Official UK procurement notice
FEW1614 - Removal of Illegal and Abandoned Vehicles
Authority: Leicester City Council (Local council)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe tow-away company operates under the authorisation of the council to manage and enforce parking regulations within the parking regulations. Their primary role is to remove vehicles that are parked in violation of established parking regulations such as those that are dangerously positioned, abandoned, or obstructing traffic flow. The service provided by the towing company include identifying and locating offending vehicles, safely removing them from the specified area and transporting them to a compound. They also maintain proper documentation of each tow including reasons for removal and vehicle details to ensure transparency and accountability. Additionally, the towing company may collaborate with the council to respond to emergency situations and provide timely assistance to maintain public safety on the roads. Overall, their work is vital to upholding the council's parking policies and enhancing the overall accessibility and safety of the community.
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedLot #1Awarded
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Direct award
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Notice status
- Awarded without competition
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Direct award (no call for competition)
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 22 Apr 2026, 16:31 BST
- Last source update
- 15 May 2026, 14:14 BST
- Authority reference
FEW1614- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-044945- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0688fcFind a Tender
- Why no open competition
- Switching Direct Award
- Published justification
Under PAN3357 - we received limited competition as part of this tender process and the offer(s) received were in excess of the Council's projected budget. We took decision to not continue with the process and a direct award is being made.
- Risks
Legal Risks - Liability for unlawful towing such as towing legally parked vehicles or violating local regulations.
Reputation Risks - Negative public perception due to unethical towing practices or poor customer service.
Financial Risks - Unexpected costs, fees, or damage to vehicles leading to financial liability
Operational Risks - Delays in response time or inadequate service affecting the towing process
Community Relations Risks - Negative backlash from the community or individuals affected by towing, leading to complaints and refusal to pay to release the vehicle
Safety Risks - Incidents during the towing process that might cause injury to personnel or property
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- —
Timeline
1 May 2026 → 15 May 2026 · 2 dates- Standstill ends180 days ago1 May 2026, 23:59 BST
- Notice published166 days ago15 May 2026, 14:14 BST
Notice history
4 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 22 Apr 2026- Transparency notice published22 Apr 2026, 16:31 BSTUK5
- Contract award notice published22 Apr 2026, 16:42 BSTUK6
- Contract signature expected5 May 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract details notice published15 May 2026, 14:14 BSTUK7
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unity Recovery Service Limited5 May 2026 – 31 Mar 2029 · up to 31 Mar 2031Extensions: 2 x 12-month extensions available, depending on contract performance. | £410,000 | 25 Mar 2026 | Awarded |
Contracts
FEW1614 - Removal of Illegal and Abandoned Vehicles · Unity Recovery Service Limited
- Signed
- 13 May 2026
- Value
- £410,000
- Period
- 13 May 2026 – 31 Mar 2029 · up to 31 Mar 2031 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- 2 x 12-month extensions available, depending on contract performance.
No agreed KPIs: KPIs are not the most effective method to manage the performance of this contract
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- Unity Recovery Service LimitedAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (3)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Transparency notice Transparency notice on Find a Tender