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TSAT - Provision of Grounds Maintenance Services

Thinking Schools Academy Trust

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

13 Aug 2026 at 11:08

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

05 May 2026 at 22:26

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Thinking Schools Academy Trust is procuring grounds maintenance services for its schools, with consistent delivery across all sites and compliance with horticultural best practice. The requirement covers routine grounds maintenance and additional related works under the contract, with schools joining as their existing arrangements end. Delivery is across sites in Plymouth and the wider Devon area. The Trust is the buyer, with PHP Law LLP acting as procurement consultant. This is a services contract suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises. The requirement is relevant to grounds maintenance contractors able to manage service delivery across multiple education sites and maintain consistent standards as additional schools join the arrangement.

The procurement has been awarded following a completed open procedure. Six bids were received and four reached the final stage. Arborcure Limited was awarded the single lot on 12 August 2026 for £300,000 excluding VAT (£360,000 including VAT). The contract period is 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2029, with two possible 12-month extensions, giving a maximum end date of 31 August 2031. The Trust may also add further schools and make additional purchases of grounds maintenance services during the contract. Bids were evaluated on price at 70% and quality at 30%, covering the proposed solution and staff team, contract management, and service quality monitoring. The deadline for bids was 12 June 2026.

This award demonstrates a substantial, multi-site grounds maintenance requirement within an academy trust, with demand capable of expanding as schools join the contract. Suppliers well placed for a future requirement would need established horticultural and grounds maintenance capability, reliable teams and systems for consistent delivery across education sites, and strong contract management and quality-monitoring arrangements. Credible evidence would include up to three relevant contracts in the education sector, with enough detail to show experience of similar work. The buyer also scrutinises annual turnover, recent financial statements, tax compliance, credit status and overall financial standing. Contractors should therefore be able to show sound financial resilience, robust mobilisation and implementation planning, and effective risk identification and mitigation.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

TSAT - Provision of Grounds Maintenance Services

Notice Description

This tender opportunity was issued by Thinking Schools Academy Trust (the Trust) and Tenderers were invited to tender for the provision of grounds maintenance services (the Service). The Trust requires the Contractor to deliver the Service in full compliance with horticultural best practice and ensure that service delivery is consistent across all sites. Schools will join the contract once their current contracts end.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Options: The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid in relation to grounds maintenance services To enable further schools to be added to the contract as they join the Trust.

Renewal: The possible extension of two (2) further years, in 12-month intervals (3 +1+1).

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0691e7
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077124-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

77314000 - Grounds maintenance services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£300,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£300,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
£300,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
13 Aug 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
12 Jun 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
12 Aug 20261 months ago
Contract Period
1 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Thinking Schools Academy Trust
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
CHATHAM
Postcode
ME4 6NR
Postcode Area
Rochester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ4 Kent
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ41 Medway
Delivery Location
TLK41 Plymouth, TLK42 Torbay
Local Authority
Medway
Electoral Ward
Chatham Central & Brompton
Westminster Constituency
Chatham and Aylesford

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Arborcure Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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