Tender for Play Area Works within the Borough of Ards and North Down
Ards and North Down Borough Council
Tenders are sought by Ards and North Down Borough Council for the provision of new and replacement play areas, and play area maintenance within the Borough area. The requirement is split into 2 Lots: Lot 1 - Northern and Lot 2 - Southern. Full details of the requirement are detailed within the tender documentation available on eTendersNI - https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps/home.do
DeadlineThe time limit for receipt of tenders was 2026-01-12. The procurement was published on 2025-11-12.
SuppliersThe following suppliers are mentioned in award decisions or other procurement documents:
Who? What?- • Construction equipment › Park and playground equipment
- • Construction work › Works for complete or part construction and civil engineering work
- • Landscaping work › Landscaping work for sports grounds and recreational areas › Landscaping work for playgrounds
- • Miscellaneous repair and maintenance services › Repair and maintenance services of playground equipment
- • Roundabouts, swings, shooting galleries and other fairground amusements › Playground equipment
- • Luxembourg › Luxembourg
- • Northern and Western › Border
Procurement history
| Date | Document |
|---|---|
| 2025-11-12 | Contract notice |
| 2025-11-14 | Contract notice |
| 2025-12-12 | Contract notice |
| 2026-04-17 | Contract award notice |
Contract notice (2025-11-12)
Object
Scope of the procurement
Title: Tender for Play Area Works within the Borough of Ards and North Down
Short description:
Type of contract: Works
Products/services: Landscaping work for playgrounds 📦
Estimated value excluding VAT: 5 100 000 GBP 💰
Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots ✅
Maximum number of lots that may be awarded to one tenderer: 1
Tenders may be submitted for maximum number of lots: 2
1️⃣
Title: Lot 1 - Northern
Description of the procurement:
Additional products/services:
Main site or place of performance: N/A
Country: Ireland 🇮🇪
Place of performance: Border 🏙️
Duration
Start date: 2026-04-01 📅
End date: 2028-03-31 📅
Description
Maximum renewals: 3
Other information about renewals:
Award criteria
Quality criterion (name): The total qualitative criteria is 75%. Full details of all the qualitative criteria are detailed within the tender documents.
Cost criterion (name): The total quantitative criteria is 25%. Full details of the quantitative criteria are detailed within the tender documents.
Title
Lot Identification Number:
2️⃣
Title: Lot 2 - Southern
Description of the procurement:
Title
Lot Identification Number:
Procedure
Type of procedure
Open procedure ✅
Legal basis: Directive 2014/24/EU
Administrative information
Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate: 2026-01-12 12:00:00 📅
Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted: English 🗣️
Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender: 6 months
Tendering terms
Tenderers may submit more than one tender
Electronic invoicing: Allowed
Electronic ordering will be used ✅
Electronic payment will be used ✅
Deadline for requesting additional information: 2026-01-07 12:00:00 📅
Contracting authority
Name and addresses
Name: Ards and North Down Borough Council
National registration number:
Postal address: City Hall, The Castle
Postal code: BT20 4BT
Postal town: Bangor
Region: Border 🏙️
Country: Ireland 🇮🇪
E-mail: procurement@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk 📧
Phone: 0300 013 3333 📞
Address of the buyer profile: https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps/home.do 🌏
Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
Main activity
General public services
Communication
Documents URL: https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps/home.do 🌏
Participation URL: https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps/home.do 🌏
Identifier of EU funds: Peaceplus
Further details of EU funds: PEACEPLUS
EU funds programme: European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (2021/2027)
Electronic submission: Required
Complementary information
Review body
Same as: Name and addresses
Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures: N/A
Information about electronic workflows
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Notice information
Preferred publication date: 2025-11-13Z 📅
Source: OJS 2025/S 219-754393 (2025-11-12)
Object
Scope of the procurement
Title: Tender for Play Area Works within the Borough of Ards and North Down
Short description:
Tenders are sought by Ards and North Down Borough Council for the provision of new and replacement play areas, and play area maintenance within the Borough area. The requirement is split into 2 Lots: Lot 1 - Northern and Lot 2 - Southern. Full details of the requirement are detailed within the tender documentation available on eTendersNI - https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps/home.do
Show more
Products/services: Landscaping work for playgrounds 📦
Estimated value excluding VAT: 5 100 000 GBP 💰
Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots ✅
Maximum number of lots that may be awarded to one tenderer: 1
Tenders may be submitted for maximum number of lots: 2
1️⃣
Title: Lot 1 - Northern
Description of the procurement:
Tenders are sought by Ards and North Down Borough Council for the provision of new and replacement play areas, and play area maintenance within the Borough area. This Lot is for the Nothern area of the Borough as detailed within the tender documents.
