Planning

CN250567 - Urban Grass, Shrubs & Hedges - Market Engagement

KENT COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

27 Nov 2025 at 13:14

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

24 Nov 2025 at 15:19

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

24 Nov 2025 at 14:05

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Kent County Council is currently in the planning stage for the procurement of a major service contract titled "CN250567 - Urban Grass, Shrubs & Hedges - Market Engagement". The process involves a preliminary market engagement intended to inform their commercial strategy. This process is focusing on services related to landscape gardening and horticultural maintenance in the Maidstone area, falling under the industry categories of landscape gardening, real estate services, construction, and other associated services. A market engagement questionnaire must be completed by 15th December 2025, and the new contract is scheduled to commence on 1st March 2027, ending in 2032, with potential extensions up to 2035. The gross estimated contract value is £6,000,000 GBP.

This tender offers significant opportunities for growth, especially for businesses specialising in landscape gardening, construction, and real estate services. Companies engaged in urban horticultural maintenance, such as grass cutting, shrub and hedge maintenance, as well as conservation verge and wildflower management, may find this contract particularly relevant. The engagement process allows interested businesses to help shape the service model, with potential for ongoing activities and ad-hoc works, providing long-term business opportunities for firms capable of complying with the outlined requirements and contributing to local infrastructure improvements. Being a substantial contract offered by a prominent local authority, it is well-suited for experienced contractors looking to expand their portfolio in the sub-central government sector.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

CN250567 - Urban Grass, Shrubs & Hedges - Market Engagement

Notice Description

Kent County Council (KCC) is conducting Market Engagement with contractors to develop our Commercial Strategy for the procurement of the Urban Grass, Shrubs & Hedges contract. The current contract is due to expire on 28th February 2027. The main service areas comprise of urban grass, shrub and hedge cutting - to contribute to visual amenity and keep roads and pavements clear of vegetation for safe passage of highway users. The main activities currently provided under this contract consist of the following (the Council reserves the right to amend activities at procurement stage): *Six programmed urban grass cutting visits *One shrub bed maintenance visit *One hedge maintenance visit *Conservation verge and wildflower programmed maintenance visits *Other programmed activities *Ad-hoc works In order to obtain a greater understanding of the current market, the Council is undertaking Market Engagement. Please note, completing this request for Market Engagement is not a prerequisite to be able to tender for this opportunity at a later date. The new contract is due to start 1st March 2027. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at: https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/tenders/UK-UK-Maidstone:-Landscape-gardening-services./37N23JB6B2 To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/respond/37N23JB6B2

Planning Information

Please register on the Kent Business Portal to access the Market Engagement Questionnaire. Contract value and contractual term are estimated at this point and will be confirmed in any subsequent tender notices. Please complete the associated Market Engagement Questionnaire, referring to the attached Sample Scope, Sample Heat Maps and Sample Pricing Schedule documents.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05e777
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077681-2025
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

70 - Real estate services

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

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

CPV Codes

45000000 - Construction work

70000000 - Real estate services

71421000 - Landscape gardening services

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

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£5,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Nov 20251 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
15 Dec 20252 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Mar 2027 - 29 Feb 2032 Over 5 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
KENT COUNTY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Matthew Head
Contact Email
matthew.head@kent.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
MAIDSTONE
Postcode
ME14 1XQ
Post Town
Rochester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ4 Kent
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ45 Mid Kent
Delivery Location
TLJ4 Kent
Local Authority
Maidstone
Electoral Ward
Penenden Heath
Westminster Constituency
Maidstone and Malling

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. 

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