Planning

Tree Planting and Maintenance - Soft Market Test

CORNWALL COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

14 Jan 2026 at 11:48

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Cornwall Council is currently conducting a soft market assessment for a prospective procurement process titled "Tree Planting and Maintenance - Soft Market Test." As part of the planning stage, the council seeks to gather feedback from businesses within the forestry industry. This initiative is part of the broader Council Farms Estate Strategy, which aims to plant an additional 220 hectares of woodland by 2030. The process aims to establish a framework that aligns with the Woodland Carbon Code to support the council’s ambition to become carbon neutral by 2030. This assessment is not a formal tender, and interested parties have until 30th January 2026 to submit their input via the Supplying the Southwest portal. The effort is supported by a planned budget of £2,432,000 (net amount) and is applicable to regions across the United Kingdom.

This opportunity allows businesses in agricultural, forestry, and horticultural services to influence future procurement by shaping an effective and market-aligned tender process. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are encouraged to participate, as their insights could enhance the suitability and practicality of the upcoming tenders. Being part of this preliminary market engagement could position businesses strategically for future procurement opportunities related to environmental sustainability and carbon reduction initiatives. These initiatives are expected to be supported through framework agreements aimed at sustainable carbon credit growth, providing long-term business growth avenues for those involved in forestry services.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Tree Planting and Maintenance - Soft Market Test

Notice Description

Cornwall Council is conducting a soft market assessment to understand the provider landscape and potential interest and gather feedback from the forestry market. The Council Farms Estate Strategy supports the use of the farms estate to plant an additional 220 ha of woodland by 2030. Consideration is being given to establish a framework for new woodland creation that will progress towards achieving Council's target. The majority of the tree planting will be to a standard that meets the Woodland Carbon Code and thus will effectively enable the Council to grow its own Carbon Credits to offset against is emissions, as provided for in the Councils ambition of becoming carbon neutral by 2030. The soft market assessment is being undertaken to help shape a business proposal and inform the design of a future tender process, ensuring it is practical, user-friendly, and aligned with market capabilities. This is not a formal tender and does not imply any commercial commitment. Participation in this exercise will not affect your eligibility for any future procurement opportunities.

Planning Information

Cornwall Council is conducting a soft market assessment to understand the provider landscape and potential interest and gather feedback from the forestry market. The questionnaire is open to any provider. Your input will help shape a business proposal and inform the design of a future tender process, ensuring it is practical, user-friendly, and aligned with market capabilities. This is not a formal tender and does not imply any commercial commitment. Participation in this exercise will not affect your eligibility for any future procurement opportunities. If you are interested in this area of service provision and would like to help us assess the market, the questionnaire can be accessed through Supplying the Southwest. Please complete and return the questionnaire through the Supplying the Southwest portal.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06058d
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003050-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
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

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

CPV Codes

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

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,435,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Jan 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
24 Jun 20266 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
5 Oct 2026 - 5 Oct 2030 4-5 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
CORNWALL COUNCIL
Contact Name
Mrs Claire Williams
Contact Email
claire.williams@cornwall.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
TRURO
Postcode
TR1 3AY
Post Town
Truro
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK3 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK30 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Cornwall
Electoral Ward
Truro Boscawen & Redannick
Westminster Constituency
Truro and Falmouth

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-06058d-2026-01-14T11:48:55Z",
    "date": "2026-01-14T11:48:55Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-06058d",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PYRH-9827-DWLP",
            "name": "Cornwall Council",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PYRH-9827-DWLP"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "County Hall",
                "locality": "Truro",
                "postalCode": "TR1 3AY",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKK30"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Mrs Claire Williams",
                "email": "claire.williams@cornwall.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "http://www.cornwall.gov.uk",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PYRH-9827-DWLP",
        "name": "Cornwall Council"
    },
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "Cornwall Council is conducting a soft market assessment to understand the provider landscape and potential interest and gather feedback from the forestry market. The questionnaire is open to any provider. Your input will help shape a business proposal and inform the design of a future tender process, ensuring it is practical, user-friendly, and aligned with market capabilities. This is not a formal tender and does not imply any commercial commitment. Participation in this exercise will not affect your eligibility for any future procurement opportunities. If you are interested in this area of service provision and would like to help us assess the market, the questionnaire can be accessed through Supplying the Southwest. Please complete and return the questionnaire through the Supplying the Southwest portal.",
                "dueDate": "2026-01-30T23:59:59+00:00",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "003050-2026",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003050-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-01-14T11:48:55Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "DN803083",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Tree Planting and Maintenance - Soft Market Test",
        "description": "Cornwall Council is conducting a soft market assessment to understand the provider landscape and potential interest and gather feedback from the forestry market. The Council Farms Estate Strategy supports the use of the farms estate to plant an additional 220 ha of woodland by 2030. Consideration is being given to establish a framework for new woodland creation that will progress towards achieving Council's target. The majority of the tree planting will be to a standard that meets the Woodland Carbon Code and thus will effectively enable the Council to grow its own Carbon Credits to offset against is emissions, as provided for in the Councils ambition of becoming carbon neutral by 2030. The soft market assessment is being undertaken to help shape a business proposal and inform the design of a future tender process, ensuring it is practical, user-friendly, and aligned with market capabilities. This is not a formal tender and does not imply any commercial commitment. Participation in this exercise will not affect your eligibility for any future procurement opportunities.",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "77000000",
                        "description": "Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UK",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 2922000,
            "amount": 2435000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "techniques": {
            "hasFrameworkAgreement": true
        },
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-10-06T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2030-10-05T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "status": "planning"
            }
        ],
        "communication": {
            "futureNoticeDate": "2026-06-24T23:59:59+01:00"
        },
        "status": "planning"
    },
    "language": "en"
}