Highways Planting & Soft Landscaping Works Framework for Hampshire

Hampshire County Council is seeking to invite Landscape Contractors to join a multi supplier framework to manage Highways Planting & Soft Landscaping works.

It is expected the framework will be published for tendering in March / April 2023, with a framework commencement date of August 2023 for four years.

The framework will be open to all authorities within the county boundaries of Hampshire.

Hampshire County Council is undertaking this market research to understand the standards of Health and Safety (H&S) contractors in the market hold.

The type of works to be tendered through this framework will usually include:

Native planting and habitat creation together with establishment maintenance (up to 5 years) for small to large scale projects adjacent to the highway, with a typical value between £500 and £500K. There may be associated small scale hard landscape items such as fencing, drainage and paving. Contractors should be competent at working in a live highway environment and/or in conjunction with a main, civil engineering project and be conversant with ecological sensitivities likely to be encountered on sites in Hampshire.

Works include but not limited to:

• Preparation of ground for planting: weed control, cultivation, fertilising (topsoiling usually carried out by others).
• Seeding: amenity and/or specialist wildflower mixes
• Wildflower plug planting appropriate to the local area
• Bulb planting
• Mass planting native species whips and transplants on highway verges and adjacent areas.
• Specimen tree planting: from standard to semi mature stock into tree pits prepared by others.
• Horticultural sundries: rabbit/tree guards, stakes & ties, tree pit irrigation pipes; mulching etc.
• Protective fencing: timber and mesh fencing for planting areas
• Ancillary works: small scale hard landscape items as required, typically small areas of paving or drainage.
• Post planting establishment - usually 3 or 5 year maintenance periods (including replacement of plant failures)
• Weed control of large-scale planting areas - typically herbicide treatment and/or strimming
• Grassland maintenance, amenity and wildflower types including embankments, verges, roundabouts. Arisings from wildflower areas to be baled/collected and removed off site. Additional information: Re-tender of an existing lotted framework, lot 6 - Landscape and External Works Framework - F07199.

The current Landscape and External Works Framework expires in September 2023. To meet the Authorities requirements the Framework is being modified and Lot 6, will be retendered as a stand-alone framework.

This new multi supplier framework will solely focus on Highways Planting & Soft Landscaping Works and will be available to all authorities within Hampshire.