Planning

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Maintenance of Water Features

Sunderland City Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

20 Jul 2026 at 16:25

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Sunderland City Council intends to procure specialist electrical and mechanical services for the maintenance of its water features across Sunderland. The work covers daily inspection and monitoring, maintaining an activity log, and carrying out remedial works so the features remain operational. The appointed contractor will also provide quotations for additional work where standard operational requirements are exceeded, including failures of facilities or damage caused by vandalism. This is a services contract focused on water-feature maintenance and liquid-pump repair and maintenance. Delivery is within Sunderland. The requirement is intended for a specialist contractor able to combine electrical and mechanical maintenance with responsive remedial work and operational monitoring.

This procurement is at the planning stage and is not an invitation to tender. The Council expects to use a four-year maintenance contract, with an anticipated contract period from 5 October 2026 to 4 October 2030. The estimated value is £760,000 excluding VAT, or £912,000 including VAT. A framework agreement is indicated. The Council has planned preliminary market engagement to test market appetite and help prepare the tender; responses to the engagement questionnaire are expected by 31 July 2026. The next notice is currently expected on 7 August 2026. The procurement is above the applicable threshold, and the requirement is presented as a single lot suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises.

The work is likely to suit specialist electrical and mechanical contractors with practical experience maintaining public water features, liquid pumps and associated control or operational equipment. Suppliers should be prepared to provide a reliable daily inspection and monitoring regime, keep clear activity logs, identify faults and complete remedial works that preserve safe, continuous operation. The requirement also favours contractors able to respond to failures and vandalism, assess additional work beyond routine maintenance, and produce quotations for that work. Businesses with coordinated electrical and mechanical capability, responsive maintenance teams and experience delivering planned and reactive services for public or civic facilities should be well placed to prepare for the future tender. The Council has indicated that small and medium-sized businesses are suitable.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Maintenance of Water Features

Notice Description

Maintenance of Water Features - The Council has a requirement for a specialist electrical and mechanical contractor to maintain its water features located within the City via a 4 year maintenance contract, which will require daily maintenance inspection and monitoring regime supported by an activity log and remedial works to maintain operational The Council will also require quotations throughout the contract if standard operational requirements are exceeded due to facility failure or vandalism.

Planning Information

There is a preliminary market engagement questionnaire available on the Councils online tendering platform, the Open system. You will need to create an account on Open in order to access and bid for public sector opportunities issued by Sunderland City Council. Visit www.open-uk.org to register an account (Registration is free and easy. Simply head over to www.open-uk.org and complete the online registration form). Top tips to help you get started: Keep an eye out for the temporary password to confirm your account - this is only valid for 3 days so if you have not logged in during this period, you will need to contact open.support@nepo.org to request a new temporary password Adding your Companies House number will populate fields and make it easier to register Once registered, select Codes & Categories relevant to your area of business Add notifications@open-uk.org to your safe sender list to ensure you don't miss out on notifications of relevant opportunities The Open Hub is packed with resources and information to help you get the most out of Open. We have answered your questions in our FAQ section and developed a range of how-to guides so you can familiarise yourself with the system at your own pace. Visit www.open-hub.org to find out more Suppliers must also ahead of the publication of the tender, register on the Central Digital Platform (CDP) and ensure their information is up-to-date on the system . The CDP is available at https://www.gov.uk/find-tender. This market engagement will allow the Council to understand the appetite in the market and prepare the market and to advise them to register with the appropriate sies to ensure that have access to all documentation and can submit compliant tenders

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06cf33
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068415-2026
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

50 - Repair and maintenance services

CPV Codes

50511100 - Repair and maintenance services of liquid pumps

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£760,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Jul 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
7 Aug 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
5 Oct 2026 - 4 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
Sunderland City 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
SUNDERLAND
Postcode
SR1 3AA
Postcode Area
Sunderland
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC44 Sunderland
Delivery Location
TLC23 Sunderland
Local Authority
Sunderland
Electoral Ward
Millfield
Westminster Constituency
Sunderland Central

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

Loading OCDS record...