Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Services - Tender for Grounds Maintenance Services

The successful Supplier will be required to provide grounds maintenance services for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service at the locations listed in the SQ document.

The tender project is seeking to appoint a Supplier whose initiative and innovation will be welcomed for the provision of grounds maintenance services within the estate of the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service. The high quality service levels proposed, should maintain excellent standards throughout, resulting in a pleasant environment for both the staff and visitors.

Due to the changing requirements within the authority, total flexibility will be required from the successful Supplier with regard to the changes in station layouts, due to building works and station openings / closures, due to relocation.

The basis and rationale that the Clients require the successful Supplier to operate to at all times, is being able to provide an environment that is fit for purpose and that the Supplier is proactive in the management of the contract, thus ensuring that all specifications are achieved and that the standard / frequency of services is as detailed within the tender specification.

The contract being tendered is for three years in duration from 1.5.2019 until 30.4.2022 and will be fixed price in nature, with the Supplier invoicing the Client for one-twelfth of the annual cost on a monthly basis. The contract may be extended for a further period of up to 2 years, by mutual agreement.

It should be noted that the successful Supplier will be expected to bring to the contract: innovation; new equipment; and effective methods of working; thus ensuring that the highest standards are maintained in all areas at all times and also ensuring that the productivity of the teams are at the highest level, consistently, moving forward into the new contract term.

The value of the current contract for the Wiltshire Fire Service sites is 22 808,00 GBP per annum + VAT and the value of the current contract for the Dorset Fire Service sites is 11 228,00 GBP per annum + VAT, which includes, but is not limited to the following tasks:

• Grass cutting, edging up and strimming tasks

• Weed control

• Shrub bed and rose bed and plant maintenance

• Selective weed killing

• Hedge cutting

• Maintenance of trees

• Maintenance of ditches

• Leaf clearance

• Sweeping, tidying and litter picking

• Salt bin top-ups - currently Dorset sites only (26 stations).

There are numerous plans for changes and building works throughout the Service over the next 3 years and this may increase or reduce the level of services required within these areas, when the work is being carried out and thereafter. Therefore, the Contractor would be expected to provide advice and expertise and be flexible in their approach, in order to incorporate the changes.

Further information is provided in the SQ Document.

Additional information: Interest in the selection process should be expressed via email only to pqq@litmuspartnership.co.uk clearly stating within this email which contract / notice you are referring to. Please also provide, as a minimum, a contact name, full company postal address and telephone number.

The Selection Questionnaire and associated documents can be obtained at: https://www.litmuspartnership.co.uk/project/dorset__wiltshire_fire_and_rescue_service__grounds_maintenance_services

The closing date for receipt of the Selection Questionnaire is 7.9.2018 (12:00). Suppliers are required to ensure that documents are obtained and returned to The Litmus Partnership Limited, by email to pqq@litmuspartnership.co.uk by the above closing date and time.

Documents in respect of economic / financial standing (where indicated in the Selection Questionnaire) shall be returned to The Litmus Partnership Limited, by email to pqq@litmuspartnership.co.uk by the above closing date and time.

It will be the Supplier's responsibility to obtain any necessary documents in order to submit a response by the closing date and time.

The contracting authority reserves the right not to award any or part of the contract which is the subject of this Contract Notice and reserves the right to terminate the procurement process at any time.

The contracting authority will not be liable for any costs incurred by those expressing an interest in tendering for this contract opportunity.

The contracting authority will consider variant bids, evaluating them (so far as the variant or the evaluation of the variant is in the opinion of the contracting authority practicable) on the same basis as a conforming bid, but shall not be obliged to accept any such bid in preference to a conforming bid even if the variant bid scores more highly. No variant will be considered unless the bidder simultaneously submits a conforming bid.