Planning

Provision of Arboricultural Maintenance of Trees - Soft Market Testing

LONDON BOROUGH OF SUTTON

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

31 Mar 2026 at 12:37

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

23 May 2025 at 12:28

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The London Borough of Sutton is progressing with a procurement process for the Provision of Arboricultural Maintenance of Trees, currently at the planning stage. This initiative is part of their strategy to ensure effective maintenance and management of trees within the region classified under agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural, and apicultural services. Key engagement activities include a virtual soft market testing event scheduled for 27th and 28th April 2026, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM each day. Stakeholders are encouraged to provide feedback on the draft specification by 1st May 2026 to ensure clarity and robustness in the operational document. The procurement process is open and above threshold, with a contract period potentially extending from 2027 to 2036. The buyer, London Borough of Sutton, is classified as a public authority – sub-central government, located in Sutton, United Kingdom.

This tender offers substantial opportunities for businesses specialising in tree maintenance, clearing, cutting, seeding, pruning, and hedge trimming services. The open procedure allows suitable small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to actively partake, facilitating growth within the arboricultural sector. Given the planned contract value of £3,000,000, this engagement promises a significant financial opportunity and long-term collaboration with the public sector. Businesses providing 24-hour emergency response alongside routine tree maintenance will be particularly well-suited to compete, ensuring comprehensive service delivery across the defined contract period. Participation in feedback and the market testing phase can help shape future tender specifications, increasing chances of securing procurement opportunities.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Arboricultural Maintenance of Trees - Soft Market Testing

Notice Description

The London Borough of Sutton is seeking to gain insight into the practicality, capacity, feasibility, and deliverability of a potential contract for the provision of arboricultural tree maintenance services. To support this, the Council is inviting providers to participate in a soft market testing exercise to help refine the specification for this commission. Information gathered through this process will help inform the development of a future Arboricultural Maintenance of Trees contract, should the Council decide to proceed with procurement. The London Borough of Sutton would like comprehensive and detailed feedback on the draft specification. Your expertise will help ensure it is clear, robust, and accurately reflects the required scope and quality of service delivery. Constructive comments and suggestions to enhance clarity, completeness, and overall effectiveness as both a contractual and operational document are especially welcome. Please be as specific as possible, referencing relevant sections where appropriate. A virtual soft market testing event for this commission is also scheduled on Monday, 27 April 2026, from 10:00am to 5:00pm, and Tuesday, 28 April 2026, from 10:00am to 5:00pm. Providers are welcome to attend the virtual one to one session of approximately 45 minutes by choosing an available slot in the calendar in addition to completing the published questions. PLEASE NOTE: Attendance to a one to one session is optional. If you prefer, you may just complete the questions in the document attached in the attachment session of the portal and submit it via Procontract messaging on the portal. All providers are requested to first review the DRAFT specification for the Provision of Arboricultural Maintenance of Trees and then provide responses to the questions set out in the document titled "SOFT MARKET TESTING - Provision of Arboricultural Maintenance of Trees" This document also includes the link to the calendar slots PLEASE SUBMIT THE COMPLETED DOCUMENT VIA THE MESSAGING SYSTEM ON THE PORTAL

Planning Information

The London Borough of Sutton would like comprehensive and detailed feedback on the draft specification. Your expertise will help ensure it is clear, robust, and accurately reflects the required scope and quality of service delivery. Constructive comments and suggestions to enhance clarity, completeness, and overall effectiveness as both a contractual and operational document are especially welcome. Please be as specific as possible, referencing relevant sections where appropriate. A virtual soft market testing event for this commission is also scheduled on Monday, 27 April 2026, from 10:00am to 5:00pm, and Tuesday, 28 April 2026, from 10:00am to 5:00pm. Providers are welcome to attend the virtual one to one session of approximately 45 minutes by choosing an available slot in the calendar in addition to completing the published questions. PLEASE NOTE: Attendance to a one to one session is optional. If you prefer, you may just complete the questions in the document attached in the attachment session of the portal and submit it via Procontract messaging on the portal. All providers are requested to first review the DRAFT specification for the Provision of Arboricultural Maintenance of Trees and then provide responses to the questions set out in the document titled "SOFT MARKET TESTING - Provision of Arboricultural Maintenance of Trees" This document also includes the link to the calendar slots PLEASE SUBMIT THE COMPLETED DOCUMENT VIA THE MESSAGING SYSTEM ON THE PORTAL

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05228c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029669-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

77 - Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services

CPV Codes

77000000 - Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
31 Mar 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 May 20263 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2027 - 31 Mar 2034 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
LONDON BOROUGH OF SUTTON
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SUTTON
Postcode
SM1 1EA
Post Town
Sutton
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI6 Outer London - South
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI63 Merton, Kingston upon Thames and Sutton
Delivery Location
TLI63 Merton, Kingston upon Thames and Sutton
Local Authority
Sutton
Electoral Ward
Sutton Central
Westminster Constituency
Sutton and Cheam

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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