Find a TenderAwardedContract details notice

Published 13 Nov 2025, 16:39 GMT

Official UK procurement notice

Tender for Play Area Works within the Borough of Ards and North Down

Authority: Ards and North Down Borough Council (Local council)

2 lotsWorksOpen procedureAbove thresholdSME suitableMax 1 lot per supplier

Sectors: Musical instruments, sport goods, games, toys, handicraft, art materials and accessories (37)Machinery for mining, quarrying, construction equipment (43)Construction & Civil Engineering (45)

+1 more

Repair & Maintenance (50)

Delivery: Northern Ireland (UKN)

Published estimate£5,100,000envelope for 2 lots · £6,120,000 inc. VAT

Submissions closed 19 Jan 2026awarded 19 Mar 2026

Awarded to GARDEN ESCAPES IRELAND LTD +2 more2 awards

Contract term 2 yrsends 31 Mar 2028 · up to 31 Mar 2031 with extensions · starts 1 Apr 2026

What is being bought2 lots · detail below

Published requirement description

Tenders are sought by Ards and North Down Borough Council for the provision of new and replacement play areas, and play area maintenance within the Borough area.

The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 1 Nov 2030, 23:59 GMT.

CPV: Landscaping work for playgrounds · Park and playground equipment · Playground equipment · Repair and maintenance services of playground equipment · Works for complete or part construction and civil engineering work

Lots and requirements (2)Procurement structure

2 lots · all with a published value (£5,100,000 together) · win at most 1 of them · same conditions of participation on every lot · same evaluation weights on every lot

Lot #1Northern AreaAwardedRenewal 2 yrsSMEPublished value£2,550,000

Provision of new and replacement play areas, and play area maintenance within the Northern Area (as defined in the tender documents) of the borough of Ards and North Down.

Contract period: 1 Apr 2026 – 31 Mar 2028 (2 yrs) · up to 31 Mar 2031 with extensionsValue: £2,550,000 exc. VAT · £3,060,000 inc. VAT

Eligibility: SME eligible

Extensions: As detailed in the tender documents, during the course of the contract, the successful contractors may be asked to carry out some externally funded play area refurbishments and/or new play area developments that fall under the scope of this contract. Council may use this contract to deliver specialist play provision outside of the skillset of traditional play equipment providers, for example (but not limited to) the provision of skateparks and pump tracks. · The Council anticipates that the Contract will commence on 1 April 2026 initially for a two-year period, with the option to extend the contract for a further 3x 12-month periods, reviewed annually and subject to the successful provider meeting the required standards and performance requirements.

37535200 Playground equipment 43325000 Park and playground equipment 45112723 Landscaping work for playgrounds 45200000 Works for complete or part construction and civil engineering work 50870000 Repair and maintenance services of playground equipment

Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)2

Economic & financial standing
Insurances (Please see document A - Invitation to Tender for full details of the conditions of participation).
Technical & professional ability
a. Compliance with Marked Example's Minimum Requirements, b. Minimum Standards of Professional Ability and Experience, c. Health and Safety Questionnaire, d. Construction Method Statement, e. Waste Management (Facilities and Licences). Please see document A - Invitation to Tender for full details of the conditions of participation.

Lot #2Southern AreaAwardedRenewal 2 yrsSMEPublished value£2,550,000

Provision of new and replacement play areas, and play area maintenance within the Southern Area (as defined in the tender documents) of the borough of Ards and North Down.

Contract period: 1 Apr 2026 – 31 Mar 2028 (2 yrs) · up to 31 Mar 2031 with extensionsValue: £2,550,000 exc. VAT · £3,060,000 inc. VAT

Eligibility: SME eligible

Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)2

Economic & financial standing
Insurances (Please see document A - Invitation to Tender for full details of the conditions of participation).
Technical & professional ability
a. Compliance with Marked Example's Minimum Requirements, b. Minimum Standards of Professional Ability and Experience, c. Health and Safety Questionnaire, d. Construction Method Statement, e. Waste Management (Facilities and Licences). Please see document A - Invitation to Tender for full details of the conditions of participation.

