Planning

Public Conveniences

SWALE BOROUGH COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

15 Oct 2025 at 11:05

Summary of the contracting process

Swale Borough Council is in the planning stage of a procurement process concerning the provision of public conveniences services, following the expiration of current contracts in March 2026. The council has initiated a tender process, seeking to gather market insights by requesting feedback from potential bidders to inform the future specification of services. Located in Sittingbourne, United Kingdom, the council is exploring whether hygiene services and the maintenance of public conveniences should be combined or offered as separate lots. The procurement process, currently characterised by active market engagement, allows interested parties to submit their comments by 29th October 2025. The tender concerns services including cleaning and sanitation and aims to ensure continuity and potential transfer of certain facilities to other organisations, such as town or parish councils.

This tender represents a valuable opportunity for businesses specializing in sanitation services, repair and maintenance, and facility management. Companies that offer innovative and cost-effective solutions are encouraged to participate, as there is room for variant bids that can enhance value for residents. Enterprises with expertise in dealing with high footfall areas or those capable of managing facilities without permanent attendants could particularly benefit from this opportunity. Additionally, organisations with experience in handling transitional facility ownership and flexible pricing models may find this tender a fitting match. Businesses interested in growing their presence within public sector contracts and establishing long-term service provisions will find this opportunity attractive for building partnerships with local authorities.

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Notice Title

Public Conveniences

Notice Description

Swale Borough Council are currently reviewing options for public convenience service provision post March 2026 when the current service contracts expire. We currently have 16 public conveniences. Part of this review has included a consultation on facilities and the future of some of these public conveniences. To assist with the development of the future contractual opportunity we are seeking views from potentially interested parties to help shape the specification. 1) Currently, the hygiene services contract provides and maintains baby changing units, hand driers and sanitation bins for all public facilities and for three local authority office buildings. This contract is separate to the opening, cleansing and minor maintenance of public conveniences contract. Should the two areas of work be combined under one specification, or should they be kept as separate lots for bidding purposes? 2) It is expected that a core of public conveniences will continue to remain open for the public to use. However, there will likely be a small number that may be closed or transferred in ownership to other organisations such as town or parish councils. If the transfer process extends past the start date of the new contract, these establishments will still need to be opened, cleansed and maintained for a period of time until the successful transfer can take place. For these few establishments we would appreciate your comments on these points: Currently, we are considering an option to offer these facilities as a separate Lot on a shorter term (with extensions). How should we ask for them to be priced if the intention is for them to change ownership most likely within year 1 (monthly, six monthly etc)? It is possible that different establishments get transferred at different times (or maybe not at all). How should this be considered in the contract with regards to removing facilities and will that impact pricing for the remaining facilities? 3) Would any bidders suggest we advertise the opportunity in any other way other than all establishments under one specification e.g should we advertise some facilities (or groups of facilities) as individual lots? 4) How much notice will bidders need prior to taking a decision to close/ transfer one of the facilities identified in question 2? 5) Most of our facilities have no permanent attendants. A few facilities where there is high footfall or a possible elevated risk of damage have partial attendance ranging from 3 - 6 hours a day. What are bidders views on this? Does this seem reasonable or would an alternative model be preferred? What model would offer best value for money? Should there be an option for a variant bid from prospective service providers? 6) How would bidders satisfy mass openings at the same time without the provision of attendants at some venues? 7) Is there anything else we should be considering or amendments/ models that may enhance the service but still offer the very best value for residents? 8) Any other comments or considerations? For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at: https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/tenders/UK-UK-Sittingbourne:-Public-conveniences./XZX7ZE5E6U To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/respond/XZX7ZE5E6U

Planning Information

Swale Borough Council are currently reviewing options for public convenience service provision post March 2026 when the current service contracts expire. We currently have 16 public conveniences. Part of this review has included a consultation on facilities and the future of some of these public conveniences. To assist with the development of the future contractual opportunity we are seeking views from potentially interested parties to help shape the specification. 1) Currently, the hygiene services contract provides and maintains baby changing units, hand driers and sanitation bins for all public facilities and for three local authority office buildings. This contract is separate to the opening, cleansing and minor maintenance of public conveniences contract. Should the two areas of work be combined under one specification, or should they be kept as separate lots for bidding purposes? 2) It is expected that a core of public conveniences will continue to remain open for the public to use. However, there will likely be a small number that may be closed or transferred in ownership to other organisations such as town or parish councils. If the transfer process extends past the start date of the new contract, these establishments will still need to be opened, cleansed and maintained for a period of time until the successful transfer can take place. For these few establishments we would appreciate your comments on these points: Currently, we are considering an option to offer these facilities as a separate Lot on a shorter term (with extensions). How should we ask for them to be priced if the intention is for them to change ownership most likely within year 1 (monthly, six monthly etc)? It is possible that different establishments get transferred at different times (or maybe not at all). How should this be considered in the contract with regards to removing facilities and will that impact pricing for the remaining facilities? 3) Would any bidders suggest we advertise the opportunity in any other way other than all establishments under one specification e.g should we advertise some facilities (or groups of facilities) as individual lots? 4) How much notice will bidders need prior to taking a decision to close/ transfer one of the facilities identified in question 2? 5) Most of our facilities have no permanent attendants. A few facilities where there is high footfall or a possible elevated risk of damage have partial attendance ranging from 3 – 6 hours a day. What are bidders views on this? Does this seem reasonable or would an alternative model be preferred? What model would offer best value for money? Should there be an option for a variant bid from prospective service providers? 6) How would bidders satisfy mass openings at the same time without the provision of attendants at some venues? 7) Is there anything else we should be considering or amendments/ models that may enhance the service but still offer the very best value for residents? 8) Any other comments or considerations? Please submit comments via the Delta messaging function.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05cd2f
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/065546-2025
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
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

50 - Repair and maintenance services

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services


CPV Codes

45215500 - Public conveniences

50000000 - Repair and maintenance services

50760000 - Repair and maintenance of public conveniences

90600000 - Cleaning and sanitation services in urban or rural areas, and related services

90900000 - Cleaning and sanitation services

90910000 - Cleaning services

90911200 - Building-cleaning services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
15 Oct 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
29 Oct 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2031 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SWALE BOROUGH COUNCIL
Contact Name
Charlotte Knowles
Contact Email
procurement@swale.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
SITTINGBOURNE
Postcode
ME10 3HT
Post Town
Rochester
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ4 Kent
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ43 Kent Thames Gateway
Delivery Location
TLJ4 Kent

Local Authority
Swale
Electoral Ward
Roman
Westminster Constituency
Sittingbourne and Sheppey

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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