Durham County Council has published a procurement opportunity for 003476 - preliminary market engagement (pme) for the pest control management system with an estimated value of £80,000. The submission deadline is the date stated in the official notice, giving eligible UK suppliers a limited window to prepare and submit bids through the official Find a Tender portal.

Published on 2026-04-09, this contract is open to suitably qualified suppliers across the United Kingdom. All businesses interested in bidding should review the full tender documentation and confirm they meet all eligibility requirements before the closing date.

Contract overview

The Pest Control Team at Durham County Council delivers services to residents (approximately 13,000 visits per year) as well as businesses, third-sector organisations, and public bodies (450+ annual contracts plus ad hoc treatments each year). Such work includes: • Free surveys to quote for chargeable works • One-off, time limited, pre-paid treatment jobs. • One-off treatment and proofing jobs that are invoiced for after the work has been completed. • Annual contracts that include scheduled monitoring visits and callouts, which are invoiced for at the start of the contract. • Free public health investigations. The service currently uses a variety of paper-based and electronic systems, so it is looking to procure a single, modern platform to manage its work. Such a system will need to be capable of managing both the office and field-based elements of the work whilst also integrating with relevant corporate systems (e.g. customer portal, finance, etc). The system will also need to ensure data protection, security, accessibility, and public sector compliance. This notice forms part of our preliminary market engagement, offering you the opportunity to share feedback and comments before the opportunity is released for formal tender submissions. Interested providers can access the written response questions, free of charge, by registering on the Open Portal at www.open-uk.org The deadline for completed responses is Friday 24th April 2026 at 12 noon.

Durham County Council is the contracting authority. The estimated value is £80,000 and the deadline is the date stated in the official notice. Download the full specification from the official portal before preparing a bid.

Is your business eligible?

This contract is most relevant to IT consultancies, software developers, managed service providers. Suppliers typically need to demonstrate experience delivering similar contracts, appropriate financial standing, and hold Cyber Essentials Plus, ISO 27001.

Under the Procurement Act 2023, Durham County Council must actively consider SME participation. Check whether this contract has been structured into lots.

• Proven track record in it & technology contracts of comparable scope
• Financial standing appropriate for a £80,000 contract
• Relevant certifications: Cyber Essentials Plus, ISO 27001
• Capacity to mobilise within Durham County Council’s required timeframe

How to submit a bid

• Step 1 — Access the notice: Visit Find a Tender at https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032305-2026
• Step 2 — Register free: Create or log in to your supplier account
• Step 3 — Download documents: Read the full ITT before preparing your response
• Step 4 — Raise clarifications: Submit questions early — Q&A typically closes 1–2 weeks before the deadline
• Step 5 — Submit before the date stated in the official notice: Late submissions are not accepted

What the buyer will evaluate

Durham County Council will assess all compliant bids against published criteria. Buyers typically apply a 60% quality and 40% price weighting. Under the Procurement Act 2023, social value is a mandatory evaluation criterion.

Writing a winning bid

• Lead with an executive summary addressing Durham County Council’s objectives directly
• Provide two or more case studies with measurable outcomes from comparable contracts
• Include specific, costed social value commitments
• Price to win but ensure your margin covers full delivery

Frequently asked questions

Can SMEs bid for this contract?

Yes. The Procurement Act 2023 requires Durham County Council to consider SME suitability and remove unnecessary barriers.

Is registration on the portal free?

Yes. Registering as a supplier on Find a Tender is completely free.

Where are the full tender documents?

All documents are on the official Find a Tender listing at https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032305-2026.

This article is for informational purposes only. Always verify all details on the official procurement portal before submitting a bid. Kael Tripton is not affiliated with or endorsed by Durham County Council or the UK government.