of participation). Minimum Overall Weighted score to be achieved to allow progression to ITT Stage.
  2. ITT Stage - Quality response evaluated. The Council will progress the top ranking X (no. TBC) tenderers to Stage 3.
  3. Optional Tender Clarification Meetings (previously referred to as Negotiation Stage) - to allow the Council to discuss the bid with each tenderer to clarify elements etc...
  4. Optional ISFT Stage - Final Quality submissions assessed, tenderer must achieve minimum quality threshold to be evaluated on price.

Lowest priced tenderer for each lot will be awarded the contract (tenderer can only be awarded 1 lot).

Full details will be included in the tender documents.

Award criteria may be refined prior to ITT stage. More information can be found in the tender documents.

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: ProContract (Due North) · Who buys & how to bid on ProContract
Supplier login requiredElectronic submission allowedLanguage: EN
Access & registration note: Free · short registration with manual review; public opportunity list
Submission deadline
4 Jun 2026, 00:00 BST
Clarification deadline
12 May 2026, 00:00 BST
Submission channel
Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission
Allowed
Accepted languages
en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

Timeline

29 Apr 2026 → 1 Mar 2027 · 6 dates
  1. Tender notice published181 days ago
    29 Apr 2026, 13:05 BST
  2. Latest notice published180 days ago
    30 Apr 2026, 16:10 BST
  3. Clarification questions by168 days ago
    12 May 2026, 00:00 BST
  4. Submission deadline145 days ago
    4 Jun 2026, 00:00 BST
  5. Award decision expected by26 days ago
    30 Sept 2026, 23:59 BST
  6. Today
    27 Oct 2026
  7. Contract startsin 124 days
    1 Mar 2027

Notice history

4 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 29 Apr 2026
  1. Tender notice published
    29 Apr 2026, 13:05 BST
    UK4
  2. Tender notice published
    29 Apr 2026, 13:12 BST
    UK4
  3. Procurement termination notice published
    30 Apr 2026, 16:10 BST
    UK12
  4. Status changed to cancelled
    30 Apr 2026, 16:10 BST
Published amendments (1)

Edited Tender title

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Across several lots1 award
supplier not published—30 Apr 2026CancelledNotice has been duplicated. Please refer to UK4: Tender Notice - Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-039280 , Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-068e2b for the live opportunity - Highways Urban Grass, Shrubs & Hedges Maintenance.

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Kent County Council

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-PPON: PLDL-8938-YGYW County Hall, Maidstone, South East, ME14 1XQContact email

Official documents & specifications (3)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Procurement termination notice tenderProcurement termination noticeUK12Procurement termination notice on Find a Tender
  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender
  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender