Waste Management Services

The University of East Anglia (UEA) is an internationally renowned university based in a campus that provides top quality academic, social and cultural facilities to over 17,000 students and 2,500 staff. The UEA has been ranked in the top 20 in the UK for its research quality, in the Complete University Guide's UK top 30 and has achieved the green flag award for 9 years running. Located in 370 acres of rolling parkland but just two miles from the centre of the cathedral city of Norwich, the University is adjacent to the Norwich Research Park which is home to over 1,000 scientists working in several world ranked institutions. A total of over 17,000 students are currently studying at the University, including non-UK students from more than 100 countries worldwide. Founded in 1963 and located on a single campus (the "Campus") on the western fringe of Norwich, the University is respected for both its research and its teaching, attracting students from across the world. The previous procurement activity awarded a framework of suppliers with the requirements split into Lots, resulting in multiple contractors. This has resulted in some inefficiencies within waste collection and processing. Waste types include, but are not limited to: - General waste, recycling, glass, food, bulky general, POPs, plasterboard and gypsum, green waste, general road sweeper, wood (including pallets), offensive waste (bagged) - Confidential waste - Chemical and hazardous - WEEE, portable batteries, light tubes and bulbs, toner and ink cartridges - Clinical The UEA's collections cover 5 days per week and the schedule is required to remain consistent to minimise any disruption to access around the campus. There may be ad-hoc weekend collection requirements around student exit periods for example. The waste output from academic year 24/25 is 4,057.38MT which included 2,685.06MT from construction and demolition. There is potential for this to increase depending on linked contractor agreements on campus. Procurement Process: The UEA intends to award a single contract for all services to promote a partnership approach, enabling innovative investment and providing cost benefits. We believe this approach will provide a positive working relationship, providing a stable, consistent service with a partner who will support the UEA in achieving environmental and sustainability objectives. UEA intends to use a competitive flexible procedure with a two stage evaluation process. This is currently intended to include stage one with conditions of participation and qualitative evaluation questions, stage two to potentially include presentation of innovation and investment and BAFO (best and final offer) with the highest scoring two suppliers. This approach is not definite and may change before UEA issues any tender documents. The UEA is intending to award a contract of 10 years from commencement, with an option to extend for a further 5 years. Contract spend is expected to be £440k annually across all services. The current contracts end 31/07/2026, an indicative procurement timetable is below, any new service will need to be implemented in time for the contract commencement date: 08/12/2025 - Pre Market Engagement notice published 09/01/2026 - Pre Market Engagement supplier response deadline 02/02/2026 - Tender issued to market 06/04/2026 - All evaluations complete 04/05/2026 - Contract signed May/June/July 2026 - Mobilisation 01/08/2026 - New services commence UEA is under no obligation to proceed with a competitive process following this market engagement.