London Borough of Barnet has published a procurement opportunity for cleaning of council vehicles and waste receptacles with an estimated value of £310,000. The submission deadline is 7 May 2026, 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 London Borough of Barnet require a cleaning service to wash the Council’s fleet vehicles and plant, food waste bins within our town centres and ad-hoc washing of containers in different sizes within the borough. The cleaning service will be divided into 2 LOTS LOT 1 Vehicle, Plant and Equipment Washing LOT 2 Container Washing Services - Regular, scheduled washing of town centre food waste bins and Ad-hoc washing services for all container types and waste streams Vehicle, Plant and Equipment Washing The London Borough of Barnet requires a supplier to deliver comprehensive vehicle washing and cleaning services for its mixed fleet of operational vehicles and plant. The services include routine, periodic and ad hoc washing for light and heavy vehicles including, refuse collection vehicles, sweepers, winter maintenance gritters, buses and tippers, and preparation of vehicles for MOT and chassis inspections to DVSA standards. Volumes and frequencies are indicative and may vary throughout the contract to reflect operational requirements. Services will be delivered primarily from the Council’s wash bay facilities at Oakleigh Road Depot. The supplier is responsible for providing all labour, cleaning materials, equipment and PPE, and must comply with all health and safety, environmental, and COSHH regulations. Container Washing Barnet provides a range of containers of varying types and sizes for the collection of general waste, food waste, recycling, and garden waste. This service requirement covers the washing and cleaning of waste containers used across the borough. The bin washing service will include: •Scheduled washing of all town centre food waste bins, and •An ad-hoc washing service for containers of various sizes, ranging from 200 litre's to 1,100 litre's, and across all waste streams (general waste, recycling, and food waste). There is a statutory requirement for all Local Authorities in England to implement separate collections of food waste and recycling ac

London Borough of Barnet is the contracting authority. The estimated value is £310,000 and the deadline is 7 May 2026. Download the full specification from the official portal before preparing a bid.

Is your business eligible?

This contract is most relevant to facilities management companies, cleaning contractors, waste management firms. Suppliers typically need to demonstrate experience delivering similar contracts, appropriate financial standing, and hold environmental permits, ISO 14001.

Under the Procurement Act 2023, London Borough of Barnet must actively consider SME participation. Check whether this contract has been structured into lots.

• Proven track record in environmental & facilities contracts of comparable scope
• Financial standing appropriate for a £310,000 contract
• Relevant certifications: environmental permits, ISO 14001
• Capacity to mobilise within London Borough of Barnet’s required timeframe
• Ability to meet the 7 May 2026 submission deadline

How to submit a bid

• Step 1 — Access the notice: Visit Find a Tender at https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032605-2026
• 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 7 May 2026: Late submissions are not accepted

What the buyer will evaluate

London Borough of Barnet 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 London Borough of Barnet’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
• Submit at least 24 hours before 7 May 2026

Frequently asked questions

Can SMEs bid for this contract?

Yes. The Procurement Act 2023 requires London Borough of Barnet 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.

What happens if I miss the 7 May 2026 deadline?

Late submissions are not accepted. The deadline is absolute. Submit at least 24 hours early.

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/032605-2026.

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 London Borough of Barnet or the UK government.