Buckinghamshire Council (the Council) is the highway authority responsible for maintaining the highway network in Buckinghamshire. This includes the maintenance, renewal and improvement of carriageways, footways, cycleways, structures, drainage systems, restraint systems, lighting, signalling and other associated assets; and the carrying out of winter maintenance services.
The Council currently delivers these services through an integrated services contract of approximately £45M per annum with a private sector partner. This contract is due to expire on 31 March 2023.
The Council has undertaken a fundamental review of how services are to be delivered from 01 April 2023 and has consulted widely with internal and external stakeholders.
The new service delivery model will establish an increased in-house capability including policy setting and asset management. It is intended that this Council team will be supported by a range of contracts with external providers as follows:
- A Term Maintenance Contract to include routine and reactive maintenance, minor improvement works and winter services. This will be for an initial 8-year term with options to extend by a further 4 years.
- A Term Consultancy Contract to include design and other professional services. This will be an initial 8-year term with options to extend by a further 4 years.
- Two separate framework arrangements each of a maximum 4-year duration.
Framework One – Highways Minor Works Framework
Lot 1: Conventional surfacing work
Lot 2: Surface treatments including surface dressing
Lot 3: Minor works (<£0.5M)
Framework Two – Highways Major Works Framework
Major works (>£0.5M)
Full details of these proposed contractual arrangements will appear in the eventual procurement documents which will be made available to economic operators following the launch of the call for competition in due course. The Council reserves the right to amend these proposed arrangements at any time up until the call(s) for competition is(are) issued and after that to the extent it is legally permissible.
The Council is intending to procure these new contracts during 2021 and 2022. The procurement of the Term Maintenance Contract will commence in August 2021 with the procurement of the other contracts to commence shortly thereafter so that all contracts are awarded in sufficient time for mobilisation and commencement from 01 April 2023.
The Council intends to publish contract notices as calls for competition pursuant to Regulations 26(8) and 49 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (as amended) on or around the estimated date in II.3 of this notice.
The Council will host a virtual Market Engagement Event at 10.30am to 12 midday on 8th July 2021 at which senior representatives of the Council will provide further details of the proposed model and contracts, the procurement processes and timetables. Participants will also be able to ask questions during and immediately after the event.
Organisations that wish to attend the online event are requested to confirm their interest in attending to BuckinghamshireHighways@buckinghamshire.gov.uk by midday on 7th July. Organisations that confirm their interest by this date will be provided with a link to the online event.
The Council make no guarantees that this PIN and market engagement will be followed with a Contract Notice or Tender or any other procurement opportunity