Kent County Council, trading as Procurement Services, has launched a new Grounds Maintenance & Associated Services Framework with an estimated value of £500 million excluding VAT / £600 million including VAT.
The four-year framework covers grounds maintenance, landscaping, specialist environmental services and arboriculture across six geographic lots, including a national route.
The tender closes on 24 September 2026. If you're considering one or more lots, contact Thornton & Lowe for an objective bid/no-bid review and practical tender support.
What services are covered?
The framework includes five broad areas:
- general grounds maintenance, including grass cutting, vegetation management, pathways, litter and seasonal operations;
- soft landscaping, including planting, turfing and biodiversity enhancement;
- hard landscaping, including paving, fencing, drainage and boundary works;
- specialist services, such as ecological management, invasive species treatment and environmental protection; and
- arboriculture, including tree inspections, surveys, pruning, preservation and removal.
Our guide to landscaping tenders covers wider strategies for demonstrating capability in public-sector grounds and landscaping bids.
The six geographic lots
The framework is divided into:
- London
- South of England
- East & Midlands
- North of England
- Devolved Nations
- National
Each lot has an indicative value of around £83.33 million excluding VAT / £100 million including VAT. There is no maximum number of framework suppliers, and SMEs are identified as suitable.
How will call-offs work?
Customers will have three routes available:
- direct award;
- rapid request for quote; and
- further competition.
Direct awards must use objective information established through the framework tender. Methods can include overall framework ranking, highest quality score, lowest overall price and scores against specified evaluation questions.
That makes the initial tender strategically important. Your framework scores could affect not only whether you secure a place but also your ability to win later work without another full competition.
How is the tender evaluated?
The published weighting is:
- Quality: 80%
- Price: 10%
- Social value: 10%
There is no supplier fee. With 90% of the available marks outside price, suppliers need strong evidence around service delivery, quality management, environmental performance and social value.
Quick facts
- Buyer: Kent County Council trading as Procurement Services
- Reference: Y26019
- Estimated value: £500m excluding VAT / £600m including VAT
- Term: Four years
- Lots: Six
- Maximum suppliers: Unlimited
- Supplier fee: 0%
- Evaluation: 80% quality / 10% price / 10% social value
- Enquiry deadline: 10 September 2026
- Tender deadline: 24 September 2026 at 5:00pm
- View the official Find a Tender notice
Prepare a strong grounds maintenance bid
High quality weighting does not automatically make a bid easier. It increases the importance of proving exactly how the proposed service will work.
Use measurable examples covering grounds standards, route planning, seasonal peaks, arboriculture, environmental management, reactive response, contract reporting and workforce management.
Thornton & Lowe can support your tender from planning through to drafting and final review. Contact our bid team before the September deadline.
