Planning

Arboricultural Services (Tree works)

ORBIT GROUP LIMITED

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

02 Mar 2026 at 14:07

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

ORBIT GROUP LIMITED, a sub-central government public authority based in Coventry, UK, is engaging in a preliminary market engagement process for its upcoming tender titled "Arboricultural Services (Tree works)" within the services industry category. This procurement process is at the planning stage, focusing on establishing a framework for arboricultural services across the Midlands, South, and East of England. The pre-market engagement commenced on 2nd March 2026, allowing suppliers to complete their response forms by 30th March. Further supplier discussions are anticipated from 31st March to 17th April. The engagement aims to gather insights on supply capacity, geographical lot definitions, and emergency callout services, providing valuable information ahead of the formal tender expected in June 2026.

This tender presents significant growth opportunities for businesses specialising in tree-cutting, maintenance, and related services. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are particularly encouraged to participate and provide feedback during this engagement phase to inform tender requirements. The planned procurement will establish a framework agreement valued at an estimated £6 million over a five-year term, potentially extending up to eight years. Orbit Group seeks to conduct an Open Procedure to appoint suitable suppliers, ensuring flexibility to adapt the framework with evolving market dynamics. This tender offers a comprehensive scope, including reactive and planned tree work, tree planting, and a 24-hour emergency service, providing a robust platform for businesses looking to expand their presence in the public sector realm.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Arboricultural Services (Tree works)

Notice Description

Orbit plans to run a new procurement exercise in 2026/27 in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 and public procurement regulations to appoint suppliers to a framework to deliver standard arboricultural works across the Midlands, South and East of England. This Preliminary Market Engagement Notice serves as an opportunity for suppliers to have their say and offer feedback to help inform the development of the requirements prior to release of the tender (estimated June 2026). This Notice is intended to provide information to help Orbit: * Set appropriate lots * Service emergency works efficiently for all parties * Decide what procurement procedure to adopt * Decide what framework structure is most appropriate Orbit Group is a Registered Social Landlord, responsible for managing over 46,000 homes for both affordable rent and shared ownership across the Midlands, East of England and Southeast. A significant part of this overall responsibility includes proactive management and maintenance of estate grounds, woodlands, tree belts, ponds and greenspaces that fall within the Employer's land occupancy jurisdiction. Occasionally trees located in tenants' gardens may require attention. The scope is anticipated to include standard tree work services, such as: * Reactive tree work (Work to be undertaken within 3 months). * Planned tree work (Work with a timescale over 12 months). * Planting of new and replacement trees. * 24-hour emergency call-out service. * Various other related tree maintenance services as and when required. Tree work operations will include common tree surgery tasks, such as removal of deadwood, crown lifting, crown reductions, tree removals, stump grinding, hedge reductions and trimming. It is estimated that the value and duration of the framework could be c. PS6 million over a potential 5-year period. We are considering procuring an open framework under the new Procurement Regulations 2024, which could be reopened during the term, to allow additional suppliers to join the framework, and run for up to eight years in total. The planned start date for the new framework is Autumn/Winter 2026. Orbit is likely to conduct an Open Procedure in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 to appoint contractors to the framework, and this is currently programmed to commence in May/June 2026. Orbit envisages a contract mobilisation period of at least 1 month prior to the framework commencing. SME organisations are encouraged to apply, and share their knowledge and experience as part of the pre-market engagement, particularly any concerns/issues they have previously experienced in responding to public sector tenders. Orbit Group Limited is publishing this notice to facilitate early engagement with potential suppliers. It relates only to pre-procurement market engagement in accordance with Procurement Act 2023. It is not a Call for Competition. For avoidance of doubt, participation in this market engagement exercise is not a prerequisite to bid for the tender. Orbit reserves the right to revisit any of the information within this Notice and update or amend it prior to the publication of its Tender Notice for this procurement.

Planning Information

In preparation for the procurement, Orbit wishes to carry out this pre-market engagement and has published the Notice with the aim of eliciting input from potential suppliers for the purpose of: • Defining appropriate geographical Lots • Identifying suppliers that may be able to deliver what is required • Defining a suitable number of suppliers per Lot • Define how Orbit wishes to treat emergency callouts • Understanding the market, and its capacity to address its requirements • Increasing competition Orbit's GIS system has approximately 13,000 tree features (Individual, Group and Area) plotted across 1090 estates. See Appendices A, B, C, D and E for locations and numbers. Orbit is considering Lot boundaries as shown in the Appendices A-D: • 3 Lots (South/Midlands/East) • Lots or Sub Lots A - H Interested parties are invited to complete Appendix F - Response Form, issued via the Procontract portal. Forms should be returned via the Procontract portal as well. Following the return of Response Forms, Orbit reserves the right to engage with any supplier for the purposes of clarification of points made. Any such discussions will be over MS Teams calls. The provisional timetable for this pre-market engagement (subject to change at Orbit's discretion) is set out below: Action Date Orbit publishes Pre-Market Engagement Notice 2nd March 2026 Suppliers complete Response Form Appendix F and return via Procontract portal 2nd March 2026 - 30th March 10am Orbit may instigate clarification discussions with any supplier 31st March 2026 - 17th April Orbit will not use any information given to them in this process in evaluating any subsequent tender submissions at any stage in the process. No party may cross refer to any statement or qualification made as part of their response to this Engagement without raising it explicitly as part of any subsequent Procurement Specific Questionnaire or tender submission for any ensuing contract. Information gathered from any clarification discussions with any suppliers will be compiled and shared with the published tender documents. Please respond to this notice at: https://procontract.due-north.com/Supplier/Advert/View?advertId=1475994c-3316-f111-813c-005056b64545&fromProjectDashboard=False&fromRfxSummary=False&selectWorkgroup=False&fromAdvertEvent=False&fromActivityDashboard=False

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-065fb9
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018488-2026
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

77211400 - Tree-cutting services

77211500 - Tree-maintenance services

77310000 - Planting and maintenance services of green areas

77340000 - Tree pruning and hedge trimming

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Mar 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
30 Mar 20263 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
4 Feb 2027 - 3 Feb 2030 3-4 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
ORBIT GROUP LIMITED
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
COVENTRY
Postcode
CV3 2SU
Post Town
Coventry
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG3 West Midlands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG33 Coventry
Delivery Location
TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England)
Local Authority
Coventry
Electoral Ward
Wyken
Westminster Constituency
Coventry East

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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