This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

19 Oct 2026 at 11:18

Planning

16 Oct 2026 at 15:47

Summary of the contracting process

The London Borough of Harrow plans to refurbish the Bannister Athletics Track at Bannister Outdoor Sports Centre, Uxbridge Road, Harrow. The works cover removal and recycling of the existing synthetic surface, localised repairs to the macadam base, replacement of settled kerbing, and cleaning and refurbishment of drainage channels. The contractor will install a new porous polymeric athletics track system certified by World Athletics, mark the track, complete testing and certification, and provide reinstatement and handover documentation. Around 800 square metres of macadam may need repair and approximately 100 metres of kerbing may be replaced. The track is a nationally significant facility used by elite athletes; the project aims to secure its continued operation. The work is athletics track construction and refurbishment (CPV 45236114).

This is at the planning stage: the Council is preparing a formal procurement and is undertaking soft market testing, not inviting tenders. Suppliers were asked to submit an expression of interest by 26 November 2026 at noon; discussions are planned for 7–11 December 2026 at the sports centre, with three hours allocated per participant. The Council expects to use an open procedure with supplier self-declarations of probity. It is targeting site work in summer 2027, during a suitable weather window; installation typically takes 10–12 weeks, and the track would be unavailable during the work. The planned contract period runs from 29 June to 1 October 2027. The Council’s contract award depends on securing London Marathon Funding. It is seeking views on affordability, contract form, specification, subcontracting, risk allocation, design responsibilities and delivery timing. A further procurement notice is expected in February 2027.

This project is likely to suit contractors experienced in athletics-track construction and refurbishment, particularly the installation of porous polymeric running surfaces and the associated civil engineering works. Suppliers should be able to demonstrate the knowledge, skills and experience needed to repair macadam bases, replace kerbing, refurbish drainage, lay and mark a track, and carry out testing and certification. The new surface must be World Athletics certified, and the completed facility is intended to meet UK Athletics TrackMark standards. The Council is using market engagement to understand which elements suppliers would design, what should be specified by the Council, whether specialist subcontractors would be needed, how risks affect fixed-cost delivery, and what delivery capacity suppliers can offer. Companies able to plan work around a weather-dependent installation window and explain their delivery pipelines can help shape the procurement before it reaches market.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Bannister Athletic Track Refurbishment

Notice Description

LONDON TENDERS PORTAL REFERENCE DN 833364 The Bannister Athletics Track is a facility of national significance and is used by elite athletes https://www.harrowac.co.uk/. The Council is committed to its continued operation and accordingly has a made funding application to the LMF London Marathon Funding. The Council acknowledges that the award of the contract is dependent on this funding. However, it is necessary to begin procurement activities now in order that the successful supplier can undertake works in the 12-week window in the summer of 2027. The Council undertakes to keep suppliers informed. of its progress in obtaining funding and not to waste the time of suppliers should the funding package not be available. project seeks to secure the long-term future of the facility through replacement of the existing synthetic athletics track surface, associated base repairs and recertification to UK Athletics TrackMark standards. Accordingly, the Council would like to speak to suppliers with the necessary knowledge, skills and experience of such work about the shape of the imminent procurement through this advertised soft market testing process. The process will be undertaken strictly as per the Procurement Act 2023 and suppliers who do or not take part in the soft market testing exercise will not be advantaged or disadvantaged and will particularly not confer any advantage to any one supplier. All respondents to the Preliminary Market Engagement Notice will receive an anonymised summary of the discussions. No bidder confidential information will be shared. Affordability i.e. the likely cost of the works What contract form should be used e.g. JCT? Whether suppliers would need to sub- contract any elements The form of the specification Risk partition i.e. what uncertainties would affect the ability to the deliver the project for a fixed cost. Design considerations- i.e. what elements would be needed to be designed by the Council and what aspects would be designed by the supplier. Realistic delivery timeline i.e. when suppliers would be available to deliver the work and what their pipelines looked like. Proposed procurement route- the Council is proposing to use an Open Procedure albeit with supplier self -declarations of probity.

