To deliver this ambitious project, the procurement was divided into three open tenders covering four pitches at three sites, each pitch upgrade was valued at approximately £300,000—bringing the total project value to £1.2 million. Contracts were awarded in September 2022, December 2022, and June 2023, ensuring a phased and manageable delivery approach.
Sustainability was a core consideration from the outset. Before tenders were issued, a comprehensive procurement strategy was developed. A Sustainability Test was completed in collaboration with Renfrewshire Council’s Property Services team, using the Scottish Government’s Sustainable Procurement Tools, helped shape the direction of the project.
Market research played a key role. Conversations with key suppliers provided insights into more sustainable alternatives to traditional materials like synthetic carpet, sharp sand, and rubber crumb. Although some greener options were not yet mature in the UK market, the research supported the inclusion of circular economy principles in the procurement strategy.
Similarly, at the selection stage, SPD environmental question 4C.7 was included for information only. The specification was updated to allow the use of recycled materials where appropriate, and to ensure compliance with designated standards—particularly for floodlighting systems.
The Invitation to Tender included the following questions to gather circular economy insights:
Tenderers are required to provide environmental details on how they will dispose of the used materials from the site, especially if they cannot be recycled, as well as how they will stop overspill of any materials into the surrounding natural environment.”
The staged approach to tendering for these contracts allowed for the refinement of these questions in subsequent tenders. In the second and third tenders the following questions refined questions were used:
