Pre-Market Engagement Exercise for Complementary Highways Framework Contracts

Buckinghamshire Council is undertaking a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) exercise to inform the procurement of two complementary Highways Framework Contracts that will support the delivery of the Council's highways, transport, drainage, structures, and environmental improvement programmes.

The purpose of the PME is to engage with the market and gather feedback from suitably experienced suppliers to help shape the future procurement strategy, framework structure, lotting arrangements, and contract requirements. The Council is seeking insight from organisations capable of delivering high-quality, safe, efficient, and cost-effective services across a broad range of highway infrastructure works and professional consultancy services.

The proposed procurement will establish:

Framework 1 – Highways Works, covering a range of specialist and general highway construction and maintenance activities, including:

Surveys, investigations and testing services.

Minor highways and civil engineering works.

Traffic signs, road markings and road studs.

Drainage installation and improvement schemes, including SuDS.

Bridges and structural maintenance works.

Conventional road surfacing and reconstruction works.

Specialist surfacing treatments.

Pavement rehabilitation, recycling and stabilisation works.

Framework 2 – Professional Services, covering technical, commercial and environmental support services, including:

Commercial, project management and procurement support.

Scheme design and technical advisory services.

Environmental and arboricultural services.

Flood risk, drainage and water management consultancy.

Climate change, decarbonisation and sustainability services.

Through this PME, Buckinghamshire Council aims to understand supplier capability, market capacity, innovation opportunities, delivery models and potential risks associated with the proposed frameworks. The feedback received will be used to refine the procurement approach and ensure the resulting frameworks provide a flexible and effective route for delivering the Council's future highways and infrastructure programmes.