Planning

Bristol City Council Parks Service - Groundworks & Play Principal Contractor

BRISTOL CITY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

30 Jun 2025 at 12:51

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

25 Jun 2025 at 14:14

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Bristol City Council is currently in the planning stage of a procurement process titled "Bristol City Council Parks Service - Groundworks & Play Principal Contractor." This procurement is set in the construction industry category, specifically targeting works related to landscaping and playground equipment. The Council is looking for a principal contractor experienced in parks improvement projects within the Bristol region (UKK11). Interested parties are invited to participate in a soft market testing process, which has been extended until midday on 21st July 2025. The procurement process adheres to the regulations set forth by the Procurement Act 2023, with contracts expected to begin on 1st November 2025 and conclude by 31st October 2027.

This procurement presents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in landscaping, construction, and playground equipment installation to secure work with a reputable public authority. The process is favourable for SMEs capable of delivering or managing various works such as groundworks, fencing, play equipment installation, and landscaping. Engaging in this tender can help businesses expand their client base, enhance their portfolio with public sector projects, and potentially secure future contracts with the Council. Interested contractors are encouraged to complete the soft market testing form via the ProContract platform to indicate their suitability and interest.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

D3 Tenders Premium

Win More Public Sector Contracts

AI-powered tender discovery, pipeline management, and market intelligence — everything you need to grow your public sector business.

Start Free Trial Book a Demo
All Features Pricing

Notice Information

Notice Title

Bristol City Council Parks Service - Groundworks & Play Principal Contractor

Notice Description

Bristol City Council are issuing a speculative soft market testing notice to understand the interest in the market relating to Principal Contractors who have experience of delivering parks improvement works. The council are looking for contractors who are either able to deliver themselves, or would act as principal contractor and sub-contract the following requirements: * Groundworks (eg. excavation & filling, hard landscape construction & drainage, retaining walls/landscape walls, soiling) * Path works * Fencing & repairs (eg. welding, painting, retrofitting) * Detail design (eg. engineering design, level setting out) * Regrading grassed areas / laying, installing lawn * Planting (eg. trees, hedges & perennial planting) * Play equipment installation & safety surfacing * Outdoor furniture installation (eg. benches etc) Over the coming 24 months the Council have a number of sub-threshold contracts where it will be looking to contract with a principal contractor who will bring forwards the project. This exercise is being undertaken to identify if there are providers in the market who can undertake the breadth of works required. Please note that partaking in this soft market testing process does not guarantee your organisation future contracts with the Council. Any requirements will be tendered in adherence to the Bristol City Council procurement rules & Procurement Act 2023. The reason for this SMT process is to identify interested contractors who can be invited to quote for future work - any quote processes will be administered via ProContract, with specific details of each competition being released along with each Request for Quote. To register an interest please complete the soft market testing form which can be found on ProContract - https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=cb4b9fbc-cb51-f011-813a-005056b64545

Planning Information

Providers who are interested in bidding for this type of work in the future are asked to complete the soft market testing form & submit via ProContract - https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=cb4b9fbc-cb51-f011-813a-005056b64545 Please note that partaking in this soft market testing process does not guarantee your organisation future contracts with the Council. Any requirements will be tendered in adherence to the Bristol City Council procurement rules & Procurement Act 2023. The reason for this SMT process is to identify interested contractors who can be invited to quote for future work - any quote processes will be administered via ProContract, with specific details of each competition being released along with each Request for Quote.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-055391
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036105-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Works
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

37 - Musical instruments, sport goods, games, toys, handicraft, art materials and accessories

43 - Machinery for mining, quarrying, construction equipment

45 - Construction work

CPV Codes

37535200 - Playground equipment

43325000 - Park and playground equipment

45112711 - Landscaping work for parks

45236210 - Flatwork for children's play area

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Jun 20257 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
21 Jul 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Nov 2025 - 31 Oct 2027 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
BRISTOL CITY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
tom.lynes@bristol.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS1 5TR
Post Town
Bristol
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK51 Bristol, City of
Delivery Location
TLK11 Bristol, City of
Local Authority
Bristol, City of
Electoral Ward
Hotwells and Harbourside
Westminster Constituency
Bristol Central

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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. 

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-055391-2025-06-30T13:51:18+01:00",
    "date": "2025-06-30T13:51:18+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-055391",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PWXH-3837-PDTD",
            "name": "Bristol City Council",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PWXH-3837-PDTD"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "City Hall, College Green",
                "locality": "Bristol",
                "postalCode": "BS1 5TR",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKK11"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "tom.lynes@bristol.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "http://www.bristol.gov.uk",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PWXH-3837-PDTD",
        "name": "Bristol City Council"
    },
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "Providers who are interested in bidding for this type of work in the future are asked to complete the soft market testing form & submit via ProContract - https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=cb4b9fbc-cb51-f011-813a-005056b64545 Please note that partaking in this soft market testing process does not guarantee your organisation future contracts with the Council. Any requirements will be tendered in adherence to the Bristol City Council procurement rules & Procurement Act 2023. The reason for this SMT process is to identify interested contractors who can be invited to quote for future work - any quote processes will be administered via ProContract, with specific details of each competition being released along with each Request for Quote.",
                "dueDate": "2025-07-21T23:59:59+01:00",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "035143-2025",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035143-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-06-25T15:14:39+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            },
            {
                "id": "036105-2025",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036105-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-06-30T13:51:18+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "DN779891",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Bristol City Council Parks Service - Groundworks & Play Principal Contractor",
        "description": "Bristol City Council are issuing a speculative soft market testing notice to understand the interest in the market relating to Principal Contractors who have experience of delivering parks improvement works. The council are looking for contractors who are either able to deliver themselves, or would act as principal contractor and sub-contract the following requirements: * Groundworks (eg. excavation & filling, hard landscape construction & drainage, retaining walls/landscape walls, soiling) * Path works * Fencing & repairs (eg. welding, painting, retrofitting) * Detail design (eg. engineering design, level setting out) * Regrading grassed areas / laying, installing lawn * Planting (eg. trees, hedges & perennial planting) * Play equipment installation & safety surfacing * Outdoor furniture installation (eg. benches etc) Over the coming 24 months the Council have a number of sub-threshold contracts where it will be looking to contract with a principal contractor who will bring forwards the project. This exercise is being undertaken to identify if there are providers in the market who can undertake the breadth of works required. Please note that partaking in this soft market testing process does not guarantee your organisation future contracts with the Council. Any requirements will be tendered in adherence to the Bristol City Council procurement rules & Procurement Act 2023. The reason for this SMT process is to identify interested contractors who can be invited to quote for future work - any quote processes will be administered via ProContract, with specific details of each competition being released along with each Request for Quote. To register an interest please complete the soft market testing form which can be found on ProContract - https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=cb4b9fbc-cb51-f011-813a-005056b64545",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "37535200",
                        "description": "Playground equipment"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "43325000",
                        "description": "Park and playground equipment"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "45112711",
                        "description": "Landscaping work for parks"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "45236210",
                        "description": "Flatwork for children's play area"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKK11",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKK11",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 0,
            "amount": 0,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "works",
        "aboveThreshold": false,
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2025-11-01T00:00:00Z",
                    "endDate": "2027-10-31T23:59:59Z"
                },
                "status": "planning"
            }
        ],
        "status": "planning",
        "amendments": [
            {
                "id": "036105-2025",
                "description": "Soft market testing window has been extended until 12:00 on 21st July 2025."
            }
        ]
    },
    "language": "en"
}