Official UK procurement notice
Security Services for Cheshire East Council
Authority: Cheshire East Council (Local council)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionCheshire East Council are looking for a supplier to perform our Security Services contract. This contract will be procured using the Competitive Flexible Procedure and is defined as a light touch contract under the Procurement Act and regulations.
The scope of the Services comprises the following main service elements:
- Static guarding & ad-hoc security services;
- Response services & key holding (including fire and intruder);
- Site Monitoring (Mobile Patrols and CCTV installation & monitoring) & keyholding;
- Locking/unlocking sites & key holding;
- Security stewarding/guarding ad-hoc indoor and outdoor events.
The Council's portfolio to be covered by this Contract is c.65 sites of differing sizes spread across a large geographic area including rural settings. The sites requiring the various service elements of this Contract range from corporate offices where staff and members of visiting public will be present, to isolated sites in countryside locations including parks and car parks where there is limited artificial lighting at night, to busy multi-storey car parks where opening times are important. Access to some sites could be challenging in bad weather and monitoring situations may be difficult. The site portfolio also includes operational sites of a high-risk nature, where fire would cause large scale risk to life and immeasurable damage and disruption.
The Service Provider must be prepared to deliver its services across this varied and complex portfolio and must adopt its security services accordingly.
The Authority has determined that security services under this contract must be delivered directly by the provider and that subcontracting will not be permitted. This reflects the need for direct control over personnel vetting, licensing, training standards and operational management, which are critical to the safe and effective delivery of security services. This requirement is linked to the subject matter of the contract and is proportionate to the risks being managed. Permitting subcontracting would introduce additional layers of delivery and oversight, increasing the risk of non-compliance and undermining clear contractual accountability for performance and conduct. The Authority is satisfied that this approach complies with the procurement objectives in section 12 of the Act and does not unduly restrict competition, as the market includes a sufficient number of providers capable of delivering the services in house.
Due to the nature of the services, which include manned guarding and the protection of people, property and assets, the Authority requires that the contract be delivered by a single economic operator. Consortium bids will not be permitted. This requirement is directly linked to the subject matter of the contract and is necessary to ensure clear accountability, effective control over personnel vetting, training and supervision, and robust operational governance. The Authority considers this requirement to be proportionate to the risks being managed and is satisfied that sufficient market capacity exists to maintain effective competition.
- The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 1 Nov 2029, 23:59 GMT.
- How the procedure runs: The first stage of the procurement process for the Contract is the Procurement Specific Questionnaire or Participation and Shortlisting Questionnaire (PSQ) stage. Organisations responding to this PSQ stage of the procurement process who wish to participate in this procurement exercise may access the PSQ response document and DRAFT procurement documents via the Chest e-tendering portal (the "Portal"). Applicants must ensure that all clarifications, queries, communications, and the submission of all documents and application forms that may form part of their PSQ Response are submitted via the Portal. Following submissions of the completed PSQ responses, the Authority will apply the selection criteria in the PSQ. The Council intends to select the highest scoring FOUR (4) economic operators to progress from the PSQ stage to the invitation to tender (ITT) stage (subject to selected economic operators meeting the Authority's Minimum Standards set out in the PSQ). Any Supplier who: (a) fails to provide a response to any of the Shortlisting Criteria questions in Part 4 of the PSQ; or (b) achieves a score of less than 4 for any individual Shortlisting Criteria question; will be excluded from further participation in this procurement. In addition, Suppliers must achieve a minimum overall score of 62% across the Shortlisting Criteria questions in Part 4. Any Supplier failing to meet this threshold will be excluded from further participation in this procurement. These thresholds represent the minimum acceptable standard required to demonstrate the Supplier's capability and capacity in relation to the subject matter of the contract. In the event that two (2) or more Qualified Suppliers achieve the same score (i.e. they are tied), the submission which scores the highest for Q1 will be ranked highest. If this is not a determining factor, then the submission which scores the highest on question Q2 will be ranked highest, and so on through to question Q3. In the event that a tie remains after comparison of overall and question-level scores, the Authority will determine the ranking of the tied tenders by reference to Question 1 (Critical Service Delivery) only, applying the following approach: The Authority will undertake a structured comparison of the responses to Question 1 submitted by the tied Suppliers, using only the existing evaluation framework and scoring descriptors already published for that question and without introducing any new criteria, weightings, or requirements for further information. The purpose of this comparison is solely to determine whether one response demonstrably better meets the published descriptors for Question 1 as a whole when assessed against the other tied response(s). No re scoring of other questions will be undertaken. This comparative assessment forms part of the award methodology and applies equally to all suppliers. Where a ranking cannot be determined following this process then the Suppliers will remain tied and will be shortlisted. If fewer than 4 Suppliers have responded to this tendering procedure, or if fewer than 4 Suppliers have qualified based on the information in Parts 1,3,4 and Appendix 1 the Authority reserves the right to proceed with a smaller shortlist provided it is confident that sufficient competition exists to give the prospect of a value for money outcome. The deadline for clarifications to be submitted to the portal at this PSQ stage is 12 noon (12:00 pm), on 12th June 2026. The Authority is seeking responses to this call for competition in advance of the deadline of 12 noon (12:00 pm), on the 19th June 2026. Applicants who do not submit a response to this call for competition by 12 noon (12:00 pm), on the 19th June 2026 may not be eligible to participate in proceeding stages of this procurement.
