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Countryside Land Management and Estate Maintenance Framework

Lake District National Park Authority

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

04 Aug 2026 at 15:18

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

30 Jun 2026 at 15:20

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Lake District National Park Authority is planning a countryside land management and estate maintenance framework for use mainly by its Ranger Services Team, with access for the wider organisation. Work will take place across the Lake District National Park. The eight planned areas cover bridge supply, design, installation and repair; materials for paths, drainage, fencing and planting; minor practical works; consultancy and specialist services; training; equipment, plant and machinery repairs; helicopter operations; and higher-value practical works. Services support rights of way, visitor management, nature recovery, rural property maintenance, biodiversity, woodland and grassland management, and historic environment projects. The framework may also support projects such as Coast-to-Coast and work with partner organisations including Fix the Fells.

This is a planned procurement, not an invitation to tender. The Authority expects to use an open procedure to establish an open framework agreement available to National Park Authorities, with call-offs both with and without reopening competition. The indicative tender notice date is 1 September 2026; the enquiry period is expected to close on 15 September 2026 and tender submissions on 30 September 2026. The indicative award date is 15 January 2027, with framework contracts expected to run from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2031. The estimated framework value is £4,000,000 excluding VAT (£4,800,000 including VAT). Email feedback from existing suppliers on the proposed specification was sought between 1 and 31 July 2026.

The framework is intended to suit SMEs and offers routes for both specialist firms and suppliers able to deliver recurring practical work. Relevant businesses include bridge designers, engineers, installers and repair contractors; suppliers of construction, drainage, fencing, timber, stone, path materials, plants and countryside furniture; grounds, woodland, grassland and invasive-species management contractors; and ecological, biodiversity net gain, archaeological, historic structure, highways, structural engineering and project-management consultants. It also suits training providers covering first aid, manual handling, countryside skills, machinery and species management; marine and plant repair specialists; and helicopter operators with airlift, load preparation, ground crew, flight planning and risk-assessment capability. Technical experience may include NVC, UKHAB, BNG or CSM monitoring, CDM work and LOLER inspections.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Countryside Land Management and Estate Maintenance Framework

Notice Description

Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) is establishing a Countryside Land Management and Estate Maintenance Framework Agreement, primarily for use by our Ranger Services Team but available to our whole organisation including specifically elements for our Strategy Team in relation to Historic Environment, Biodiversity Net Gain, Habitat and Woodland/Grassland Monitoring and Management. The Lake District National Park Authority looks after this special corner of England, encouraging people to enjoy and understand its beauty and supporting those who live and work here. Further information about the LDNPA, including our statutory functions, is available on our website. We are working towards making the Lake District an inspirational example of sustainable development in action. We want its prosperous economy, world class visitor experiences and vibrant communities to come together in sustaining the spectacular landscape, wildlife and cultural heritage here. Our Ranger Services Team at LDNPA has a focus on maintaining and improving the Rights of Way and other access in the Lake District National Park, while encouraging and educating users in responsible outdoor recreation on accessible land and navigable lakes. We support visitor management and nature recovery initiatives, and the enhancement and maintenance of our rural properties, in line with our strategic priorities. Working closely with communities to help them meet their needs in ways that contribute to our Vision. o Our needs are specific and will vary. We are looking for Suppliers who understand the work we do and not only can provide exceptional services but who can contribute to our wider Vision for the Lake District. The following are examples of types of services which may be required by our Rangers Service. This is not exhaustive but is intended to demonstrate the breadth of the services which will be required: * Providing services on a recurring and annual basis, such as our Bridge maintenance responsibilities and sourcing of materials for daily use; * Providing advice and practical work on specific public sector funded projects, such as the Coast-to-Coast project; * Providing specific advice to our internal team of individuals and organisations we operate with, for internal projects involving our own land and property, and also to our partner organisations such as Fix the Fells.

Lot Information

Bridges

* Supply of pre-fabricated bridge kits * Provision materials for bridges e.g. timber/ plastic/ metal * Bespoke design and build of bridges * Installation of bridges * Repair of bridges * Design of bridges * Engineer surveys on bridges * Scaffolding on bridges to support safe installation or repair

Supply of Materials

* Pipes/drains * Grass seed * Supply treated and some graded timber for fencing and the construction of timber board walks * Gates * Waymark roundels for Public Footpaths, Bridleways, Byways and permitted routes * Stone for construction of unbound surface paths, stone for drainage works and dry-stone walling and bridge revetments * Plastic boardwalks from 1m to 3m width with non-slip finish * Metalwork (gate springs, gate hinges, catches screws, nuts, etc.) * Screened (inert) topsoil * Supply of fingerposts and Waymarkers. * Supply of benches * Fencing wire * Metal fencing (I.E Clipex) * Native tree species grown from seeds sourced in seed zone 301, or if unavailable, 302.

