Official UK procurement notice
Invitation to Submit Proposals Hope Gap Steps
Authority: Seaford Town Council (Local council)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionSeaford Town Council are seeking expressions of interest and detailed proposals from suitably qualified and experienced contractors to design and cost options to repair or replace the Hope Gap steps, with the aim of returning them to safe public use.
Due to the anticipated high costs of the project, proposals must focus on achieving best value over the full lifespan of the steps, taking into account durability, maintenance requirements and long-term resilience.
Scope of Proposal
Proposals should include, but not be limited to, the following:
- Design and costed options for repair and/or replacement of the steps
- Consideration of ecological and geological impacts
- Identification of required permissions, consents and statutory approvals
- A proposed methodology for undertaking the site works
- A programme for delivery, including identification of the optimum times of year for construction
- Where possible, suggested sources of external funding that may be available to support the works
Site Constraints
Tenderers should note that:
- This stretch of coastline is classified as "No Active Intervention" within the Shoreline Management Plan
- At high tide, waves frequently break at the base of the cliff
- Any proposed solution must be capable of withstanding regular exposure to sea water
- It is considered highly likely that some or all options may require additional coastal protection, such as a sea wall or similar measures. Proposals should therefore include the design and cost of such protection, where applicable
Site Visits
Seaford Town Council will be available to accompany site visits on the following dates:
- Tuesday 3 February
- Wednesday 4 February
- Wednesday 11 February
Submission Details
- Deadline for submission: 5:00pm on Monday 16 February 2026
- Proposals should be submitted to: [email protected] or posted to 37 Church Street, Seaford, BN25 1HG
- Please note that all proposals and quotations received will be presented to Full Council for discussion and evaluation in due course, prior to any further decisions or actions being taken
Seaford Town Council (STC) are seeking proposals and option appraisals only. STC is under no obligation to appoint any supplier, to select a preferred proposal, or to proceed to construction works. Any decision to progress to delivery, and any procurement of construction works, would be subject to separate approval and a separate procurement process in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023.
- Not divided into lots: Due to the integrated nature of the design and construction requirements and the risks associated with a coastal site, it was determined that a single contract is the most appropriate approach.
- How the procedure runs: Stage 1 - Requests to Participate: Suppliers will be invited to submit requests to participate demonstrating relevant experience, technical capability, financial standing and capacity to deliver coastal and/or high-risk civil engineering works of a similar nature. A shortlist of suppliers will be selected to proceed to the next stage. Stage 2 - Invitation to Tender: Shortlisted suppliers will be invited to submit detailed tenders including outline design proposals and costed options for the repair or replacement of the Hope Gap steps. Tenders will be evaluated on the basis of the most advantageous tender, with a strong emphasis on whole-life value, durability, maintenance requirements and long-term resilience. Seaford Town Council reserves the right to refine the award criteria and to enter into dialogue or clarification with tenderers in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 prior to final tender evaluation.
- No preliminary market engagement: Preliminary market engagement was carried out through informal discussions to understand feasibility and risks. This engagement was limited in scope and has not distorted competition. All relevant information will be made available to all tenderers.
CPV: Coastal-defence works · Engineering works and construction works
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1RenewalPublished value£20,000
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).
- Quality and feasibility of proposals: Assessment will focus on the quality, feasibility, and robustness of the proposed options for repair or replacement of the Hope Gap steps. This includes approach to durability, maintenance requirements, long-term resilience, and consideration of environmental, geological, and regulatory constraints. The contracting authority reserves the right not to award the contract if no proposals sufficiently meet the stated objectives.
- Cost (proposal development / whole-life considerations): The cost criterion will assess the total projected costs associated with delivering the required proposal development and option appraisal services. Evaluation will take into account not only the proposed price for preparing the submissions, but also how the proposed options demonstrate potential for value over the full lifespan of the steps, including anticipated maintenance requirements, durability, and long-term resilience. Cost will be considered in conjunction with quality and feasibility, and the contracting authority reserves the right not to award the contract if no proposals sufficiently meet the stated objectives.
- Experience and capability: Relevant experience of the contractor and proposed team in delivering similar high-risk civil engineering, coastal, or infrastructure projects, including design and option appraisal.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Works
- 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
- 28 Jan 2026, 12:09 GMT
- Last source update
- 28 Jan 2026, 12:09 GMT
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 1 Apr 2026
- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-007550- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0610cdFind a Tender
- How it runs
Stage 1 - Requests to Participate:
Suppliers will be invited to submit requests to participate demonstrating relevant experience, technical capability, financial standing and capacity to deliver coastal and/or high-risk civil engineering works of a similar nature.
A shortlist of suppliers will be selected to proceed to the next stage.
Stage 2 - Invitation to Tender:
Shortlisted suppliers will be invited to submit detailed tenders including outline design proposals and costed options for the repair or replacement of the Hope Gap steps.
Tenders will be evaluated on the basis of the most advantageous tender, with a strong emphasis on whole-life value, durability, maintenance requirements and long-term resilience.
Seaford Town Council reserves the right to refine the award criteria and to enter into dialogue or clarification with tenderers in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 prior to final tender evaluation.
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 16 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Submission deadline
- 16 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Submission Details
- Deadline for submission: 5:00pm on Monday 16 February 2026
- Proposals should be submitted to: [email protected] or posted to 37 Church Street, Seaford, BN25 1HG
- Please note that all proposals and quotations received will be presented to Full Council for discussion and evaluation in due course, prior to any further decisions or actions being taken
Timeline
28 Jan 2026 → 1 Apr 2026 · 4 dates- Tender notice published267 days ago28 Jan 2026, 12:09 GMT
- Submission deadline248 days ago16 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Contract starts205 days ago1 Apr 2026, 00:00 BST
- Award decision expected by204 days ago1 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
Notice history
1 event · 1 release on Find a Tender- Tender notice published28 Jan 2026, 12:09 GMTUK4
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
Notices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender