Provision of Seasonal Grounds Maintenance Staff

What the buyer is asking for

Folkestone & Hythe District Council (F&HDC) wishes to select and appoint a suitable supplier for the provision of seasonal labour for grounds maintenance work and invites organisations to submit a tender to meet F&HDC's requirements. The roles include Seasonal Gardeners, Seasonal Mobile Toilet Cleaners, Seasonal Park Keepers, Seasonal Sports Attendants and any other additional seasonal roles as required by the Grounds Maintenance department. The annual season begins by Easter each year until end of October. The contract is anticipated to start 1 January 2027 and continue for a period of 3 years (with the option to extend for a further period (or periods) of up to 24 months months). Interested suppliers can visit the Kent Business Portal (https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/respond/GFY35JJVWQ). To quote you must complete and return the "Invitation to Tender Response Document" via the portal.

How this is scored

Published by the buyer. A winning response is written to these weightings, not to the question.

• 50%pricePRICE (CHARGE RATE)You are required to submit a percentage mark-up to the pay rate of assignments, which shall be referred to as the charge rate. The charge rate must be inclusive of all costs associated with providing the service, including (but not limited to) staff pay, holiday pay, National Insurance, PAYE, statutory sick pay, auto enrolment (work place pension), plus your over heads and margin, and any additional costs, losses and expenses.
• 12%qualityCANDIDATE SELECTION AND INDUCTIONHow will you ensure each candidate is suitable, trained, inducted and ready to start? You should include how you will • evidence candidates have the correct skills and experience; • ensure candidates have the qualifications, licences etc for each assignment; and • conduct essential due diligence including DBS checks, references, health screenings, right-to-work check, identity checks, and modern slavery checks. max. 1000 words
• 10%qualityEQUALITY, FAIRNESS, AND LOCAL EMPLOYMENTHow will you promote opportunities to local residents within the district? And how will you identify any reasonable adjustments required by candidates before and during an assignment? Your answer should include how you will • provide face-to-face and in-person support to candidates and TAW; • document reasonable adjustments; • monitor and review candidates' support needs; and • ensure the F&HDC and Hiring Manager receive sufficient information to assess, implement and maintain appropriate support arrangements. max. 1000 words
• 10%qualityPERFORMANCE MAANGEMENTHow will you manage and response to complaints about staff or the service? How will you use feedback from Hiring Managers to improve the service and candidate selection and management? max. 1000 words
• 6%qualityVALUE FOR MONEY AND COST TRANSPARENCYHow will you monitor and report on the financial performance of the service? Your answer should include • how you will monitor, review and communicate the costs of running the service and the impact of statutory costs; • what information you will share with the Council; and • what controls are in place to avoid incorrect or unauthorized charges. max. 750 words
• 6%qualityCONTRACT MANAGEMENT AND REPORTINGExplain how you will monitor, review and report on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) during the term of the contract. Your answer should identify key risks and what preventative and corrective measures you will implement to maintain the required performance levels. max. 750 words
• 6%qualityPRESENTATIONYou are asked to give a 20-minute presentation covering the following points: • the main risks to service quality and how you will mitigate them; • how you will demonstrate the delivery of a consistent, reliable service throughout the contract term; • how you will evidence that you're delivering all contractual requirements throughout the contract term; • how you will use lessons learned from complaints, cancellations or poor performance to improve the service; and • what excellent service will look like under this contract and how you will measure it. (Full instructions regarding presentations are provided in the ITT Instructions document)

How contested is this?

Buyers publish how many bids they received. Across 132 comparable procurements we can tell you the typical field size, how often one of these goes uncontested, and whether the buyer awards on price or on quality.

Timeline

4 published dates · Europe/London

1. Tender notice published16 days ago

   21 Oct 2026, 12:23 BST
2. Clarification questions bytoday

   6 Nov 2026, 23:59 GMT
3. Submission deadlinein 10 days

   16 Nov 2026, 13:00 GMT
4. Award decision expected byin 28 days

   4 Dec 2026, 23:59 GMT

Commercial outcome and contract awards

Nothing awarded yet

Notice history

1 event · 1 release on Find a Tender

1. Tender notice21 Oct 2026, 12:23 BST099423-2026

Documents

• biddingDocuments
• Tender notice on Find a Tender