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 · same split on all 2 lots

Quality: 65%Price: 25%Social value: 10%

Published sub-criteria (5)

Technical Assessment - Design Concept: 15%
Technical Assessment - Play Value: 50%
Cost - New and Replacement Play Areas: 10%
Cost - Predicted Year 1 Additional Costs: 15%
Social Value: 10%

Published award criteria (5)

Technical Assessment - Design Concept: Please see Document A - Invitation to Tender for full details of this criterion.
Technical Assessment - Play Value: Please see Document A - Invitation to Tender for full details of this criterion.
Social Value: Please see Document A - Invitation to Tender for full details of this criterion.
Cost - New and Replacement Play Areas: Please see Document A - Invitation to Tender for full details of this criterion.
Cost - Predicted Year 1 Additional Costs: Please see Document A - Invitation to Tender for full details of this criterion.

Conditions of participation · identical on every lot2

Economic & financial standing
Insurances (Please see document A - Invitation to Tender for full details of the conditions of participation).
Technical & professional ability
a. Compliance with Marked Example's Minimum Requirements, b. Minimum Standards of Professional Ability and Experience, c. Health and Safety Questionnaire, d. Construction Method Statement, e. Waste Management (Facilities and Licences). Please see document A - Invitation to Tender for full details of the conditions of participation.

What this means for your bid

Price carries 25 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 2.5 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.

Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record

Procedure method: Open procedure
Legal basis: UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category: Works
Notice status: Awarded
Procurement threshold: Above threshold (FTS publication)
Regulatory regime: Standard
Commercial structure: Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type: Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered: Yes (GPA)
Recurring procurement: Yes · next expected 1 Nov 2030
First published: 13 Nov 2025, 16:39 GMT
Last source update: 17 Apr 2026, 14:22 BST
Award evaluation window: Submission end – 13 Mar 2026
FTS notice number: 2025/S 000-073707
Latest notice: Contract details notice (UK7)
Classification (CPV): Landscaping work for playgroundsPark and playground equipmentPlayground equipmentRepair and maintenance services of playground equipmentWorks for complete or part construction and civil engineering work
Delivery area: Northern Ireland (UKN)
Official registry OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05e0d8 Find a Tender

How it was run

Official notice

Run through: eTendersNI · Who buys & how to bid on eTendersNI

Supplier login requiredElectronic submission allowedLanguage: EN

Access & registration note: Free Northern Ireland registration

Submission deadline: 19 Jan 2026, 12:00 GMT
Clarification deadline: 14 Jan 2026, 12:00 GMT
Submission channel: Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission: Allowed
Accepted languages: en

Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

Tenders must be submitted online via eTendersNI - etendersni.gov.uk/epps/home.do ↗

Timeline

13 Nov 2025 → 17 Apr 2026 · 8 dates

Tender notice published337 days ago
13 Nov 2025, 16:39 GMT
Clarification questions by276 days ago
14 Jan 2026, 12:00 GMT
Submission deadline271 days ago
19 Jan 2026, 12:00 GMT
Award decision expected by217 days ago
13 Mar 2026, 23:59 GMT
Assessment summaries sent212 days ago
19 Mar 2026
Standstill ends200 days ago
30 Mar 2026, 23:59 BST
Contract starts199 days ago
1 Apr 2026, 00:00 BST
Latest notice published182 days ago
17 Apr 2026, 14:22 BST

Notice history

8 events · 5 releases on Find a Tender · since 13 Nov 2025

Tender notice published
13 Nov 2025, 16:39 GMT
UK4
Tender notice published
24 Nov 2025, 11:06 GMT
UK4
Tender notice published
12 Dec 2025, 13:41 GMT
UK4
Deadline moved to 19 Jan 2026, 12:00 GMT
12 Dec 2025, 13:41 GMT
+7 days · was 12 Jan 2026, 12:00 GMT
Contract award notice published
19 Mar 2026, 12:08 GMT
UK6
Status changed to complete
19 Mar 2026, 12:08 GMT
Contract signature expected
31 Mar 2026, 23:59 BST
scheduled
Contract details notice published
17 Apr 2026, 14:22 BST
UK7

Published amendments (2)

Due to a technical issue, only one Technical ability condition of participation was published within the previous tender notice. This amendment corrects this. The technical ability conditions of participation are: "a. Compliance with Marked Example's Minimum Requirements, b. Minimum Standards of Professional Ability and Experience, c. Health and Safety Questionnaire, d. Construction Method Stateme…

Economic operators are advised that Council has extended the deadline for receipt of submissions by 1 week until 12noon on Monday 19th January 2026. The deadline for receipt of clarifications has also been extended by 1 week until 12noon on Wednesday 14th January 2026.

Routine re-releases (5)

2025-11: 2 releases · 13 Nov 2025, 24 Nov 2025

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast

Awards 2

Awarded value £5,100,0002 awards exc. VAT

Bids received 44 from SMEs

Contracts signed 2latest 16 Apr 2026

Awarded to	Value	Date	Status
Lot 1 · Northern Area1 award
GARDEN ESCAPES IRELAND LTDSME, Garden EscapesSMEjoint award1 Apr 2026 – 31 Mar 2028 · up to 31 Mar 2031Extensions: The Council anticipates that the Contract will commence on 1 April 2026 initially for a two-year period, with the option to extend the contract for a further 3x 12-month periods, reviewed annually and subject to the successful provider meeting the required standards and performance requirements. · Options: As detailed in the tender documents, during the course of the contract, the successful contractors may be asked to carry out some externally funded play area refurbishments and/or new play area developments that fall under the scope of this contract. Council may use this contract to deliver specialist play provision outside of the skillset of traditional play equipment providers, for example (but not limited to) the provision of skateparks and pump tracks. Furthermore, as also detailed in the tender documents, the Play Strategy is being reviewed and it is envisaged that the overall budget will be increased, however this is not guaranteed and subject to approval by Council.	£2,850,000	19 Mar 2026	Awarded
Lot 2 · Southern Area1 award
Play and Leisure Services LtdSME +1 morejoint awardLot 2 - Southern1 Apr 2026 – 31 Mar 2028 · up to 31 Mar 2031Extensions: The Council anticipates that the Contract will commence on 1 April 2026 initially for a two-year period, with the option to extend the contract for a further 3x 12-month periods, reviewed annually and subject to the successful provider meeting the required standards and performance requirements. · Options: As detailed in the tender documents, during the course of the contract, the successful contractors may be asked to carry out some externally funded play area refurbishments and/or new play area developments that fall under the scope of this contract. Council may use this contract to deliver specialist play provision outside of the skillset of traditional play equipment providers, for example (but not limited to) the provision of skateparks and pump tracks. Furthermore, as also detailed in the tender documents, the Play Strategy is being reviewed and it is envisaged that the overall budget will be increased, however this is not guaranteed and subject to approval by Council.	£2,250,000	19 Mar 2026	Awarded

Contracts

Lot 1 - Northern Area · GARDEN ESCAPES IRELAND LTDSME, Garden EscapesSME
Signed
16 Apr 2026
Value
£2,850,000
Period
17 Apr 2026 – 16 Apr 2028 · up to 16 Apr 2031 with extensions
Status
active
Extensions
The contract commenced on 17 April 2026 initially for a two-year period, with the option to extend the contract for a further 3x 12-month periods, reviewed annually and subject to the successful provider meeting the required standards and performance requirements.
Options
As detailed in the tender documents, during the course of the contract, the successful contractors may be asked to carry out some externally funded play area refurbishments and/or new play area developments that fall under the scope of this contract. Council may use this contract to deliver specialist play provision outside of the skillset of traditional play equipment providers, for example (but not limited to) the provision of skateparks and pump tracks. Furthermore, as also detailed in the tender documents, the Play Strategy is being reviewed and it is envisaged that the overall budget will be increased, however this is not guaranteed and subject to approval by Council.
3 agreed KPIs: Reactive Jobs · Replacement Play Areas · Social Value
- Reactive Jobs, At least 80% of reactive jobs must be completed within their allocated timescales for completion.
- Replacement Play Areas, 100% of replacement play areas must be completed within 1 week of the target date identified in the annual programme. Unavoidable delays due to force majeure events will be excluded. The Contractors annual programme will be agreed at the contract initiation then yearly thereafter.
- Social Value, Social Value activities completed as laid out in the successful Contractor’s ’ submission document.
Lot 2 - Southern Area · Play and Leisure Services LtdSME +1 more
Signed
16 Apr 2026
Value
£2,250,000
Period
17 Apr 2026 – 16 Apr 2028 · up to 16 Apr 2031 with extensions
Status
active
Extensions
The contract commenced on 17 April 2026 initially for a two-year period, with the option to extend the contract for a further 3x 12-month periods, reviewed annually and subject to the successful provider meeting the required standards and performance requirements.
Options
As detailed in the tender documents, during the course of the contract, the successful contractors may be asked to carry out some externally funded play area refurbishments and/or new play area developments that fall under the scope of this contract. Council may use this contract to deliver specialist play provision outside of the skillset of traditional play equipment providers, for example (but not limited to) the provision of skateparks and pump tracks. Furthermore, as also detailed in the tender documents, the Play Strategy is being reviewed and it is envisaged that the overall budget will be increased, however this is not guaranteed and subject to approval by Council.
3 agreed KPIs: Reactive Jobs · Replacement Play Areas · Social Value
- Reactive Jobs, At least 80% of reactive jobs must be completed within their allocated timescales for completion.
- Replacement Play Areas, 100% of replacement play areas must be completed within 1 week of the target date identified in the annual programme. Unavoidable delays due to force majeure events will be excluded. The Contractors annual programme will be agreed at the contract initiation then yearly thereafter.
- Social Value, Social Value activities completed as laid out in the successful Contractor’s ’ submission document.

Bid statistics published by the authority

Lot	Bids	SME	VCSE	Valid bid range
1 · Northern Area	2final-stage tenders · 3 at stage one	2	0	—
2 · Southern Area	2final-stage tenders · 3 at stage one	2	0	—

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Ards and North Down Borough Council

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central governmentNorthern Irish devolved regulations apply GB-PPON: PTTZ-3295-PYCW City Hall, Bangor, Northern Ireland, BT20 4BTContact email

Bidders & participating suppliers

4 commercial parties on the notice

GARDEN ESCAPES (IRELAND) LIMITEDAwarded supplierGB-COH: NI630118GB-PPON: PBHV-7537-LCTH 43c Ballycreen Road, Ballynahinch, Northern Ireland, BT24 8UBContact email
Garden Escapes (Ireland) LimitedAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PBHV-7537-LCTH 43c Ballycreen Road, Ballynahinch, Northern Ireland, BT24 8UBContact email
PLAY AND LEISURE SERVICES LTDAwarded supplierGB-COH: NI049929GB-PPON: PVVY-2523-HVJH 31 Carrowdore Road, Co Down, Northern Ireland, BT22 2LUContact email
Play and Leisure Services LimitedAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PVVY-2523-HVJH 31 Carrowdore Road, Co Down, Northern Ireland, BT22 2LUContact email

Official documents & specifications (7)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details notice on Find a Tender17 Apr 2026, 14:22 BST
Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details notice on Find a Tender17 Apr 2026, 14:22 BST
Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender19 Mar 2026, 12:08 GMT
Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender19 Mar 2026, 12:08 GMT
Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender12 Dec 2025, 13:41 GMT
Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender24 Nov 2025, 11:06 GMT
Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender13 Nov 2025, 16:39 GMT