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Country: Ireland 🇮🇪
Place of performance: Border 🏙️
Duration
Start date: 2026-04-01 📅
End date: 2028-03-31 📅
Description
Maximum renewals: 3
Other information about renewals:
The Council anticipates that the Contract will commence on 1 April 2026 initially for a two-year period, with the option to extend the contract for a further 3x 12-month periods, reviewed annually and subject to the successful provider meeting the required standards and performance requirements.
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Quality criterion (name): The total qualitative criteria is 75%. Full details of all the qualitative criteria are detailed within the tender documents.
Cost criterion (name): The total quantitative criteria is 25%. Full details of the quantitative criteria are detailed within the tender documents.
Title
Lot Identification Number:
LOT-0001
2️⃣
Title: Lot 2 - Southern
Description of the procurement:
Tenders are sought by Ards and North Down Borough Council for the provision of new and replacement play areas, and play area maintenance within the Borough area. This Lot is for the Southern area of the Borough as detailed within the tender documents.
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Lot Identification Number:
LOT-0002
Procedure
Type of procedure
Open procedure ✅
Legal basis: Directive 2014/24/EU
Administrative information
Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate: 2026-01-12 12:00:00 📅
Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted: English 🗣️
Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender: 6 months
Tendering terms
Tenderers may submit more than one tender
Electronic invoicing: Allowed
Electronic ordering will be used ✅
Electronic payment will be used ✅
Deadline for requesting additional information: 2026-01-07 12:00:00 📅
Contracting authority
Name and addresses
Name: Ards and North Down Borough Council
National registration number:
N/A
Postal address: City Hall, The Castle
Postal code: BT20 4BT
Postal town: Bangor
Region: Border 🏙️
Country: Ireland 🇮🇪
E-mail: procurement@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk 📧
Phone: 0300 013 3333 📞
Address of the buyer profile: https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps/home.do 🌏
Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
Main activity
General public services
Communication
Documents URL: https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps/home.do 🌏
Participation URL: https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps/home.do 🌏
Identifier of EU funds: Peaceplus
Further details of EU funds: PEACEPLUS
EU funds programme: European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (2021/2027)
Electronic submission: Required
Complementary information
Review body
Same as: Name and addresses
Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures: N/A
Information about electronic workflows
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Notice information
Preferred publication date: 2025-11-13Z 📅
Source: OJS 2025/S 219-754393 (2025-11-12)
Contract notice (2025-11-14)
Object
Scope of the procurement
Estimated value excluding VAT: 5 100 000 GBP 💰
Description
Country: United Kingdom 🇬🇧
Changes
Text to be corrected in the original notice
Lot Identification Number:
New value
Text:
Main reason for change: Buyer correction
Information about modifications
Version of the previous notice to be changed: 754393-2025
Source: OJS 2025/S 221-761571 (2025-11-14)
Object
Scope of the procurement
Estimated value excluding VAT: 5 100 000 GBP 💰
Description
Country: United Kingdom 🇬🇧
Changes
Text to be corrected in the original notice
Lot Identification Number:
LOT-0001
New value
Text:
The "Place of Performance" (Section BT - 5141) has been corrected from Ireland to United Kingdom
Other additional information
Main reason for change: Buyer correction
Information about modifications
Version of the previous notice to be changed: 754393-2025
Source: OJS 2025/S 221-761571 (2025-11-14)
Contract notice (2025-12-12)
Object
Scope of the procurement
Estimated value excluding VAT: 5 100 000 GBP 💰
Procedure
Administrative information
Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate: 2026-01-19 12:00:00 📅
Tendering terms
Deadline for requesting additional information: 2026-01-14 12:00:00 📅
Changes
Text to be corrected in the original notice
Lot Identification Number:
New value
Text:
Other additional information
Extension to Deadline for Receipt of Submissions and Clarifications
Main reason for change: Buyer correction
Information about modifications
Version of the previous notice to be changed: 761571-2025
Source: OJS 2025/S 241-831554 (2025-12-12)
Object
Scope of the procurement
Estimated value excluding VAT: 5 100 000 GBP 💰
Procedure
Administrative information
Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate: 2026-01-19 12:00:00 📅
Tendering terms
Deadline for requesting additional information: 2026-01-14 12:00:00 📅
Changes
Text to be corrected in the original notice
Lot Identification Number:
LOT-0001
New value
Text:
Economic Operators are advised that Council has extended the deadline for receipt of submissions by 1 week until 12noon on Monday 19th January 2026. The deadline for receipt of clarifications has also been extended by 1 week until 12noon on Wednesday 14th January 2026.
