News

Highways England out to tender for Area 7 contractors

Multiple firms sought to deliver 14 lots for £250M four year framework

Highways England has published a tender for a new framework agreement for construction works expected to be worth more than £250 million, and running for four years, in the East Midlands. It is looking for multiple contractors to join the framework to deliver work previously carried out by a single organisation – Aone+.

"The new framework will see successful contractors having direct contact with Highways England, making it easier for them to showcase innovative materials, products and techniques”  - Highways England

It is the second invitation to tender to be published under the new set of arrangements in the East Midlands, which sees Highways England making a change from its previous way of working, bringing key functions in-house to take direct control of its road network.

The framework is made up of 14 lots representing the disciplines of construction required to maintain, repair, renew and improve the strategic road network in the East Midlands.

‘In a change from previous arrangements, the new framework will see successful contractors having direct contact with Highways England, making it easier for them to showcase innovative materials, products and techniques,” Highways England said.

 “This represents a real step change for Highways England and the way it has previously managed contracts,” said Highways England director for commercial and procurement David Poole. “This new way of working in Area 7 demonstrates Highways England’s commitment to enhancing the way it operates the strategic road network over the next five years.”

The framework agreement will be in place from 1 April 2016, and it is expected that the total value of contracts to be awarded through the framework could be more than £250 million.

The new contract arrangements in the East Midlands bring with them new employment opportunities, with Highways England looking to boost its in-house capability through the recruitment of new staff - with a significant number expected to transfer from the current Area 7 provider Aone+.

The tender can be found online.  

The 14 lots that make up the framework are:

  • Specialist surface treatments
  • Corrosion protection
  • Road lighting and electrical works
  • Fencing and environmental barriers
  • General civil engineering
  • Structures waterproofing and expansion joints
  • Landscape and ecology
  • Road markings
  • Pavement
  • Road restraint systems (vehicle & pedestrian)
  • Structural concrete repairs
  • Technology
  • Temporary traffic management
  • Specialist drainage

There is no commitment to spend; the value quoted in a framework (£500M) is the upper limit of the work that could be ordered through that specific framework and Highways England are anticipating it to be closer to £250M.

The first new-style contract in Area 7, which was for maintenance and response, was put out to tender in July 2015. A contract for design and arrangements for specialist goods and services will also be tendered in the coming weeks.

If you would like to contact Jackie Whitelaw about this, or any other story, please email jackie.whitelaw@infrastructure-intelligence.com.