CPV: Security services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1RenewalPublished value£950,000
- Economic & financial standing
Refer to the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) Documentation for details of conditions of participation and shortlisting criteria.
- Technical & professional ability
Refer to the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) Documentation for details of conditions of participation and shortlisting criteria.
- Condition of participationshortlisting
Top scoring submissions as per the shortlisting criteria stated within tender documentation.
The Council intends to select the highest scoring FOUR (4) economic operators to progress from the PSQ stage to the invitation to tender (ITT) stage (subject to selected economic operators meeting the Authority's Minimum Standards set out in the PSQ).
Any Supplier who:
(a) fails to provide a response to any of the Shortlisting Criteria questions in Part 4 of the PSQ; or
(b) achieves a score of less than 4 for any individual Shortlisting Criteria question;
will be excluded from further participation in this procurement.
In addition, Suppliers must achieve a minimum overall score of 62% across the Shortlisting Criteria questions in Part 4. Any Supplier failing to meet this threshold will be excluded from further participation in this procurement.
These thresholds represent the minimum acceptable standard required to demonstrate the Supplier's capability and capacity in relation to the subject matter of the contract.
In the event that two (2) or more Qualified Suppliers achieve the same score (i.e. they are tied), the submission which scores the highest for Q1 will be ranked highest. If this is not a determining factor, then the submission which scores the highest on question Q2 will be ranked highest, and so on through to question Q3.
In the event that a tie remains after comparison of overall and question-level scores, the Authority will determine the ranking of the tied tenders by reference to Question 1 (Critical Service Delivery) only, applying the following approach:
The Authority will undertake a structured comparison of the responses to Question 1 submitted by the tied Suppliers, using only the existing evaluation framework and scoring descriptors already published for that question and without introducing any new criteria, weightings, or requirements for further information. The purpose of this comparison is solely to determine whether one response demonstrably better meets the published descriptors for Question 1 as a whole when assessed against the other tied response(s). No re scoring of other questions will be undertaken. This comparative assessment forms part of the award methodology and applies equally to all suppliers.
Where a ranking cannot be determined following this process then the Suppliers will remain tied and will be shortlisted.
If fewer than 4 Suppliers have responded to this tendering procedure, or if fewer than 4 Suppliers have qualified based on the information in Parts 1,3,4 and Appendix 1 the Authority reserves the right to proceed with a smaller shortlist provided it is confident that sufficient competition exists to give the prospect of a value for money outcome.
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Published award criteria (2)
- Quality: This section will consist of the Quality Award Criteria questions out of 50% and the Tour of the Facility and Interview questions out of 25%.
- Price
- Economic & financial standing
Refer to the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) Documentation for details of conditions of participation and shortlisting criteria.
- Technical & professional ability
Refer to the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) Documentation for details of conditions of participation and shortlisting criteria.
- Condition of participationshortlisting
Top scoring submissions as per the shortlisting criteria stated within tender documentation.
The Council intends to select the highest scoring FOUR (4) economic operators to progress from the PSQ stage to the invitation to tender (ITT) stage (subject to selected economic operators meeting the Authority's Minimum Standards set out in the PSQ).
Any Supplier who:
(a) fails to provide a response to any of the Shortlisting Criteria questions in Part 4 of the PSQ; or
(b) achieves a score of less than 4 for any individual Shortlisting Criteria question;
will be excluded from further participation in this procurement.
In addition, Suppliers must achieve a minimum overall score of 62% across the Shortlisting Criteria questions in Part 4. Any Supplier failing to meet this threshold will be excluded from further participation in this procurement.
These thresholds represent the minimum acceptable standard required to demonstrate the Supplier's capability and capacity in relation to the subject matter of the contract.
In the event that two (2) or more Qualified Suppliers achieve the same score (i.e. they are tied), the submission which scores the highest for Q1 will be ranked highest. If this is not a determining factor, then the submission which scores the highest on question Q2 will be ranked highest, and so on through to question Q3.
