Tender

Grounds Maintenance Contract

AMPTHILL TOWN COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

19 Nov 2025 at 14:41

Tender

03 Nov 2025 at 16:42

PlanningUpdate

29 Jul 2025 at 16:43

Planning

18 Jul 2025 at 12:30

Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process for the Ampthill Town Council's Grounds Maintenance Contract is currently active at the tender stage, with an open procedure. The project focuses on the maintenance of Ampthill Great Park and several other sites, including Ampthill Cemetery and public spaces. The contract is valued at £1,680,000 gross and is set to commence on 1st April 2026, lasting until 31st March 2031. Tender submissions are to be made by 2nd December 2025. The council, located in Ampthill, Bedford, is seeking submissions in the services category, and electronic submissions are accepted in English. Key dates include an award decision by 19th December 2025.

This tender provides significant opportunities for growth, especially for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) suited to providing comprehensive grounds maintenance services. The open procurement method ensures a competitive process that encourages diverse participation. Companies specialising in parks and grounds maintenance services will find this tender particularly beneficial. Additionally, the contract includes an option for extension based on performance, offering a long-term business relationship with Ampthill Town Council, potentially enhancing the service provider's market standing and operational scope.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Grounds Maintenance Contract

Notice Description

Ampthill Town Council (The Council) is inviting tender submissions for this service under its public procurement obligations. The grounds maintenance services will focus primarily on Ampthill Great Park, and include other sites such as: Ampthill Cemetery, 2 allotment sites, 4 areas of public open space, a market area and car park. Full details provided within the specification document and Annex 1.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Options: Variation of Services: Ampthill Town Council reserves the right to require changes to the services at any time during the contract. This can include adding new services, removing services, increasing or decreasing the scope, or changing the order and locations of work. These changes are called "Variations" and will be communicated in writing. If a Variation affects the price, the adjustment will be calculated and agreed upon between the Council and the Service Provider. If agreement cannot be reached, the matter will go to negotiation or mediation. Materials and Consumables: Any materials required for tasks will be specified by the Park Manager. If the Service Provider purchases materials, the Town Council will reimburse the actual cost (with no markup). Time spent sourcing and ordering materials must be covered within the agreed staffing resource. [Grounds_Ma...C.29.10.25] Additional Work: The specification allows for ad-hoc tasks beyond core duties, such as event support, repairs, and volunteer facilitation. These tasks will be scheduled and agreed upon at monthly meetings, and the Service Provider must accommodate them within the tendered staffing resource. Contract Extension Option: The Council may extend the contract for up to 1 or 2 years beyond the initial 5-year term, subject to satisfactory performance. Payment for the extension period will be negotiated.

Renewal: Subject to satisfactory performance by the Service Provider during the Initial Term, The Town Council may wish to extend the Agreement once or on multiple occasions for a further period of up to 1 or 2 years. The Town Council may approach the Service Provider if it wishes to do so before the end of the Initial Term. The clauses in the Agreement will apply throughout any such extended period unless otherwise stated to the contrary.

Planning Information

Ampthill Town Council is looking to engage with contractors during the PME period to gather market insight to help the Council shape its procurement strategy and develop the final specification for this contract. A contractor's questionnaire has been developed for contractors to provide the Council with insights into different ways and methods in which this contract could be delivered. The contractors questionnaire can be requested by emailing tenders@ampthill-tc.gov.uk quoting the reference number for this PME in the email subject bar: 'ATC-GroundsMaint.01/25-26 -Questionnaire Request': The questionnaire should be returned to the same email address tenders@ampthill-tc.gov.uk stating 'ATC-GroundsMaint.01/25-26 -Questionnaire RETURN' in the email subject bar NO LATER THAN MONDAY 18th AUGUST 2025 - NOON. Contractors who submit a response to the questionnaire will be contacted no later than Friday 22nd August 2025 to confirm details of a guided site visit of the contract areas. The site visits will take place during w/c. 1st September 2025 (actual date/s to be confirmed). A Q&A/feasibility session will be facilitated on the same day as the site visits at our offices in Ampthill Great Park. Contractors who miss the questionnaire submission deadline of 18th August 2025 may not be invited to attend the guided site visits but can still return a completed questionnaire to the stated email address before the PME deadline date of 12th September 2025. This process is not part of a competitive tender process and will not be used to assess contractor suitability or to shortlist suppliers. Participation is voluntary and responses will not be scored or evaluated. Contractors who do not participate in this PME process are in no way prohibited from submitting a tender in accordance with the tender notice once it is published. It is anticipated that the tender notice will be published by 3rd November 2025, and that this will provide the final contract specification/s and advise of the date by which tenders must be received.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05621f
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/075283-2025
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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


CPV Codes

77313000 - Parks maintenance services

77314000 - Grounds maintenance services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,400,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,400,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Nov 20252 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
2 Dec 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
12 Sep 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2031 Over 5 years
Recurrence
2031-11-01

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
AMPTHILL TOWN COUNCIL
Contact Name
Phil Nicholson, Park Manager
Contact Email
council@ampthill-tc.gov.uk
Contact Phone
01525 404355

Buyer Location

Locality
AMPTHILL, BEDFORD
Postcode
MK45 2HX
Post Town
Milton Keynes
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH25 Central Bedfordshire
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Central Bedfordshire
Electoral Ward
Ampthill
Westminster Constituency
Mid Bedfordshire

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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