Planning

HCC March 26 - Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) for Forklift Trucks

HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

05 Mar 2026 at 11:31

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Hertfordshire County Council is conducting a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) process for the procurement of forklift trucks, set to take place at Herts FullStop's Mundell's site in Welwyn Garden City. The council aims to gather insights that could inform a future procurement exercise, with engaged parties required to submit a Supplier Questionnaire by 12 Noon on 16th March 2026. This engagement phase is scheduled in preparation for finalising requirements for purchasing two new forklifts and associated services. The PME process is currently in the planning stage, and the council highlights opportunities for in-person site visits during the week commencing 23rd March. Interested parties should refer to the council's e-tendering platform for further details and guidance on participation.

This tender outlines significant opportunities for businesses involved in the supply, maintenance, and disposal of industrial machinery, particularly those specialising in forklift trucks. SMEs, particularly those capable of offering value in terms of innovation and service reliability, could find this opportunity an avenue for growth, as Hertfordshire County Council looks not only to acquire new machinery but also related services such as sensor systems and ongoing maintenance. Firms familiar with the public sector procurement processes and experienced in logistics or warehousing operations will find themselves well-suited to contribute to this project which supports operational enhancements at Herts FullStop.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

HCC March 26 - Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) for Forklift Trucks

Notice Description

Herts FullStop (HFS) are a part of Hertfordshire County Council that provides Goods and Services primarily to educational establishments and other non-profit organisations across the UK. HFS is looking to procure two Forklift Trucks (herein after referred to as "Goods") and is seeking a suitably qualified Contractor to supply the Goods and any related Services under any Agreement resulting from any future tendering exercise. These forklifts will be used to move Goods in the Herts Fullstop warehouse. As part of the above, HFS is looking for services in relation to placement of sensors placed inside the HFS warehouse situated at Mundell's Welwyn Garden City, as part of a guidance system and "fencing" for the 2 new forklifts. HFS is also looking for services relating to the disposal of 3 existing forklift trucks. Finally, HFS are also looking for ongoing Maintenance & Servicing for the 2 new forklifts. Further details can be found in the PME document. The Council is carrying out PME in relation to this project. The Council will consider the feedback received to help inform the Council's options, requirements and further decision making. For the avoidance of doubt, this stage of the project is not part of a formal procurement process and the Council is not committing, at this stage, to carrying out such a process. Participation or non-participation in the PME shall not prevent any supplier participating in a potential future procurement, nor is it intended that any information supplied as part of the PME shall place any supplier at an advantage in a potential procurement process. For further information, please see the PME Document and Questionnaire.

Planning Information

To access the PME documentation please visit the Council’s e-tendering system Supply Hertfordshire, run by In-Tend at https://in-tendhost.co.uk/supplyhertfordshire and follow the on-screen guidance. To participate in this PME, organisations must return their completed Supplier Questionnaire (Appendix A of the PME Document), together with any supporting documents, through the Correspondence area of the project on Supply Hertfordshire by the return deadline of 12.00 Noon on Monday 16th March 2026, as per the PME documentation and e-tendering system. Supplier Questionnaires received after the deadline may not be reviewed at the Council’s sole discretion. The Council has given the option for organisations to attend an in person walk round of the Mundell’s site will begin week commencing Monday 23rd March; this will take place at Herts Fullstop, Mundell’s, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 1FT. Please note that attendance requests for the Mundell’s site walk (which should be no more than 2 representatives from each organisation) must be received by 12 Noon on Monday 16th March 2026. Please make sure that you have submitted your Supplier Questionnaire following the instructions within the PME documentation and e-tendering system. The Council will not be held accountable for any errors made by an organisation in submitting their Supplier Questionnaire. If you are experiencing problems with the Supply Hertfordshire website, In-Tend offer a help section which includes a dedicated UK support desk which can be contacted via email: support@in-tend.co.uk or Telephone: +44 1144070065 for any website/technical questions, Monday to Friday, 8:30-17:00. Participation in the PME will be at each organisation’s own cost. No expense in responding to this PME will be reimbursed by the Council.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0662dc
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019832-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

42 - Industrial machinery

CPV Codes

42000000 - Industrial machinery

42410000 - Lifting and handling equipment

42415110 - Forklift trucks

42415200 - Works trucks

42415210 - Works trucks fitted with handling equipment

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£750,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
5 Mar 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
16 Mar 20261 day to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jan 2027 - 31 Dec 2029 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
HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
STEVENAGE
Postcode
SG1 2FQ
Post Town
Stevenage
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH26 North and East Hertfordshire
Delivery Location
TLH23 Hertfordshire CC
Local Authority
Stevenage
Electoral Ward
Symonds Green
Westminster Constituency
Stevenage

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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