Minor Practical Works under PS50,000

* Surfacing * Drainage installation and maintenance * Sub soiling * Installation of stone flags * Pitching to create paths * Fencing * Walling * Vegetation control and clearance * Installation of countryside furniture (e.g. fingerposts/benches) * Tree works * Planting (trees and hedgerows) * Spraying (herbicides) * Hedge trimming * Salting and gritting paths * Trail sweeping * Mooring works (Ullswater/servicing) * Graffiti removal * Woodland management through Thinning, Coppicing, Halo thinning, Girdling, and processing of timber * Bracken management through mowing, rolling, or chemical application * Scrub management * Hedge laying * Grassland restoration and management activities; mowing, baling, weed wiping, harrowing, seeding, plug planting * Chemical Control of Invasive, non-native species

Consultancy and Specialist Services

* Ecological surveys (e.g Habitat surveys using NVC, UKHAB frameworks/Habitat condition monitoring using BNG or CSM methods/Specialist surveys for taxonomical groups i.e Bryophytes, Lichens, Protected species groups, insects) * Baseline Surveys * Biodiversity Net Gain Habitat Management and Monitoring Plans * Biodiversity Net Gain Habitat bank monitoring survey and reporting * Habitat and property management and monitoring planning * Traffic management e.g. traffic lights * Planning consultancy * Structural engineering design * Construction Design and Management works * Electronic counting surveys - people, horses, vehicles, bikes etc * Rights of Way Consultants * Project managers * Visitor monitoring and data * Historic Structure Surveys (e.g condition surveys, archaeological and structural assessments and repair schedules) * Contract Administration Services for Historic Structure Construction Projects

Training and Development

* First aid * Manual handling * Practical Countryside Management training e.g.: walling, fencing * Plant and machinery operations e.g.: 4WD training, chainsaws, quad bikes, strimmers; * Species management training (e.g tree conditions surverys)

Repairs of Equipment, Plant and Machinery

* Servicing * Repairs * Maintenance (boats, outboard engines, trailers, lifejackets, diggers, dumpers, radar, CAT scanners, Generator calibration) * Inspection of kit/equipment * LOLER items checks

Helicopter operations

* Transport of materials and equipment within the Lake District National Park using helicopters * Airlift operations * Load preparation (stropping, bunding) * Ground crew provision * Flight planning and risk assessment

Higher value practical works PS50,000 and above

* General construction project work (see description) * Sub soiling * Stone flags * Pitching * Construction Design and Management work * Supply and construction of bridges * Public path works * Securing relevant consents, assents and planning permissions * Woodland Management * Grassland restoration * Riverbank Stabilization

Planning Information

The engagement included seeking feedback by email only from a pool of existing suppliers on the proposed specification (published under Planned Procurement Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-061357) between 1 July to 31 July 2026. The aim was to assist the Authority in developing the specification further, or to identify and clarify any points of uncertainty within the proposed specification prior to publication of the Tender Notice which is estimated to be on 1 September 2026.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06c068
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/073804-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

03 - Agricultural, farming, fishing, forestry and related products

44 - Construction structures and materials; auxiliary products to construction (except electric apparatus)

45 - Construction work

50 - Repair and maintenance services

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

63 - Supporting and auxiliary transport services; travel agencies services

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

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

80 - Education and training services

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

CPV Codes

03450000 - Tree-nursery products

44113200 - Flagstones

44144000 - Posts

44163100 - Pipes

44163110 - Drainage pipes

44163111 - Drain pipes

44163112 - Drainage system

44163200 - Pipe fittings

44163230 - Pipe connectors

44167000 - Various pipe fittings

44231000 - Made-up fencing panels

44500000 - Tools, locks, keys, hinges, fasteners, chain and springs

44900000 - Stone for construction, limestone, gypsum and slate

45111240 - Ground-drainage work

45221100 - Construction work for bridges

45221110 - Bridge construction work

45221111 - Road bridge construction work

45221113 - Footbridge construction work

45221115 - Construction work for steel bridges

45221119 - Bridge renewal construction work

45223200 - Structural works

45233160 - Paths and other metalled surfaces

45233161 - Footpath construction work

45233162 - Cycle path construction work

45233229 - Verge maintenance work

45233250 - Surfacing work except for roads

45233251 - Resurfacing works

45233253 - Surface work for footpaths

45233300 - Foundation work for highways, roads, streets and footpaths

45233340 - Foundation work for footpaths

45259000 - Repair and maintenance of plant

45262640 - Environmental improvement works

50241100 - Vessel repair services

50244000 - Reconditioning services of ships or boats

50246300 - Repair and maintenance services of floating structures

50246400 - Repair and maintenance services of floating platforms

60424120 - Hire of helicopters with crew

63712700 - Traffic control services

63712710 - Traffic monitoring services

71311210 - Highways consultancy services

71311220 - Highways engineering services

71312000 - Structural engineering consultancy services

71322300 - Bridge-design services

71351720 - Geophysical surveys of archaeological sites

71351811 - Topographical surveys of archaeological sites

71351914 - Archaeological services

77211100 - Timber harvesting services

77211300 - Tree-clearing services

77211400 - Tree-cutting services

77211500 - Tree-maintenance services

77211600 - Tree seeding

77310000 - Planting and maintenance services of green areas

77340000 - Tree pruning and hedge trimming

80511000 - Staff training services

80531200 - Technical training services

80540000 - Environmental training services

80550000 - Safety training services

80562000 - First-aid training services

90690000 - Graffiti removal services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£4,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£4,000,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
4 Aug 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
30 Sep 20262 months to go
Future Notice Date
1 Sep 20265 days to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2031 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Lake District National Park Authority
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
KENDAL
Postcode
LA9 7RL
Postcode Area
Lancaster
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD1 Cumbria
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD14 Westmorland and Furness
Delivery Location
TLD1 Cumbria
Local Authority
Westmorland and Furness
Electoral Ward
Kendal South
Westminster Constituency
Westmorland and Lonsdale

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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