In the event that a tie remains after comparison of overall and question-level scores, the Authority will determine the ranking of the tied tenders by…
- Price carries 25 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 2.5 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Closed
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Light touch regime
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Yes · next expected 1 Nov 2029
- First published
- 22 May 2026, 08:03 BST
- Last source update
- 22 May 2026, 08:03 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 19 Oct 2026
- Authority reference
C5280- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-047471- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06a02eFind a Tender
- How it runs
The first stage of the procurement process for the Contract is the Procurement Specific Questionnaire or Participation and Shortlisting Questionnaire (PSQ) stage. Organisations responding to this PSQ stage of the procurement process who wish to participate in this procurement exercise may access the PSQ response document and DRAFT procurement documents via the Chest e-tendering portal (the "Portal"). Applicants must ensure that all clarifications, queries, communications, and
the submission of all documents and application forms that may form part of their PSQ Response are submitted via the Portal. Following submissions of the completed PSQ responses, the Authority will apply the selection criteria in the PSQ.
The Council intends to select the highest scoring FOUR (4) economic operators to progress from the PSQ stage to the invitation to tender (ITT) stage (subject to selected economic operators meeting the Authority's Minimum Standards set out in the PSQ).
Any Supplier who:
(a) fails to provide a response to any of the Shortlisting Criteria questions in Part 4 of the PSQ; or
(b) achieves a score of less than 4 for any individual Shortlisting Criteria question;
will be excluded from further participation in this procurement.
In addition, Suppliers must achieve a minimum overall score of 62% across the Shortlisting Criteria questions in Part 4. Any Supplier failing to meet this threshold will be excluded from further participation in this procurement.
These thresholds represent the minimum acceptable standard required to demonstrate the Supplier's capability and capacity in relation to the subject matter of the contract.
In the event that two (2) or more Qualified Suppliers achieve the same score (i.e. they are tied), the submission which scores the highest for Q1 will be ranked highest. If this is not a determining factor, then the submission which scores the highest on question Q2 will be ranked highest, and so on through to question Q3.
In the event that a tie remains after comparison of overall and question-level scores, the Authority will determine the ranking of the tied tenders by reference to Question 1 (Critical Service Delivery) only, applying the following approach:
The Authority will undertake a structured comparison of the responses to Question 1 submitted by the tied Suppliers, using only the existing evaluation framework and scoring descriptors already published for that question and without introducing any new criteria, weightings, or requirements for further information. The purpose of this comparison is solely to determine whether one response demonstrably better meets the published descriptors for Question 1 as a whole when assessed against the other tied response(s). No re scoring of other questions will be undertaken. This comparative assessment forms part of the award methodology and applies equally to all suppliers.
Where a ranking cannot be determined following this process then the Suppliers will remain tied and will be shortlisted.
If fewer than 4 Suppliers have responded to this tendering procedure, or if fewer than 4 Suppliers have qualified based on the information in Parts 1,3,4 and Appendix 1 the Authority reserves the right to proceed with a smaller shortlist provided it is confident that sufficient competition exists to give the prospect of a value for money outcome.
The deadline for clarifications to be submitted to the portal at this PSQ stage is 12 noon (12:00 pm), on 12th June 2026. The Authority is seeking responses to this call for competition in
advance of the deadline of 12 noon (12:00 pm), on the 19th June 2026. Applicants who do not submit a response to this call for competition by 12 noon (12:00 pm), on the 19th June 2026 may not be eligible to participate in proceeding stages of this procurement.
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 19 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission deadline
- 19 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 12 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
The submission address is www.the-chest.org.uk ↗
This procurement exercise will be conducted on Cheshire East Borough Council's electronic Contract and Tender Management System at the www.the-chest.org.uk ↗ Organisations wishing to be considered for this contract must register their expression of interest and provide additional required information through the Contract and Tender Management System. If you have any technical problems with The Contract and Tender Management
System please contact the help-desk on: Email: ProContractSuppliers@proactis.com or telephone 0330 005 0352. In order to participate, providers must register, complete and upload completed documentation and submit this via the Chest at the link provided in this notice. The project reference on The Chest is DN806868.
To access this competition and the procurement specific questionnaire, please visit www.the-chest.org.uk ↗,
project ID DN806868.
This Tender Notice is published to advertise and invite expressions of interest from organisations wishing to enter into a contract with the Authority for the provision of Security Services.
The values given in this notice are only estimations and take into account the extension option - the Council gives no guarantee or warranty or makes any representation as to the accuracy of any indicative volumes.
The Authority reserves the right not to award the opportunity or to award only part (or a different arrangement) of the opportunity described in this contract notice.
Timeline
22 May 2026 → 16 Nov 2026 · 5 dates- Tender notice published160 days ago22 May 2026, 08:03 BST
- Clarification questions by139 days ago12 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission deadline132 days ago19 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
- Award decision expected by9 days ago19 Oct 2026, 23:59 BST
- Today29 Oct 2026
- Contract startsin 17 days16 Nov 2026
Notice history
1 event · 1 release on Find a Tender- Tender notice published22 May 2026, 08:03 BSTUK4
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (1)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender