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Highway Grass Verge and Hedge Cutting, Rights of Way - Seasonal Vegetation cuts, Suds and Watercourse Maintenance

Bedford Borough Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

09 Sep 2026 at 15:24

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Bedford Borough Council is buying outsourced grounds and highway vegetation maintenance services across Bedford. The requirement covers planning, managing and delivering highway grass verge and hedge cutting, seasonal vegetation cuts on rights of way, grip cutting to maintain drainage, and maintenance of SUDS and watercourses. It also includes mowing and baling at countryside sites. The work supports the council’s statutory highway maintenance responsibilities and must meet the specification, legal requirements, public safety obligations and expected aesthetic standards. The procurement is divided into four service areas: grass, hedge, SUDS and watercourse maintenance; rights of way seasonal vegetation cutting; grip cutting; and mowing and baling at countryside sites. This is a services contract for suppliers operating in grounds maintenance, vegetation management, highway maintenance or related land-management services.

The process reached tender: Bedford Borough Council invited offers through an open procedure. Bids may be submitted electronically in English by 28 October 2026 at 12:00. The evaluation and award period is scheduled to end on 4 January 2027 at 23:59. The estimated total value is £1,835,885.70 excluding VAT, or £2,203,062.84 including VAT. Four lots are available, covering the service areas described above; the published lot values are £0. Each lot is evaluated on price, weighted at 55%, and quality, weighted at 45%. Contracts are scheduled to run from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2034, with renewal options of up to 36 months, giving a maximum contract end date of 31 March 2037. The opportunity is above the relevant threshold.

This opportunity suits contractors able to organise and deliver recurring vegetation and land-management operations across highway verges, hedges, rights of way, drainage features, watercourses and countryside sites. Relevant capability includes grass and hedge cutting, seasonal vegetation control, grip cutting for highway drainage, SUDS and watercourse maintenance, and mowing and baling. Suppliers should be able to develop a programme, manage delivery across the council’s requirements and work to defined specifications while maintaining legal compliance, public safety and acceptable visual standards. The four-lot structure may suit businesses specialising in one service area as well as broader grounds-maintenance or highway-maintenance contractors able to cover several areas. The long planned service period and possible extension favour organisations with dependable operational capacity, suitable machinery, scheduling and supervision arrangements, and experience delivering safe, compliant outdoor maintenance services.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Highway Grass Verge and Hedge Cutting, Rights of Way - Seasonal Vegetation cuts, Suds and Watercourse Maintenance

Notice Description

As a Unitary Council we have responsibility for Grass cutting & land management and have a statutory duty regarding levels of grass cutting due to duty to maintain the highway specified in Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980. The requirement involves the outsourcing of this provision to a provider who will develop a programme, manage and carry out Highway Grass Verge and Hedge Cutting, Grip maintenance, Rights of Way - Seasonal Vegetation cuts, Suds and Watercourse Maintenance Services in accordance with our Specification and ensure legal compliance, public safety, and aesthetic standards are met. Lot 1 - grass cutting, hedge, suds and watercourse Lot 2 - rights of way SVC (seasonal vegetation cut) Lot 3 - grip cutting (cut within highway verge to ensure drainage occurs) Lot 4 - mowing and bailing of countryside sites

Lot Information

Grass & Hedge Cutting, SUDS & Watercourse Maintenance

Lot 1 Grass & Hedge Cutting, SUDS & Watercourse Maintenance

Renewal: up to 36 months

ROW_SVC

Lot 2 ROW_SVC

Renewal: up to 36 months

GRIP Cutting

Lot 3 GRIP Cutting

Renewal: up to 36 months

Mowing & Baling Countryside Sites

Lot 4 Mowing & Baling Countryside Sites

Renewal: up to 36 months

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f5d9
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085475-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

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

CPV Codes

45112710 - Landscaping work for green areas

45112730 - Landscaping work for roads and motorways

77314100 - Grassing services

77342000 - Hedge trimming

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,835,885 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Sep 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
28 Oct 20262 months to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2034 Over 5 years
Recurrence
2033-09-09

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Bedford Borough 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
BEDFORD
Postcode
MK42 9AP
Postcode Area
Milton Keynes
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH24 Bedford
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Bedford
Electoral Ward
Cauldwell
Westminster Constituency
Bedford

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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