Grounds Maintenance Pre-Market engagement

Procurement reference

CU.2169.JP

Procurement description

The University are undertaking a Pre-Market engagement event for provision of a contractor for University Grounds Maintenance.

An attractive campus will help to encourage students and staff to study and work at Cardiff University. The landscape and external environment are potentially a productive teaching and learning resource, particularly for departments such as Biology and Environment. An attractive and stimulating environment promoting staff and student wellbeing, having a positive effect on mental health.

Being able to enjoy the external environment can help both staff and students cope with the stresses of work and study.

Enhancing the natural landscape to encourage biodiversity, wildlife to thrive and develop across the estate.

Grounds maintenance should be consistent with the good practice and standards as follows:

• Develop a Regular Maintenance Schedule.

• Keep Walkways, Parking Spaces and Entryways Clean.

• In extreme weather condition pathways, entrances, and car parks remain safe and free from the hazards of snow and ice.

• Use Sustainable Landscaping Practices.

• Investing in in Seasonal Enhancements.

• Ensure Proper Tree and Shrub Care.

• Implementing a Waste Management Strategy.

The objectives for the engagement are:

To establish the level of interest in the tender opportunity

To gain an understanding of your experience of similar contracts, incorporating any lessons learnt to drive improvements.​

To listen, reflect and mitigate any foreseeable risks within the proposed contract tender exercise to ensure that the service delivered at Cardiff University remains customer centric, efficient and offers value for money.

The Pre-market engagement event will be held on 13th April 2026 at 2pm via Teams

Suppliers interested in attending the pre-market engagement event must complete and return the registration form via the correspondence function on the Universities e-tender portal In-Tend.

https://in-tendhost.co.uk/cardiffuniversity/

Suppliers will be limited to 2 attendees. The deadline for registering attendance at the

event is 12 Noon, 9th April 2026 - Teams invitations will be issued once this deadline has passed. The University reserves the right to reject an application to attend sent after this time.

All presentation documentation, questions and answers will be published on the e-tendering portal following the pre-market engagement event.

Main category

Services

Delivery regions

• UKL22 - Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan

Total value (estimated)

1104167.00 GBP Excluding VAT

1325000.00 GBP Including VAT

Contract dates (estimated)

01 October 2026, 00:00AM to 30 September 2029, 23:59PM

Extension end date (if all the extensions are used): 30 September 2031

Cardiff University

Is the total value above threshold?

Above threshold

CPV classifications

• 77314000 - Grounds maintenance services

Delivery regions

• UKL22 - Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan

Sustainability

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)

Contract start date (estimated)

01 October 2026, 00:00AM

Contract end date (estimated)

30 September 2029, 23:59PM

Extension end date (estimated)

30 September 2031, 23:59PM

Can the contract be extended?

Yes

Engagement process description

The University are undertaking a Pre-Market engagement event for provision of a contractor for University Grounds Maintenance.

An attractive campus will help to encourage students and staff to study and work at Cardiff University. The landscape and external environment are potentially a productive teaching and learning resource, particularly for departments such as Biology and Environment. An attractive and stimulating environment promoting staff and student wellbeing, having a positive effect on mental health.

Being able to enjoy the external environment can help both staff and students cope with the stresses of work and study.

Enhancing the natural landscape to encourage biodiversity, wildlife to thrive and develop across the estate.

Grounds maintenance should be consistent with the good practice and standards as follows:

• Develop a Regular Maintenance Schedule.

• Keep Walkways, Parking Spaces and Entryways Clean.

• In extreme weather condition pathways, entrances, and car parks remain safe and free from the hazards of snow and ice.

• Use Sustainable Landscaping Practices.

• Investing in in Seasonal Enhancements.

• Ensure Proper Tree and Shrub Care.

• Implementing a Waste Management Strategy.

The objectives for the engagement are:

To establish the level of interest in the tender opportunity

To gain an understanding of your experience of similar contracts, incorporating any lessons learnt to drive improvements.​

To listen, reflect and mitigate any foreseeable risks within the proposed contract tender exercise to ensure that the service delivered at Cardiff University remains customer centric, efficient and offers value for money.

The Pre-market engagement event will be held on 13th April 2026 at 2pm via Teams

Suppliers interested in attending the pre-market engagement event must complete and return the registration form via the correspondence function on the Universities e-tender portal In-Tend.

https://in-tendhost.co.uk/cardiffuniversity/

Suppliers will be limited to 2 attendees. The deadline for registering attendance at the event is 12 Noon, 9th April 2026 - Teams invitations will be issued once this deadline has passed. The University reserves the right to reject an application to attend sent after this time.

All presentation documentation, questions and answers will be published on the e-tendering portal following the pre-market engagement event.

Due date

09 April 2026, 23:59PM

Has the engagement period already ended?

No

Publication date of tender notice (estimated)

29 April 2026