Invitation to Tender For the provision of a farmers' market in Maidstone Town Centre

Description

Maidstone Borough Council is inviting tenders for the concession of a farmers' market in Maidstone Town Centre. Locations for the farmers' market could be Jubilee Square, ME14 1TF or Coronation Square, ME16 8LW or another town centre location that a contractor sees as a new opportunity. Please include any new venues for the council to consider in your submission.
The contract term will be an initial 1 year, with two possible 1-year extensions subject to performance reviews, giving a potential three-year total. (1 + 1 + 1).
Maidstone holds weekly markets at Lockmeadow that include for sale household items, groceries, bric-a-brac and some fresh food items. The council wishes to expand the fresh element and introduce a farmers' market to Maidstone Town Centre for the provision of fresh produce, fresh food and locally-made food products. It will complement the existing farmers' markets in the borough and bring the same opportunities to the town centre.
The Council is keen to hear from companies and individuals who can bring together stall holders for a regular farmers' market in the town centre. The council sees this as being a monthly occurrence but is also open to other suggestions from bidders.
In submissions, the council wishes to see an organiser's experiences and successes with example stall holders that the organiser would expect to attract to the town centre market.
Key Dates & Timeline for Procurement
Tender release: 18 June 2025
Expression of Interest Deadline: 12:00pm 9 July 2025
Deadline for submission of completed tenders: 12:00pm 16 July 2025
Evaluation: w/c 21 July 2025
Decision: 28 July 2025
All expression of interest and subsequent submissions must be made via the Kent Business Portal: www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk