Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Falkirk Council
The Foundry, 4 Central Boulevard, Central Park
Larbert
FK5 4RU
UK
Telephone: +44 1324506070
E-mail: cpu@falkirk.gov.uk
NUTS: UKM76
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.falkirk.gov.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00184
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at:
www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Ground Maintenance Services
Reference number: PS 259 27
II.1.2) Main CPV code
77314000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Falkirk Council wishes to undertake a tendering process to enter into a Framework Agreement with suitably experienced contractors for the provision of Ground Maintenance Service within the Falkirk Council area of Operation.
Key aims of the service are to provide a competitive, reliable, and customer-focused service to Place Services Roads and Grounds Maintenance Departments which will supplement the Council’s own in-house service.
The framework consist of 2 Lots, to which up to a maximum of 5 Contractors may be appointed per lot.
- Lot 1: Arboriculture Services
- Lot 2: Grass Cutting for Rural Area.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
1 500 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
Yes
Tenders may be submitted for all lots
II.2) Description
Lot No: 1
II.2.1) Title
Arboriculture Services
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
03452000
77211300
77211400
77211500
77341000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM76
Main site or place of performance:
Falkirk Council's area of Operations
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Falkirk Council wishes to establish a framework agreement with suitably experienced contractors for the provision of Arboriculture Services within the Falkirk Council Area of Operations.
The work will consist of a variety of different operations carried out on tagged trees. Details of the tree numbers and work required will be provided, along with plans showing locations of the numbered trees. There may also be a requirement to carry out works on untagged, non-surveyed trees. In this situation maps, descriptions of works, manual tree marking and site visits will provide information on the
contracted operations to be completed.
All operations should comply with British Standard BS 3998:2010 and with current industry best practice. Tree work should be effectively organized and conducted to minimize any adverse effects on the trees, the site and their surroundings.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Qualitative
/ Weighting: 30
Price
/ Weighting:
70
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
1 300 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start:
01/04/2027
End:
31/03/2031
This contract is subject to renewal: No
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
II.2.14) Additional information
Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015
Lot No: 2
II.2.1) Title
Grass Cutting for Rural Area
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
77314000
77314100
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM76
Main site or place of performance:
Falkirk Council's area of Operations
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Falkirk Council wishes to establish a framework agreement with suitably experienced contractors for the provision of Grass Cutting Services within the Falkirk Council Area of Operations.
Rural highway verges are to be cut to prevent the obstruction of sightlines, signage, prevent the establishment of self-set trees, inhibit the growth of weeds, and prevent vegetation encroaching onto footpaths and roads. Verges are located within the boundary of Falkirk Council and shown on the Ground Maintenance Service maps, numbered 1 to 23. These maps are located within the separately attached Zip Folder,
(PS 259 27- Lot 2- Rural Verge Cutting Maps).
Flood prevention channels and burns are to be cut the full width of the banking using a 7Mtr long reach side arm flail to prevent the establishment of self-set trees, inhibit the growth of weeds and prevent vegetation encroaching and narrowing the watercourse and blocking grills. Burns are located within the boundary of Falkirk Council and shown on the Ground Maintenance Service maps, numbered 24 to 45.
These maps are located within the separately attached Zip Folder, (PS 259 27- Lot 2- Rural Verge Cutting Maps).
The contract requires up to two complete cycles of cutting to be completed between April October each year and each cycle to completed in no more than 6 weeks. The start date for each cycle to be provided by Falkirk Council’s designated Officer.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Qualitative
/ Weighting: 30
Price
/ Weighting:
70
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
200 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start:
01/04/2027
End:
31/03/2031
This contract is subject to renewal: No
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
II.2.14) Additional information
Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015
Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions:
It is a requirement of this tender that if the Bidder is UK based they must hold a valid registration with Companies House. Where the Bidder is UK based but not registered at Companies House they must be able to verify to the Council’s satisfaction that they are trading from the address provided in the tender and under the Company name given.
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
List and brief description of selection criteria:
A Credit safe credit scoring check will be ran on registered Company Name and Company Number provided by the bidder. Where the resulting Credit Rating score is less than 30/100 the bidder may be excluded from the tender process unless suitable financial information is
provided that gives satisfactory assurances to the Council regarding financial risk in appointing the bidder to the contract.
Minimum level(s) of standards required:
Employer’s (Compulsory) Liability Insurance = 10 Million GBP
Public Liability Insurance = 5 Million GBP
Product Liability Insurance = 5 Million GBP
Motor Insurance = 5 Million GBP
III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
III.2.2) Contract performance conditions
As listed within the tender documentation.
III.2.3) Information about staff responsible for the performance of the contract
Obligation to indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to performing the contract
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement with several operators.
Envisaged maximum number of participants to the framework agreement: 10
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
16/11/2026
Local time: 11:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 6 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
16/11/2026
Local time: 11:00
Place:
Falkirk
Information about authorised persons and opening procedure:
Tender Opening Committee comprising Falkirk Council's Principal Procurement Specialist.
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
Yes
Estimated timing for further notices to be published:
October 2030
VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
VI.3) Additional information
1. Bidders will be required to provide 2 examples from the past 3 years that demonstrate that they have the relevant experience to deliver the services/ supplies as described in part II.2.4 of the Find a Tender Service Contract Notice or the relevant section of the Site Notice.
2. Bidders will be required to confirm whether they intend to subcontract and, if so, for what proportion of the contract.
3. The bidder must hold a UKAS (or equivalent) accredited independent third party certificate of compliance in accordance with BS EN ISO 9001 (or equivalent), or provide additional supportive information as detailed within "PS 259 27 Document 4 SPD (Scotland) Standardised Statements".
4. The bidder must hold a UKAS (or equivalent) accredited independent third party certificate of compliance in accordance with ISO 45001:2018 (or equivalent) or provide additional supportive information as detailed within "PS 259 27 Document 4 SPD (Scotland) Standardised Statements".
5. The Bidder must hold a UKAS (or equivalent) accredited independent third party certificate of compliance with BS EN ISO 14001 (or equivalent) or a valid EMAS (or equivalent) certificate or provide additional supportive information as detailed within "PS 259 27 Document 4 SPD (Scotland) Standardised Statements".
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=845333.
The buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Postbox facility. A user guide is available at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx.
Suppliers are advised to allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic response well in advance of the closing time to avoid any last minute problems.
A sub-contract clause has been included in this contract. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2363
Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/
A summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows:
Points Based System
We use a point’s-based system to ensure each Contract or Framework Agreement has appropriate community benefits as an essential
component. Each action is worth a varying number of points based on how well it contributes to our priorities.
Full details can be found within "PS 259 27 ITT Document Schedule 6 and Appendix C - Community Benefits Points Based List (for information only).
(SC Ref:845333)
Download the ESPD document here: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ESPD/ESPD_Download.aspx?id=845333
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Falkirk Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace
Sheriff Court House Main Street Camelon
Falkirk
FK1 4AR
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
16/10/2026