Tender: Large Plant Hire Framework | Wigan Council

The objective of this tender process is to establish a Framework for the hire of various types of large plant to Wigan Council. Some of the items of plant must be provided with an Operator. The Framework will comprise of the following Lots:

Lot 1 – Backhoe Loader (with Operator)

Lot 2 – Paving Machine (with Operator(s))

Lot 3 – Road Planer (with Operator(s)) and Road Sweeper (with Operator)

Lot 4 – HGV Tipper 6 Wheel / 8 Wheel (with Operator)

Lot 5 – Grab Wagon (with Operator)

Lot 6 – Mobile Welfare Units

It is the intention to appoint a minimum of 2 suppliers to each Lot (Wigan Council will not be bound to appoint more than 2 suppliers to each Lot), provided there are sufficient compliant and satisfactory responses received under the tender process. Tenderers may apply for one, some or all Lots.

The Framework will run for 4 years.

Indicatively, hire of 2 Backhoe Loaders (each for 37 hours per week) each financial year, dependent on workflow. Actual ordering requirements may be higher or lower dependent on requirements arising during the period of the Framework.

Each machine will primarily be used to assist with Highway Maintenance work within the borough of Wigan. The work will involve excavating footway pavements and assisting with the application of laying bituminous materials.

The item of plant (Backhoe Loader) will be supplied with a suitably competent driver. Proof will be required of any relevant experience and training of drivers such as a valid driving licence, operator’s licence, certifications and accreditations. As a minimum this will include: JCB/Backhoe Loader Driver – Valid in date RTITB / CPCS Card & certificate for the above category.

Where possible, the Provider(s) should provide Operators with experience of carrying out highway maintenance work.

Backhoe Loaders supplied must be capable of attaching a hydraulic breaker to the backhoe.

Indicatively, Wigan Council will be looking to hire an appropriately sized Paving Machine at various times through the financial year; however, this is dependent on workflow. Indicatively, this could be around 8 times per year, generally for one day per order. Actual ordering requirements may be higher or lower dependent on requirements arising during the period of the Framework.

Each machine will primarily be used to assist with highway maintenance work within the borough of Wigan. The work will involve paving bituminous materials to a specified depth on Wigan Council’s carriageway network. There may be occasions where the Paving Machine will be required to work on footway pavements and car parking areas.

The item of plant (Paving Machine) will be supplied with a suitably competent Driver/Operative(s). Proof will be required of any relevant experience and training of drivers such as a valid driving licence, operator’s licence, certifications and accreditations. As a minimum this will include: Road Paver Driver – Valid CPCS or equivalent Card showing Road Paver Category & in date certificate.

Indicatively, hire of appropriately sized Road Planers at various times throughout the financial year; however, this is dependent on workflow. Indicatively, this could be around 10 times per year (up to 350mm milling width) and 3 times per year (up to 1,000mm milling width), generally for one day per order. Actual ordering requirements may be higher or lower dependent on requirements arising during the period of the Framework.

Each machine will primarily be used to assist with highway maintenance work within the borough of Wigan. The work will involve planing to a specified depth on Wigan Council’s carriageway network. There may be occasions where the Planer will be required to work on footway pavements and car parking areas.

The item of plant (Road Planer) will be supplied with a suitably competent Driver/Operative. Proof will be required of any relevant experience and training of drivers such as a valid driving licence, operator’s licence, certifications and accreditations. As a minimum this will include: Road Planer Driver – Valid CPCS or equivalent Card showing Road Planer Category & in date certificate.

Indicatively, 3 to 5 days hire per week (for an 8 wheel HGV tipper) dependent on workflow. More than one tipper may need to be hired on the same day. Prices will also be sought for the hire of a 6 wheel tipper on an as need basis. Actual ordering requirements may be higher or lower dependent on requirements arising during the period of the Framework.

The vehicle will primarily be used to assist with Highway Maintenance work within the borough of Wigan. The work will involve excavating footway pavements and assisting with the application of laying bituminous materials. The vehicle will be primarily used to dispose site spoil and travelling to disposal centres within the borough of Wigan.

