Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services

Tender description

South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC) and Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC) have a requirement for Grounds Maintenance for their Housing (SCDC) and Park and Ride and Guided Busway sites (CCC). The services shall include, but are not limited to: — management and supervision of Grounds Maintenance activities, — supply of all equipment and materials, — regular monitoring of service provision, — the provision of any other relevant monitoring information. This process shall result in the award of a single contract to the successful provider, with both Cambridgeshire County Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council party to the contract. Both CCC and SCDC shall nominate contract managers to manage their own elements of the contract, and the contract shall be structured in such a way that if 1 party decides on full consideration to terminate their element of the contract early, this shall have no effect on the remaining body's element of the contract. The Authorities wish to appoint a Provider to provide Grounds Maintenance services. South Cambridgeshire District Council: The Provider shall be expected to undertake Grounds Maintenance services in accordance with the specification, issued as part of the ITT suite of documents, to cover grass cutting to all open spaces, tree, hedge and shrub maintenance and associated works. Cambridgeshire County Council Park and Ride: Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC) currently maintain the following assets under the Cambridge Park and Ride / Busway team umbrella: — Trumpington Park and Ride site, — Madingley Road Park and Ride site, — Newmarket road Park and Ride site, — Milton Park and Ride site, — Babraham Road Park and Ride site, — Longstanton Park and Ride site, — St Ives Park and Ride site, — 25 km of Busway track and maintenance track, — 17 local Environmental Management Areas (LEM’s). The Contractor will be required to provide the Council with services to all sites. The services shall include, but are not limited to: — management and supervision of Grounds Maintenance activities, — supply of all equipment and materials, — regular monitoring of service provision, — the provision of any other relevant monitoring information. The Council will not be prescriptive regarding the method or frequency of Grounds Maintenance services. It is for the Contractor to determine these in order to meet the minimum standards. However, the Council retains the right to request tasks to be carried out more or less frequently if the Council feels that it is needed or not. As a guide we will provide present grass cut frequencies for the Busway and maintenance track areas which vary according to the area being cut as to the frequency of the cut required. The Council will require the Contractor to actively manage the Services and provide sufficient resources to enable effective and robust contract management. 4 of the Park and Ride sites have areas set aside for wildlife. These require specific management plans to maintain and enhance species diversity. Where protected species have been found, the habitat must be maintained for their benefit. Outside the areas specifically managed for wildlife the rest of the grounds should be managed in a manner that is environmentally sensitive. The LEMs have their own specific maintenance programme which will be provided. It is expected that the contract will last for an initial period of 3 years, with the option to extend for 2 further years in 12 month increments, making a total of 5 years, and shall consist of a single contract to the successful provider, with both Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC) and South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC) party to the contract. Both CCC and SCDC shall nominate contract managers to manage their own elements of the contract, and the contract shall be structured in such a way that if 1 party decides on full consideration to terminate their element of the contract early, this shall have no effect on the remaining body's element of the contract. Under this contract individual requirements for each site will be specified and priced according to a schedule of rates agreed as a result of this tender process. It is difficult to predict the exact value of this contract as the Authorities’ property portfolios are likely to vary over the contract term, but it is estimated that the total value will be approximately 510 000 GBP per year; 140 000 GBP from CCC’s Park and Ride and Guided Busway Sites, and 370 000 GBP from SCDC’s sites. The contact awarded at the conclusion of this exercise shall replace the current shared contract the 2 Authorities have with an external provider, which began in 2015, and concludes on 4.10.2018. Potential Providers are required to tender for the requirement in its entirety; this process is not divided into lots, and it is not acceptable for a provider to not choose to or be able to service only one element of this requirement.