Planning

Stray Dogs Collection and Kennelling Contract - Soft Market Testing

SLOUGH BOROUGH COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

06 Oct 2025 at 11:09

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

01 Oct 2025 at 15:15

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Slough Borough Council, functioning as the buyer, is preparing the contracting process for the "Stray Dogs Collection and Kennelling Contract" in the services industry category. This process is currently in the planning stage, with a focus on soft market testing to attract a broader range of potential tenderers. The associated preliminary market engagement notice was published on 6th October 2025. Prospective bidders must note that the soft market testing exercise is scheduled, with a deadline on 15th October 2025. The contract itself is anticipated to take place in Slough, within the UKJ11 region, starting from 12th January 2026 and concluding on 11th January 2028. Formal procurement notices are expected to be communicated by 8th December 2025.

This tender provides an opportunity for organisations, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) specialising in services related to dog kennelling, to potentially expand their business operations. By participating in the soft market testing, businesses can provide input on contract structuring and prepare for formal procurement engagement. This forward-looking process encourages interested parties to align their offerings with the council’s requirements, fostering greater participation in public contracts. Suitable businesses for this tender are those with a track record in specialised animal care and kennel management services, providing them with a strategic opportunity to compete effectively within the public sector.

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

Stray Dogs Collection and Kennelling Contract - Soft Market Testing

Notice Description

The soft market testing exercise aims to identify the potential to increase the number and type of organisations who would be interested in tendering for the Stray Dogs Collection and Kennelling Contract. The Council would like to understand from key providers how these requirements might best be structured and is therefore carrying out a soft market testing exercise to engage in an informal dialogue prior to any formal procurement taking place

Planning Information

The soft market testing exercise aims to identify the potential to increase the number and type of organisations who would be interested in tendering for the Stray Dogs Collection and Kennelling Contract. The Council would like to understand from key providers how these requirements might best be structured and is therefore carrying out a soft market testing exercise to engage in an informal dialogue prior to any formal procurement taking place. Please visit http://www.sesharedservices.org.uk/esourcing and use reference SBC – 038689 to find the project.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05a62e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/062474-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

98 - Other community, social and personal services

CPV Codes

98380000 - Dog kennel services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
6 Oct 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
8 Dec 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
12 Jan 2026 - 11 Jan 2028 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
SLOUGH BOROUGH COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
sbcprocurement@slough.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
SLOUGH
Postcode
SL1 2EL
Post Town
Slough
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ15 Berkshire East
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Slough
Electoral Ward
Herschel Park
Westminster Constituency
Slough

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-05a62e-2025-10-06T12:09:12+01:00",
    "date": "2025-10-06T12:09:12+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-05a62e",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PMLW-2634-YYNX",
            "name": "Slough Borough Council",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PMLW-2634-YYNX"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Observatory House, 25 Windsor Road",
                "locality": "Slough",
                "postalCode": "SL1 2EL",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKJ11"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "SBCProcurement@slough.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PMLW-2634-YYNX",
        "name": "Slough Borough Council"
    },
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "The soft market testing exercise aims to identify the potential to increase the number and type of organisations who would be interested in tendering for the Stray Dogs Collection and Kennelling Contract. The Council would like to understand from key providers how these requirements might best be structured and is therefore carrying out a soft market testing exercise to engage in an informal dialogue prior to any formal procurement taking place. Please visit http://www.sesharedservices.org.uk/esourcing and use reference SBC - 038689 to find the project.",
                "dueDate": "2025-10-15T23:59:59+01:00",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "061468-2025",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/061468-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-10-01T16:15:53+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            },
            {
                "id": "062474-2025",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/062474-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-10-06T12:09:12+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-05a62e",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Stray Dogs Collection and Kennelling Contract - Soft Market Testing",
        "description": "The soft market testing exercise aims to identify the potential to increase the number and type of organisations who would be interested in tendering for the Stray Dogs Collection and Kennelling Contract. The Council would like to understand from key providers how these requirements might best be structured and is therefore carrying out a soft market testing exercise to engage in an informal dialogue prior to any formal procurement taking place",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "98380000",
                        "description": "Dog kennel services"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-01-12T00:00:00+00:00",
                    "endDate": "2028-01-11T23:59:59+00:00"
                },
                "status": "planning"
            }
        ],
        "communication": {
            "futureNoticeDate": "2025-12-08T23:59:59+00:00"
        },
        "status": "planning"
    },
    "language": "en"
}