The item of plant (HGV tipper 8×4/6×4) will be supplied with a driver. Proof will be required of any relevant experience and training of drivers such as valid driving licence, operator’s licence, certifications and accreditations. As a minimum this will include: Class 2 HGV Tipper Driver – RTITB or CPCS or equivalent Card for Tipper and certificate of training (in date) & Driving Licence Card (In Date) with CAT C Licence category showing Driver Qualification Card (in date to prove done CPC).

Indicatively, hire of 1 vehicle per day on an as need basis dependent on workflow. Actual ordering requirements may be higher or lower dependent on requirements arising during the period of the Framework.

The vehicle will primarily be used to assist with Highway Maintenance work within the borough of Wigan. The work will involve excavating footway pavements and assisting with the application of laying bituminous materials. The vehicle will also be required to move smaller items of plant either by lifting or towing which include, generators, towable pumps and small road rollers (e.g., Bomag 80).

The item of plant (Grab wagon) will be supplied with a driver. Proof will be required of any relevant experience and training of drivers such as valid driving licence, operator’s licence, certifications and accreditations. As a minimum this will include: Class 2 HGV HIAB Driver – ALLMI Lorry Loader Card or Other accredited Lorry Loader (HIAB Card) in date & Driving Licence Card (In Date) with CAT C Licence category showing Driver Qualification Card (in date to prove done CPC).

Indicatively, hire of 2 units, with each welfare unit being re-located approximately once every 2 weeks, dependent on workflow. Actual ordering requirements may be higher or lower dependent on requirements arising during the period of the Framework.

Each unit will primarily be used to assist with Highway Maintenance work within the borough of Wigan. The work will involve excavating footway pavements and assisting with the application of laying bituminous materials.

Delivery of the Welfare Unit will be direct to site at a location within the borough of Wigan. There may be an occasion where the delivery location or travel location my fall outside of the borough boundary of Wigan. The Welfare Unit will normally remain on site for a period of up to 2 weeks, but this is dependent on the nature of the work and can vary either way.

There will be a requirement for the supplier(s) appointed to this Lot to relocate welfare units, with each unit being re-located approximately once every 2 weeks.

It is the intention to appoint a minimum of 2 suppliers to each Lot (Wigan Council will not be bound to appoint more than 2 suppliers to each Lot), provided there are sufficient compliant and satisfactory responses received under the tender process. The supplier that submits the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT) bid for a particular Lot will be appointed as the first ranked supplier on that Lot, and so on.

Call-Off Contracts will be awarded on a cascade basis, in that the supplier who submits the Most Advantageous Tender will be appointed as the first supplier for any work requirements arising from a Lot. The first supplier will be contacted in the first instance by the Authority in respect of any requirements for Services; should the first supplier not have the capacity and /or capability and/or not be willing to provide the Services then the Authority would then contact the second supplier, etc… in respect of the service requirements.

To ensure that Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SME’s) are not inadvertently disadvantaged in the procurement process, it is not essential that bidding organisations are able to meet the full indicative ordering requirement when applying for a particular Lot as described in the Specification document (Part 3 – Lot Specifications).

By appointing to The Framework, the Council does not guarantee any volume or specific value of work. Actual purchase volumes may be higher or lower than those stated dependent on requirements arising during the period of the Framework. The Council is not bound to the use of the Framework for all requirements and reserves the right to tender separately or use other frameworks when necessary.

On the very occasional event that alternative items of plant within the Lots covered by this Framework are required by Wigan Council, which are not covered by the specifications detailed within the Invitation to Tender documentation, then Wigan Council reserves the right to conduct a competitive selection process amongst those suppliers on the relevant Lot. Where such a process is undertaken, it will allow all capable suppliers within the applicable lot(s) to be invited to submit a Further Competition tender, which will be assessed against the Award Criteria detailed in the Invitation to Tender documentation, to award a call-off contract for the requirements.

The bidder, and their Associated Persons identified in relation to the proposed Framework, must provide responses to a series of Mandatory and Discretionary Exclusion questions as part of their core supplier information on Find a Tender (Central Digital Platform). Responses will be assessed in line with the supplier suitability assessment detailed in the Invitation to Tender documentation.

Evidence of financial stability of the bidder assessed in line with the supplier suitability assessment in the Invitation to Tender documentation.