Planning Information

The project seeks to secure the long-term future of the facility through replacement of the existing synthetic athletics track surface, associated base repairs and recertification to UK Athletics TrackMark standards. Accordingly, the Council would like to speak to suppliers with the necessary knowledge, skills and experience of such work about the shape of the imminent procurement through this advertised soft market testing process. The process will be undertaken strictly as per the Procurement Act 2023 and suppliers who do or not take part in the soft market testing exercise will not be advantaged or disadvantaged and will particularly not confer any advantage to any one supplier. All respondents to the Preliminary Market Engagement Notice will receive an anonymised summary of the discussions. No bidder confidential information will be shared. Affordability i.e. the likely cost of the works What contract form should be used e.g. JCT? Whether suppliers would need to sub- contract any elements The form of the specification Risk partition i.e. what uncertainties would affect the ability to the deliver the project for a fixed cost. Design considerations- i.e. what elements would be needed to be designed by the Council and what aspects would be designed by the supplier. Realistic delivery timeline i.e. when suppliers would be available to deliver the work and what their pipelines looked like. Proposed procurement route- the Council is proposing to use an Open Procedure albeit with supplier self -declarations of probity. Applying If you would like to see us to discuss this opportunity, please write in no more than 1000 words describing your interest in the procurement, your past experience in the field and the points you would like to discuss. Soft market testing is planned to take place between the 7th and 11th December 2026 at the Bannister Outdoor Sports Centre Uxbridge Road, Harrow HA3 6S. Each party will have 3 hours with a common agenda. Please keep these days free as alternative days cannot be offered. If you are not seen please rest assured this will not disadvantage you in the forthcoming formal procurement. All parties which express an interest will receive feedback from the soft market testing event before the Find a Tender Service notice is published (marking the start of the formal procurement procedure) Please make your submission via the London Tenders Portal by Thursday 26th November 2026 at Noon. Project Management The procurement is being run on a project managed basis, and the Council has put in place resources remains deliverable. Robust governance is in place to ensure that communication channels between the Council and bidders remain robust. Feedback to potential participants Feedback will be given to those participating in the forthcoming soft market testing exercise. This will be on an anonymised basis, and we will ensure that information of a commercially confidential nature will not be included in feedback. Once the formal procurement process begins, GBC will keep participants informed at appropriate stages of the procurement. Freedom of Information The Council is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 1992 and may be obliged, when requested, to disclose information you provide to them even though it may be regarded as confidential. However, the exemption from disclosure applying to information which, if disclosed, would or would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of any person including the Council (including such information relating to a procurement exercise) will apply, provided that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. Queries All questions on this prospectus should be via the London Tenders Portal. Generally, we will respect the confidentiality of questions flagged as such by suppliers. Where we receive queries in relation to this prospectus and we believe the response will be of general interest without violating any confidentiality we will circulate the query and response to all the parties that have expressed an interest. Canvassing Participants should note that canvassing or lobbying (defined as communications with the Council or individual stakeholders) outside the channels identified in the Prior Information Notice) might affect their ability to engage with the procurement process. Attention is also drawn to the provisions of the Bribery Act 2010. Appendix 1 Draft Specification Main Works • Removal and recycling of the existing synthetic track surface. • Localised macadam repairs. • Potential repair of approximately 800m² of existing macadam. • Replacement of approximately 100 linear metres of kerbing where settlement has occurred. • Cleaning and refurbishment of drainage channels. • Installation of a new World Athletics certified porous polymeric athletics track system. • Line marking. • Completion testing and certification. • Reinstatement and handover documentation. Delivery Timescales The Council is targeting delivery during a suitable weather window to allow installation of the new porous surface. The consultancy report advises that porous surface installations are typically undertaken between April and September, subject to weather conditions, and would require approximately 10-12 weeks on site. During this period the athletics track would be unavailable for use.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0789ee
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/098374-2026
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

45236114 - Flatwork for running tracks

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Oct 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
8 Feb 20274 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
29 Jun 2027 - 1 Oct 2027 1-6 months
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
London Borough of Harrow
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
HARROW
Postcode
HA3 8FL
Postcode Area
Harrow
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI7 Outer London - West and North West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI74 Harrow and Hillingdon
Delivery Location
TLI7 Outer London - West and North West

Local Authority
Harrow
Electoral Ward
Kenton West
Westminster Constituency
Harrow East

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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