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Highway Weed Control

Kent County Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

21 Aug 2026 at 13:54

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Kent County Council intends to procure highway weed-control services across Kent. The work covers weed treatment on kerbs and channels, modular paving, roundabouts, traffic islands and the rear of footways, with treatment required twice a year. It also includes treating noxious weeds on the highway, including Japanese knotweed and giant hogweed, and treating ballast in identified highway escape lanes. The service is classified as weed-clearance and weed-killing services (CPV 77312000 and 77312100). The planned contract is divided into six geographic lots: Dartford and Gravesham; Sevenoaks and Tonbridge & Malling; Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells; Ashford and Swale; Canterbury and Thanet; and Dover, Folkestone and Hythe. Kent County Council is the buying organisation, with delivery across these Kent areas.

This procurement is at the planning stage. Kent County Council is conducting preliminary market engagement to help shape the new contract; it is not yet an invitation to tender. The Council expects to publish the next notice on 9 November 2026. Responses to the planned engagement are sought by 18 September 2026. The estimated value is £3,000,000 excluding VAT, or £3,600,000 including VAT, in pounds sterling. The procurement is for services and is above the relevant threshold. The contract is currently structured into six lots, although the published contract-period information covers Lot 1: Dartford and Gravesham. That lot is expected to run from 1 April 2028 to 31 March 2031, with a renewal option extending the maximum period to 31 March 2033. The procedure is still being shaped through market engagement.

The planned service should suit specialist vegetation-management, highway-maintenance and grounds-maintenance contractors with the equipment, trained operatives and operational systems to treat roadside surfaces across substantial geographic areas. Relevant experience would include scheduled weed control on kerbs, channels, paving, roundabouts, traffic islands and footway edges, together with safe treatment of noxious or invasive species such as Japanese knotweed and giant hogweed. Suppliers should also be able to treat ballast in highway escape lanes and plan repeat treatments twice each year. Contractors may be able to focus on one geographic area or build capacity to cover several of the six planned lots. Businesses with established highway working practices, traffic-management arrangements and the ability to deploy teams across Kent should monitor the future tender and use the engagement stage to comment on the proposed contract.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Highway Weed Control

Notice Description

Kent County Council is seeking responses from the commercial market to help shape the new contract for the Highway Weed Control contract. The Council shall look to identify a supplier that can carry out the following main activities that are required under this contract: *Weed control on kerbs and channels, modular paving, roundabouts, traffic islands and rear of footways. The frequency of treatment shall be twice a year. *Treatment of Noxious Weeds on the highway including Japanese Knotweed and Giant Hogweed. *Treatment of ballast within identified highway escape lanes. The contract is currently structured into six lots, which are as follows: *Lot 1: Dartford and Gravesham *Lot 2: Sevenoaks and Tonbridge & Malling *Lot 3: Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells *Lot 4: Ashford and Swale *Lot 5: Canterbury and Thanet *Lot 6: Dover, Folkestone and Hythe For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at: https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/tenders/UK-UK-Maidstone:-Weed-clearance-services./547E754M7W To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/respond/547E754M7W

Planning Information

Kent County Council is seeking responses from the commercial market to help shape the new contract for the Highway Weed Control contract. The Council shall look to identify a supplier that can carry out the following main activities that are required under this contract: •Weed control on kerbs and channels, modular paving, roundabouts, traffic islands and rear of footways. The frequency of treatment shall be twice a year. •Treatment of Noxious Weeds on the highway including Japanese Knotweed and Giant Hogweed. •Treatment of ballast within identified highway escape lanes. The contract is currently structured into six lots, which are as follows: •Lot 1: Dartford and Gravesham •Lot 2: Sevenoaks and Tonbridge & Malling •Lot 3: Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells •Lot 4: Ashford and Swale •Lot 5: Canterbury and Thanet •Lot 6: Dover, Folkestone and Hythe

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e9a8
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079942-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

77312000 - Weed-clearance services

77312100 - Weed-killing services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£3,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Aug 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
9 Nov 20263 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2028 - 31 Mar 2031 2-3 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
Kent 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
MAIDSTONE
Postcode
ME14 1XQ
Postcode Area
Rochester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ4 Kent
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ45 Mid Kent
Delivery Location
TLJ4 Kent
Local Authority
Maidstone
Electoral Ward
Penenden Heath
Westminster Constituency
Maidstone and Malling

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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