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Extension to Deadline for Receipt of Submissions and Clarifications
Main reason for change: Buyer correction
Information about modifications
Version of the previous notice to be changed: 761571-2025
Source: OJS 2025/S 241-831554 (2025-12-12)
Contract award notice (2026-04-17)
Object
Scope of the procurement
Estimated value excluding VAT: 5 100 000 GBP 💰
Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT): 5 100 000 GBP 💰
Name of EU-financed project or programme: European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (2021/2027)
Further details of EU funds: PEACEPLUS
Identifier of EU funds: PEACEPLUS
Description
Estimated value excluding VAT: 2 850 000 GBP 💰
Duration
Start date: 2026-04-17 📅
End date: 2028-04-16 📅
Description
Other information about renewals:
Information about options
Options ✅
Description of options:
Award criteria
Quality criterion (weighting): 75
Cost criterion (weighting): 25
Description
Estimated value excluding VAT: 2 250 000 GBP 💰
Procedure
Award criteria
Weight type: Weight (percentage, exact)
Award of contract
1️⃣
A contract/lot is awarded ✅
Lot Identification Number:
Contract Number:
Date of conclusion of the contract: 2026-04-16 📅
Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 3
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 3
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 3
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0
Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: 2 850 000 GBP 💰
Tender identifier:
Identifier of lot or group of lots:
Information about tenders
Name of the tendering party: Garden Escapes Ireland Limited
Name and address of the contractor
Name: Garden Escapes (Ireland) Limited
National registration number:
Postal address: 43c Ballycreen Road
Postal code: BT24 8UB
Postal town: Ballynahinch
Country: United Kingdom 🇬🇧
E-mail: david@gardenescapesni.com 📧
The winner is listed on a regulated market ✅
Size of the economic operator: Small
2️⃣
Lot Identification Number:
Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: 2 250 000 GBP 💰
Tender identifier:
Identifier of lot or group of lots:
Information about tenders
Name of the tendering party: Play and Leisure Services Limited
Name and address of the contractor
Name: Play and Leisure Services Ltd
National registration number:
Postal address: 31 Carrowdore Road
Postal code: BT22 2LU
Postal town: Co. Down
E-mail: office@playandleisureservices.co.uk 📧
Contracting authority
Name and addresses
National registration number:
Complementary information
Review body
Source: OJS 2026/S 077-270162 (2026-04-17)
Object
Scope of the procurement
Estimated value excluding VAT: 5 100 000 GBP 💰
Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT): 5 100 000 GBP 💰
Name of EU-financed project or programme: European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (2021/2027)
Further details of EU funds: PEACEPLUS
Identifier of EU funds: PEACEPLUS
Description
Estimated value excluding VAT: 2 850 000 GBP 💰
Duration
Start date: 2026-04-17 📅
End date: 2028-04-16 📅
Description
Other information about renewals:
The contract commenced on 17 April 2026 initially for a two-year period, with the option to extend the contract for a further 3x 12-month periods, reviewed annually and subject to the successful provider meeting the required standards and performance requirements.
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Options ✅
Description of options:
As detailed in the tender documents, during the course of the contract, the successful contractors may be asked to carry out some externally funded play area refurbishments and/or new play area developments that fall under the scope of this contract.
Council may use this contract to deliver specialist play provision outside of the skillset of traditional play equipment providers, for example (but not limited to) the provision of skateparks and pump tracks.
Furthermore, as also detailed in the tender documents, the Play Strategy is being reviewed and it is envisaged that the overall budget will be increased, however this is not guaranteed and subject to approval by Council.
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Quality criterion (weighting): 75
Cost criterion (weighting): 25
Description
Estimated value excluding VAT: 2 250 000 GBP 💰
Procedure
Award criteria
Weight type: Weight (percentage, exact)
Award of contract
1️⃣
A contract/lot is awarded ✅
Lot Identification Number:
LOT-0001
Contract Number:
Lot 1 - Northern
Date of conclusion of the contract: 2026-04-16 📅
Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 3
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 3
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 3
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0
Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: 2 850 000 GBP 💰
Tender identifier:
Lot 1 - Northern Area
Identifier of lot or group of lots:
LOT-0001
Information about tenders
Name of the tendering party: Garden Escapes Ireland Limited
Name and address of the contractor
Name: Garden Escapes (Ireland) Limited
National registration number:
PBHV-7537-LCTH
Postal address: 43c Ballycreen Road
Postal code: BT24 8UB
Postal town: Ballynahinch
Country: United Kingdom 🇬🇧
E-mail: david@gardenescapesni.com 📧
The winner is listed on a regulated market ✅
Size of the economic operator: Small
2️⃣
Lot Identification Number:
LOT-0002
Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: 2 250 000 GBP 💰
Tender identifier:
Lot 2 - Southern Area
Identifier of lot or group of lots:
LOT-0002
Information about tenders
Name of the tendering party: Play and Leisure Services Limited
Name and address of the contractor
Name: Play and Leisure Services Ltd
National registration number:
PVVY-2523-HVJH
Postal address: 31 Carrowdore Road
Postal code: BT22 2LU
Postal town: Co. Down
E-mail: office@playandleisureservices.co.uk 📧
Contracting authority
Name and addresses
National registration number:
PTTZ-3295-PYCW
Complementary information
Review body
PTTZ-3295-PYCW
Source: OJS 2026/S 077-270162 (2026-04-17)
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