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Rhydymwyn Wildlife Management Contract

DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

07 Oct 2026 at 12:10

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) plans to procure ecological management of its Rhydymwyn Valley site near Mold, Flintshire. The 35.5-hectare site includes broadleaf woodland, wetlands, grassland, scrub, a traditional orchard, the River Alyn and historic structures, including listed buildings and Scheduled Monuments. The service covers habitat management, wildlife monitoring and ecological surveys, invasive and noxious species control, upkeep of visitor routes and wildlife infrastructure, and professional ecological advice. Work must follow the site’s ecological management plan and account for protected species licences, heritage protections, health and safety, and constraints arising from the site’s history and ground conditions. Delivery involves working with Defra, the site facilities provider, statutory bodies, local groups, specialist societies and volunteers.

This is at the planning stage: Defra intends to run an open tender, but this process is not an invitation to bid. One lot is planned, with participation identified as suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises. The indicative contract value is £360,000 excluding VAT (£432,000 including VAT). The expected initial term runs from 1 May 2027 to 30 June 2030, with options to extend by up to two further one-year periods, to a maximum end date of 30 June 2032. Defra expects to publish a future procurement notice on 18 January 2027. A virtual supplier engagement event is planned for 25 November 2026 at 11am; suppliers wishing to attend are asked to register by 23 November at 2pm, with up to two attendees per organisation. Engagement is intended to inform delivery and procurement considerations, not redefine the scope, and does not guarantee participation in a later competition.

The work is suited to suppliers with practical ecological land-management capability across woodland, wetlands, grassland, scrub, river habitats and traditional orchards, alongside experience surveying and monitoring species such as bats, birds, reptiles, amphibians, butterflies, mammals and plants. Delivery also calls for invasive-species control, maintenance of trails and wildlife features, and careful vegetation management around protected heritage structures. Suppliers should be able to plan and manage a programme, keep records, produce regular habitat and species reports, maintain risk information and respond to ecological changes or incidents. Strong health and safety management is important, including safe oversight of staff, volunteers and subcontractors. Defra expects monthly contract meetings, collaboration with site stakeholders and coordination of volunteer involvement. Performance will be assessed through measures covering conservation standards, monitoring, habitat management and health and safety.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Rhydymwyn Wildlife Management Contract

Notice Description

Defra intends to run an open tender to procure a new contract for the ecological management of the Defra-owned Rhydymwyn Valley site near Mold, Flintshire, and is seeking Expressions of Interest from suppliers capable of meeting the contract requirements. Rhydymwyn Valley is a 35.5-hectare site of significant ecological, historic and community interest. It contains semi-natural broadleaf woodland, wetland, grassland, grassland-scrub mosaic, a traditional orchard, the River Alyn and historic structures, including listed buildings and two Scheduled Monuments. The successful supplier will manage and maintain the site's habitats and wildlife on Defra's behalf, deliver species monitoring and ecological surveys, maintain specified visitor routes and wildlife-related infrastructure, and provide professional advice on matters affecting the site. Delivery must reflect the site's ecological management plan, legal protections, the sites two protected species licences, health and safety requirements and restrictions arising from its historic use and ground conditions. Key activities will include habitat management across wetlands, grassland, scrub, woodland, riverine habitat and the traditional orchard; management and monitoring of bats, birds, reptiles, amphibians (including Greater Crested Newts), butterflies, mammals and plants; control of invasive and noxious species; maintenance of the woodland trail, bird hide, bat and bird boxes, reptile refuges and other specified ecological features; and protection of listed buildings and Scheduled Monument areas through agreed vegetation management. The supplier will be expected to work collaboratively with Defra, the site's facilities management provider, relevant statutory bodies, local stakeholder groups, specialist societies and volunteers. The coordination and appropriate expansion of volunteer involvement will form an important part of maintaining the site, supporting monitoring activity, engaging the local community and delivering value for money. The contract is expected to be let for an initial three-year term, with options to extend for up to two further one-year periods at the Authority's discretion, subject to supplier performance, compliance with the specification and the continued requirements of the site. The contractor will be required to deliver planned habitat and species management, undertake monitoring and surveys, maintain appropriate records, and provide four written reports each year: two habitat management reports and two species monitoring reports. The contractor will also maintain and update relevant risk information, notify Defra promptly of significant incidents, ecological changes or departures from agreed practice, and provide recommendations and mitigations where appropriate. The successful supplier will be expected to provide effective contract and programme management, attend monthly meetings with the Defra Site Responsible Officer, manage staff, volunteers and any subcontractors safely, and maintain effective communication with Defra and site stakeholders. Performance will be managed through Key Performance Indicators covering conservation standards, species monitoring, habitat management, and health and safety risk management. Any estimated value stated in this notice is indicative only and does not represent a guaranteed level of expenditure or a commitment by the Authority. The final contract value will depend on the outcome of the procurement and the services required.

Planning Information

We will be holding a Supplier Engagement Event as we prepare to commence the procurement for this requirement. This session will provide interested suppliers with an opportunity to gain insight into the requirement, its objectives, and the proposed procurement approach. We are keen to engage with the market to better understand supplier capabilities, capacity, and innovative delivery approaches that could enhance the efficiency, resilience, and sustainability of the programme. The event will provide an opportunity to learn more about the requirement and explore how your organisation may be able to support its delivery. Please note that the purpose of the engagement is to inform delivery and procurement considerations rather than to redefine the programme's scope, objectives, or intended outcomes. We are keen to engage with the market to better understand supplier capabilities and delivery approaches that could support the successful implementation of the requirement. The engagement session will be held virtually via MS Teams on 25th November 2026 at 11:00am. Please be aware that this session may be recorded and/or transcribed Suppliers wishing to attend should email charlie.epps@defra.gov.uk no later than 2:00pm on 23rd November 2026, providing the following details for attendees (maximum of two representatives per organisation): • Contact name • Job title • Organisation name • Email address Please use the subject line: 'Rhydymwyn Wildlife Management Contract Supplier Engagement Event – 25 November 2026 – 11am' If you have any questions prior to the event, please email Charlie.epps@defra.gov.uk using the subject line: 'Supplier Engagement Event – Question' There will be an opportunity during the session for suppliers to ask questions and provide feedback on the proposed requirement. MS Teams invites will be sent out and should be received no later than 2pm on 24th November 2026. It should be noted that this notice invites individuals and organisations to express an interest in this exercise only and participation in this engagement exercise does not guarantee participation in any future procurement process and does not constitute a call for competition or a commitment by the Authority to proceed with a procurement. Any subsequent procurement opportunity will be advertised separately in accordance with the Authority's procurement obligations.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-07828e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/094678-2026
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
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

73210000 - Research consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£360,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
7 Oct 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
18 Jan 20273 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 May 2027 - 30 Jun 2030 3-4 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
DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 4DF
Postcode Area
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
TLL Wales
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

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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