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Quarrying - North District

Forestry Commission

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

10 Sep 2026 at 13:26

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Forestry Commission is planning a quarrying framework for Northumberland in the north of England. The work will extract and process aggregate from four, possibly five, hard-rock quarries, with associated drilling and blasting. Materials will mainly support Forestry England civil engineering, particularly the construction and maintenance of forest roads used for timber harvesting. Operations will take place close to where materials are needed, with extraction generally carried out for several weeks each year and materials stockpiled for later use. The framework is intended to have two areas of work: drilling and blasting; and extraction, quarry development and crushing. The scope includes quarry operations, aggregate processing, haulage and restoration. This is a works requirement involving specialist quarrying and earthmoving capabilities.

The procurement is at the planning and market-engagement stage; it is an intention to procure, not an invitation to tender. The buyer expects to publish the next notice by 5 October 2026. It has asked interested suppliers to register interest for one or both areas of work by 21 September 2026, including their organisation details and relevant experience, so it can assess market capacity and shape the procurement approach. The planned framework is expected to run from 2 November 2026 to 1 November 2030. Its estimated gross value is £2.4 million. The procedure is expected to be a framework divided into two lots, although the structured procurement information currently confirms only the overall framework and one planned lot. The main work category is construction and quarrying works.

This will suit specialist quarrying contractors, drilling and blasting companies, and suppliers able to combine extraction, crushing, screening, haulage and quarry-development services. The drilling and blasting work is likely to require competent personnel including an explosives supervisor, shotfirer, driller, blast designer, face profiler and, where needed, a trainee shotfirer. Suppliers would also need capability in explosives handling and transport, blasting surveys, and provision of the required plant, equipment, fuels, explosives and accessories. The extraction and processing scope would suit operators with mobile crushing and screening plant, excavation and haulage capacity, and experience maintaining quarry floors, roads, safety features and drainage or egress routes. Relevant suppliers should be prepared to work under the Quarries Regulations 1999, the Explosives Regulations 2014 where applicable, and the client’s quarry health and safety requirements. The buyer has identified the requirement as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises, so capable specialist firms may be well placed to prepare for the future competition.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Quarrying - North District

Notice Description

Quarrying works in the north of England (Northumberland) comprise extraction and processing of aggregate from 4 (maybe 5) hard rock quarries, including associated drilling and blasting works. Materials are extracted in relatively small quantities and used in various Forestry England civil engineering applications, mostly for the construction and maintenance of forest roads for the purposes of facilitating timber harvesting. Quarrying operations are therefore undertaken in a number of specific locations, in close proximity to the point of use of the extracted materials. Typically, extraction of materials will take place over a period of a few weeks each year, with material then stockpiled within the quarry, or at other designated locations for use as and when needed. This Framework will be divided in to two Lots: 1. Drilling and blasting 2 . Extraction and quarry development and crushing Lot 1 - Drilling and blasting The Supplier carries out all drilling and blasting operations, in accordance with the Quarries Regulations 1999 particularly Part V and the Explosives Regulations 2014 , and the quarry Health and Safety Document. Blasting activities typically take place at 2 to 5 sites per year, with tonnages between 20,000 and 35,000T per blast. The Client (The Operator) will retain 8.1.(c) responsibilities during blasting operations. The supplier's named individual will be appointed as the 8.1. (d) and the client will also appoint the supplier's named individual as the Explosives Supervisor under regulation 25 of the Quarries Regulations for the duration of the Work Order. This requires the Supplier to have capability in the following areas: 1. Provide suitably qualified, competent and qualified personnel to undertake the following duties. Explosives Supervisor Shotfirer Driller Blast Designer Face profiler Trainee Shotfirer (if required) Handing of explosives Transportation of explosives Provide all required survey work relating to the blasting operation. Provide all plant and equipment required including fuels, oils, transportation, explosives and accessories. Lot 2 - Extraction and quarry development and crushing The Supplier carries out all extraction and processing, in accordance with the Quarries Regulations 1999, and the quarry Health and Safety Document. The Client (The Operator) will retain 8.1.(c) responsibilities during operations. The supplier's named individual will be appointed as the 8.1. (d) deputy quarry manager to supervise the works for the duration of the Work Order. The Client requires the Supplier to carry out the following services to facilitate the extraction and processing of aggregates at Forestry England quarries: 1. Removal of material from processed stockpiles and blast piles. 2. Excavation of raw materials 3. Processing of raw materials including crushing and screening. 4. Provision of stemming material and plant for movement and placement 5. Maintenance and reinstatement of quarry floor and safety features 6. Maintenance and reinstatement of egress and quarry roads, during quarrying operations 7. Crushing of as blasted material. 8. Loading of aggregate during quarry operations 9. Haulage of aggregate to forest locations 10. Daily inspections as required by the Quarries Regulations in accordance with the client's requirements. 11. Soil and overburden excavation, haulage within the quarry and tip creation. 12. Restoration works.

Planning Information

We are using this Market Engagement to assess initial interest in each of the two Lots and determine the number of potential suppliers capable of meeting the requirements. This will help to inform the procurement approach and level of competition expected. Suppliers interested in this opportunity are invited to register their interest by contacting Commercial Services at commercial.services@forestryengland.uk with the title Quarrying - Market Engagement. Expressions of interest should include the organisation name, contact details, which Lot(s) you are interested in and a brief overview of relevant experience.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f6cf
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085882-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

CPV Codes

45111000 - Demolition, site preparation and clearance work

45112000 - Excavating and earthmoving work

45120000 - Test drilling and boring work

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,400,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Sep 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
5 Oct 20263 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
2 Nov 2026 - 1 Nov 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
Forestry Commission
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS16 1EJ
Postcode Area
Bristol
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
South Gloucestershire
Electoral Ward
Stoke Park & Cheswick
Westminster Constituency
Filton and Bradley Stoke

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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