Vigo Parish Council - Grounds Maintenance, Grass Cutting and Tree Works Contract

What the buyer is asking for

Vigo Parish Council invites tenders from suitably qualified and experienced contractors for the provision of grounds maintenance, grass cutting and tree works within the parish of Vigo, Kent. The contract covers the maintenance of Parish Council owned land and public open spaces, including grass cutting, grassland management, tree and woodland maintenance, shrub and vegetation management, and associated grounds maintenance activities. The contract will be for an initial period of four years, with the option to extend for two further periods of one year each, giving a maximum duration of six years. The successful contractor will be required to provide suitably qualified personnel, appropriate equipment, effective supervision and emergency response arrangements in accordance with the Council's Service Specification. Attendance at a pre-tender site visit is mandatory. Full details of the services, required standards, frequencies, contract conditions and tender evaluation criteria are provided in the tender documentation.

How this is scored

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

• 35%pricePriceEvaluation of the total tender price for the contract, in accordance with the pricing schedule and the evaluation methodology set out in the Invitation to Tender. Weighting: 35%.
• 20%qualityEmergency response, resilience and ability to access VigoAssessment of the tenderer's ability to respond to urgent and emergency work, provide resilient service cover, and access Vigo reliably, including during adverse weather and other operational difficulties.
• 15%qualityExperience and relevant track recordAssessment of relevant experience delivering comparable grounds maintenance, tree work and open-space services, supported by appropriate examples and references.
• 15%qualityStaffing, resources and continuityAssessment of staffing levels, supervision, equipment and other resources, together with arrangements for absence cover, continuity and maintaining the required service throughout the contract.
• 10%qualityQuality and approach to service deliveryAssessment of the proposed approach to delivering the specification, maintaining appropriate standards of workmanship, managing environmental considerations and ensuring reliable service delivery.
• 5%qualityUnderstanding of Vigo and the ContractAssessment of the tenderer's understanding of Vigo's sites, local conditions, service requirements and practical challenges, and how these will be addressed when delivering the contract.

What you must already have

Conditions of participation. These are pass or fail, so check them before writing anything.

• economic

  Tenderers must confirm that they have, or will obtain no later than 14 days before commencement of the Contract, public liability insurance of at least £10 million and employers' liability insurance where legally required. Tenderers must also confirm that they have sufficient financial capacity to deliver the contract for its duration. The Council reserves the right to seek proportionate supporting evidence where reasonably necessary before making an award decision. No audited accounts are required as a condition of participation.

• technical

  Tenderers must demonstrate that they have the relevant experience, technical competence, staffing, resources and equipment necessary to deliver the grounds maintenance services described in the tender documents. Tenderers must demonstrate appropriate health and safety competence, including the qualifications, training and experience necessary for any specialist activities, including tree work where applicable. Tenderers must explain how they will provide sufficient staff, suitable plant and equipment (which may be owned or hired), and manage any subcontractors used to deliver the contract. The main contractor will remain responsible for the performance of subcontractors. Tenderers must describe their approach to delivering the required quality of service and managing environmental considerations relevant to the contract. Relevant experience and references must be provided as specified in the tender documents. Equivalent qualifications, standards and evidence will be accepted where appropriate.

How contested is this?

Buyers publish how many bids they received. Across 45 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 published5 days ago

   1 Nov 2026, 16:04 GMT
2. Clarification questions byin 14 days

   20 Nov 2026, 23:59 GMT
3. Submission deadlinein 24 days

   30 Nov 2026, 23:59 GMT
4. Award decision expected byin 73 days

   18 Jan 2027, 23:59 GMT

Commercial outcome and contract awards

Nothing awarded yet

Notice history

1 event · 1 release on Find a Tender

1. Tender notice1 Nov 2026, 16:04 GMT103504-2026

Payment terms

Vigo Parish Council will pay valid, undisputed invoices within 30 days of receipt, in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023. Invoices must clearly identify the services provided and the relevant billing period. Any disputed invoices will be raised with the contractor for resolution.

Documents

• Vigo Parish Council Grounds Maintenance Contract 2027-2031 - Service Specification, site maps and supporting tender documents.
• Invitation to Tender - Vigo Parish Council Grounds Maintenance Contract 2027-2031
• Draft Contract - Vigo Parish Council Grounds Maintenance Contract 2027-2031, including provisions for two optional one-year extensions.
• Service Specification - Vigo Parish Council Grounds Maintenance Contract 2027-2031, setting out the required grass cutting, grounds maintenance, tree and woodland management services.
• Evaluation and Award Criteria - Vigo Parish Council Grounds Maintenance Contract 2027-2031, detailing the tender assessment methodology and scoring criteria, with 65% quality and 35% price weighting.
• Appendix A - Grass Cutting Schedule and Maps, detailing the grass cutting areas and requirements for Vigo Parish Council's Grounds Maintenance Contract 2027-2031.
• Appendix B - Site Information and Community Land Maps, identifying the principal areas and assets covered by Vigo Parish Council's Grounds Maintenance Contract 2027-2031.
• Tender Response Form (Editable) - Vigo Parish Council Grounds Maintenance Contract 2027-2031, to be completed and submitted by tenderers with their supporting documents.
• Tender notice on Find a Tender