SC21008 - Rural Swathe, Visibility & Hedge Cutting Market Engagement

Tender description

<p>This service requirement is for the programmed maintenance of the highways soft landscape asset with flexibility for additional ad-hoc provision and may include the following works on rural roads:</p> <p>&bull; Swathe cutting</p> <p>&bull; Visibility splays cutting</p> <p>&bull; Rural hedge cutting</p> <p>&bull; Conservation / wildflower / SSSI verge cutting</p> <p>&bull; Vegetation clearance and washing of road signs</p> <p>&bull; Vegetation cutting of off-road cycle paths</p> <p>Work types will be maintained at the following minimum frequencies:</p> <p>&bull; Swathe cutting: 1 per annum</p> <p>&bull; Visibility splays cutting: 3 per annum</p> <p>&bull; Rural hedge cutting: 1 per annum</p> <p>&bull; Conservation / wildflower / SSSI cutting: 1 per annum</p> <p>&bull; Vegetation clearance and washing of road signs: 1 per annum</p> <p>&bull; Vegetation cutting of off-road cycle paths: 2 per annum</p> <p>The Council wishes to engage with the market to gain their insights and experience in this field. Consideration is being given to evaluate a commercial strategy which will lot the districts into appropriate quantum of work. The contract has been awarded to two contractor but is currently divided into three lots as below:</p> <p>&mdash; Lot 1 (West): Dartford, Gravesham, Sevenoaks. Tonbridge &amp; Malling, Tunbridge Wells.</p> <p>&mdash; Lot 2 (Mid): Ashford and Maidstone.</p> <p>&mdash; Lot 3 (East): Canterbury, Swale and Thanet.</p> <p>This opportunity will primarily service KCC HT&amp;W owned assets. There may also be the need to carry out works on privately owned assets in order to ensure highway safety. This type of work has the potential to be recharged through existing KCC processes. There may be future interest from district and parish providers within Kent to gain access to this contract. The level of interest is unquantified at this point in time. Any future approaches will be considered as and when they arise. The contract will be structured so as not to limit any such flexibility.</p> <p>Contractors who wish to express an interest (EOI) must do so via the opportunity listed on the Kent Business Portal. The Council will use this engagement to inform interested suppliers of our progress and may also ask for feedback on potential proposals as they develop. This engagement will take place in May 2021.</p> <p>Organisations who do not express an interest in response to this PIN will not be precluded from applying to take part in the Council's chosen procurement strategy and conclusion of our engagement findings will be shared with the published call or calls for competition.</p> Keywords: swathe, hedge, visibility, rural