The bidder must hold, or commit to obtain prior to the award of the Framework, the following levels of insurance cover: * Employer’s Liability Insurance = a minimum of £10 million in respect of each and every claim, unlimited in any one year; * Public Liability Insurance = a minimum of £10 million in respect of each and every claim, unlimited in any one year.

Bidders which are classed as a relevant commercial organisation as defined by section 54 (“Transparency in supply chains etc”) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (“the Act”) need to be compliant with the annual reporting requirements contained within Section 54 of the Act 2015.

Relevant experience which demonstrates sufficient technical and professional ability and experience.

Staff Training, Qualifications and Accreditations – all operatives and staff who will be involved in providing the services for the Lots for which you are applying must have attained and shall hold throughout the duration of the Framework the following qualifications:

* Lot 1 – Backhoe Loader (with Operator) – JCB/Backhoe Loader Driver: Valid in date RTITB / CPCS Card & certificate for this category of plant. / * Lot 2 – Paving Machine (with Operator(s)) – Road Paver Driver: Valid CPCS or equivalent Card showing Road Paver Category & in date certificate. / * Lot 3 – Road Planer (with Operator(s)) and Road Sweeper (with Operator) – Road Planer Driver: Valid CPCS or equivalent Card showing Road Planer Category & in date certificate. / * Lot 4 – HGV Tipper 6 Wheel / 8 Wheel (with Operator) – Class 2 HGV Tipper Driver: RTITB or CPCS or equivalent Card for Tipper and certificate of training (in date) & Driving Licence Card (In Date) with CAT C Licence category showing Driver Qualification Card (in date to prove done CPC). / * Lot 5 – Grab Wagon (with Operator) – Class 2 HGV HIAB Driver: ALLMI Lorry Loader Card or Other accredited Lorry Loader (HIAB Card) in date & Driving Licence Card (In Date) with CAT C Licence category showing Driver Qualification Card (in date to prove done CPC).

Experience of sub-contractor management – where the bidder is to sub-contract a proportion of the contract, evidence is required to demonstrate maintenance of a healthy supply chain with subcontractors and the procedures used to ensure performance of the contract.

Staff Payment Practices – all operatives and staff directly involved in the provision of the services will, as a minimum, be paid the national living wage. This requirement also applies in respect of any staff provided through the use of sub-contractors.

Modern Slavery declaration / Artificial Intelligence declaration, assessed in line with the supplier suitability assessment detailed in the Invitation to Tender documentation.

The Chest procurement portal – https://www.the-chest.org.uk

Reputational Risk

• Cybersecurity Threats – A data breach or system compromise could damage public trust and the authority’s reputation.

• Supply Chain Disruption – Failure to deliver equipment on time may lead to negative publicity and stakeholder dissatisfaction.

Corporate Risk

• Regulatory or Policy Changes – Non-compliance with new health and safety or environmental regulations could expose the organisation to legal and reputational consequences.

• Dependency on Third Parties – Poor performance by subcontractors could undermine organisational credibility and governance.

Operational Risk

• Workforce Availability – Shortages of skilled staff could disrupt service continuity and operational efficiency.

• Environmental Events – Severe weather or climate-related incidents may impact logistics and delivery schedules.

• Technology Obsolescence – Outdated equipment could hinder service delivery and operational effectiveness.

Financial Risk

• Economic Volatility – Inflation or price fluctuations in materials and energy costs could increase contract costs and strain budgets.

• Supply Chain Disruption – Delays may lead to additional costs for expedited delivery or alternative sourcing.

Health and Safety Risk

• Regulatory or Policy Changes – Changes in safety standards could require urgent compliance measures.

• Technology Obsolescence – Outdated or non-compliant equipment could pose safety hazards to users.

• Environmental Events – Severe weather could create unsafe conditions for delivery and installation teams.

The advert for this opportunity can be viewed on our procurement portal The Chest at the web address provided.

Interested suppliers will need to click ‘Login and register interest in this opportunity’ to view the associated tender documents. Submission of bids will also be made through the portal.

Wigan Town Hall, Library Street

Wigan

WN1 1YN

United Kingdom

Contact name: Christopher Dunn

Email: christopher.dunn@wigan.gov.uk

Website: https://www.wigan.gov.uk

Region: UKD36 – Greater Manchester North West

Organisation type: Public authority – sub-central government