Commissioning of External Advisors for Neighbourhood Services/Waste Consultancy

Buckinghamshire Council is inviting proposals for external advisory services to replace three existing contracts that provide engineering, technical, and financial expertise for neighbourhood services waste projects. The incumbent arrangements, awarded under an ESPO framework in 2023, have supported a range of high‑profile initiatives, including Energy‑from‑Waste litigation, the development of the High Heavens Waste Complex, the new Buckingham Household Recycling Centre, persistent organic pollutant construction, and multiple options appraisals for fuel vehicles, waste collection methodology and drainage compliance. The Council requires that new consultants continue to deliver specialist support in construction, site design, planning application assistance, ecological surveys, regulatory and legislative analysis, market studies, best practice guidance, financial modelling, and contract documentation drafting, ensuring that projects are completed to the same standard, within time and at cost.

The procurement will be conducted under a Competitive Flexible Procedure. Two independent lots are advertised: Lot 1 seeks engineering and technical advisory services, while Lot 2 targets financial consultancy. Each long‑term contract is planned for six years plus two optional extensions and will be evaluated on a Most Advantageous Tender basis, weighting quality at 55 %, price at 40 %, and social value at 5 %. After initial assessment, bidders scoring at least 75 % may be invited to negotiate, present, and submit a best and final offer. All submissions must be made electronically via the Buckinghamshire Council e‑tendering portal. All consultants must provide advanced expertise in construction, site design, planning support, ecological surveying, regulatory compliance, market analysis, best practice, financial modelling, and drafting of contract documentation.

Neighbourhood Services currently have 3 contracts in place with external advisors to provide expertise and additional support to key projects. These contracts are due to expire 31st March 2027, Buckinghamshire Council is undertaking procurement for new contracts to replace the current arrangements upon expiry, to ensure the continuation of the required support.
The 3 current contracts, awarded in April 2023 via the Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation (ESPO) Framework, are for Engineering, Technical, and Financial support and they have assisted on a number of key projects including, but not limited to;
• Energy from Waste (EFW) Litigation
• Development of the High Heavens Waste Complex (HHWC)
• New Buckingham Household Recycling Centre (HRC)
• Persistent Organic Pollutant’s (POPs) Construction Project
• Options appraisal for alternative fuel waste vehicles
• Waste Collection Methodology Options Appraisal and Harmonisation
• HRC Drainage Compliance
Without the expertise and additional resources provided by working with specialist consultants, the Council would find it extremely difficult to deliver these projects to the same standard, timeframe and cost.
Particular areas or expertise that the current arrangements provide include construction, site design, planning application support, ecological surveys, legislative and regulatory positions, market analysis, best practice, financial modelling, and contract documentation drafting.
This procurement is being conducted using a Competitive Flexible Procedure under the Procurement Act 2023.
Tenders will be evaluated on the basis of the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT) using the following award criteria:
Quality – 55%
Price – 40%
Social Value – 5%
Following completion of the initial tender evaluation, the Council may invite selected bidders achieving a minimum overall score of 75% to participate in a negotiation stage. The Council reserves the right not to undertake negotiations and to award based on the initial tenders received.
Where negotiations are undertaken, bidders invited to that stage may be required to participate in clarification discussions, presentations and structured negotiations. Following completion of negotiations, bidders may be invited to submit a Best and Final Offer (BAFO).
Final award will be made to the bidder submitting the Most Advantageous Tender following completion of all stages of the evaluation process. No new award criteria or weightings will be introduced during the procurement process. Full details of the evaluation methodology, negotiation arrangements and BAFO requirements are set out in the procurement documents.

Communication: Tenders will be submitted through the Bucks Council electronic tendering site- https://in-tendhost.co.uk/buckinghamshire-council/aspx/Home. Please make sure you register as all correspondence, clarifications and tendering information will be provided through this portal.
Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted: En
Submission address and any special instructions: Tenders will be submitted through the Bucks Council electronic tendering site- https://in-tendhost.co.uk/buckinghamshire-council/aspx/Home. Please make sure you register as all correspondence, clarifications and tendering information will be provided through this portal.
Tenders may be submitted electronically: allowed
Award decision date (estimated): 2026-12-16T23:59:59+00:00

Lot number: 1
Description: To procure consulting and advisory services in the area of engineering and technical
Lot value (estimated)
0,00 GBP excluding VAT
14.260.800,00 GBP including VAT
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals: Contract length is currently planned 6+1+1

Lot number: 2
Description: To procure financial consultancy and advisory services
Lot value (estimated)
0,00 GBP excluding VAT
2.858.400,00 GBP including VAT
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals: Contract length is currently planned 6+1+1

Award criteria:

Name	Type	Weighting
Method Statements	quality	55%
Price	price	40%
Social Value	quality	5%