AwardedAwarded 30 October 2026

FMM-26-001 - Grounds Maintenance and Grass Cutting Machinery

Education Authority · Education

In brief

Education Authority awarded this contract to Laird Grass Machinery Limited, Downpatrick Farm & Garden Supplies Ltd and M Large Tree Services and 3 others on 30 October 2026.

It is a framework worth up to £12,000,000 excluding VAT: the most the buyer expects to spend across all suppliers, not one contract.

The contract runs for 4 years, starting 1 November 2026.

The buyer says it is suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.

Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.

What the notice says

The Education Authority (EA) has established a Framework for the provision of Grounds Maintenance and Grass Cutting Machinery to grounds maintenance depots and EA locations within Northern Ireland for a period of 4 years. This framework agreement is let by the Northern Ireland Education Authority (“EA”) and is open to the EA, including NI educational bodies as follows and at some point, during the life of the contract these bodies may wish to utilise the agreement and should have access, at any point, with the permission of EA. This contract is not intended to replace any current contracts/framework agreements that participating or non-participating institutions may already have in place.…Read the full description
The Education Authority (EA) has established a Framework for the provision of Grounds Maintenance and Grass Cutting Machinery to grounds maintenance depots and EA locations within Northern Ireland for a period of 4 years. This framework agreement is let by the Northern Ireland Education Authority (“EA”) and is open to the EA, including NI educational bodies as follows and at some point, during the life of the contract these bodies may wish to utilise the agreement and should have access, at any point, with the permission of EA. This contract is not intended to replace any current contracts/framework agreements that participating or non-participating institutions may already have in place. https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/services/schools-plus Primary and Post Primary schools under the control of the EA, Catholic Maintained Schools, Independent Schools in NI, Irish Medium Schools in NI, both Controlled and Voluntary Grammar Schools, Nursery School for NI (both controlled and Catholic Maintained), school meals kitchens on-site at all of these schools, and Controlled Youth Centres. https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/contacts/further-education-fe-colleges Further Education Colleges in NI, https://www.nicie.org/parents/school-finder/ Grant Controlled Integrated Education Schools in NI, https://www.isc.co.uk/schools/northern-ireland/ Independent School in NI, Libraries NI: https://www.librariesni.org.uk/Libraries/, EA Teachers’ and Educational Centres, Council for the Curriculum, Examination and Assessment NI (CCEA), Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, Middletown Centre for Autism, Controlled Schools Support Council (CSSC), Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE), Pre-Schools and Nurseries included within the EA's Pre-School Education Programme (PSEP).

Who won

WinnerValueDates
Laird Grass Machinery Limited (SME)
7 bids received
£2,000,000
1 November 2026 to 31 October 2030
Downpatrick Farm & Garden Supplies Ltd (SME)
7 bids received
£2,000,000
1 November 2026 to 31 October 2030
M Large Tree Services (SME)
7 bids received
£2,000,000
1 November 2026 to 31 October 2030
Da Forgie (SME)
7 bids received
£2,000,000
1 November 2026 to 31 October 2030
R D Mechanical Services Ltd (SME)
7 bids received
£2,000,000
1 November 2026 to 31 October 2030
A.J. Armstrong and Sons Ltd (SME)
Laird Grass Machinery Limited (SME)
Da Forgie (SME)
R D Mechanical Services Ltd (SME)
M Large Tree Services (SME)
Downpatrick Farm & Garden Supplies Ltd (SME)
7 bids received
£2,000,000
Awarded 15 October 2026
1 November 2026 to 31 October 2030

Values as the award notice gives them, excluding VAT where stated.

Timeline

  1. Preliminary market engagement notice · UK2, notice 036219-2026
  2. Tender notice · UK4, notice 063598-2026
  3. Contract award notice · UK6, notice 098028-2026
  4. Contract details notice · UK7, notice 107579-2026

About the buyer

Education AuthorityLast 12 months

Procurements

134

Awards

44

Suppliers it has used most

From notice 036219-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 21 April 2026, last updated 12 November 2026. We last checked for changes on 12 November 2026.