NHC 202208-01 – Market Consultation for Tree Maintenance

North Herts Council (the ‘Council’), before potentially conducting a formal procurement procedure, is seeking to conduct a market consultation with a view to preparing the procurement and informing potential economic operators of the Council’s procurement plans and requirements for Tree Maintenance services. The Council wishes to seek advice from market participants which may be used in the planning and conduct of any future procurement procedure.The Council manages and maintains over 20,000 trees located within the four main towns of Letchworth, Hitchin, Baldock, Royston and some in the surrounding villages. They are situated on the highways, on amenity land, in cemeteries, car parks and woodlands.The Council’s Tree Maintenance Strategy aims to establish a tree population that has a wide age range and diverse species mix, conduct maintenance and conservation work of trees; and improve the safety of trees. Maintenance works may be routine, arise from customer enquiries, or from our independent tree surveys or emergencies. The Council has no in-house maintenance operation so the service must be contracted out to external suppliers.The Council believes that this contract has the potential of delivering benefits under the Social Value Act 2012 and invites comments and suggestions on how this can be achieved. For the avoidance of doubt, this Prior Information Notice is not part of any formal procurement process and in no way commits the Council to undertake said procurement process. Any advice from participants shall not have the effect of distorting the market or violating the principles of non-discrimination and transparency. Any participation or non-participation in this market consultation shall not have the effect of placing any supplier at any disadvantage. Any participation is at the economic operator’s own expense and shall not be reimbursed by the Council. Further information may be obtained from the individual mentioned in this Prior information Notice.