Notice Information
Notice Title
Essex Highways and Transportation Contracts
Notice Description
As the local highways authority for Essex, Essex County Council (ECC) is responsible for managing and maintaining one of the largest and most diverse local highway networks in the country. In doing so, ECC fulfils its statutory duties under the Highways Act 1980 to ensure the network is safe, resilient and fit for purpose for residents, businesses and road users, and that traffic moves freely across the network under all conditions. This includes significant programmes of routine and reactive highways activity, such as asset maintenance and renewal, drainage management, winter services and the design and delivery of new transport infrastructure. ECC has previously undertaken market engagement in respect of its future Highways and Transportation Services. The procurement was paused to allow greater clarity to emerge around Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) and its potential implications for future service delivery and governance arrangements. With greater clarity now in place, ECC is re commencing engagement with the market as it prepares to re-procure its Highways and Transportation Services, within the current Administrative Area of Essex. Ahead of commencing the procurement, ECC is undertaking this Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) exercise to provide an update on ECC's emerging approach to the future delivery of Highways and Transportation Services, particularly in the context of anticipated Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) and the transition to any future Unitary Authorities. The planned commencement date for the new Essex Highways and Transportation Services is 01 April 2028 with an initial seven-year term and potential options to extend for up to seven additional years. The current estimated maximum value of the contracts over a maximum fourteen-year term is PS3 billion (excluding VAT). The contracting authority is Essex County Council and any Successor Body meaning one or more entities which assumes any of the ECC's functions (as applicable) as a result of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). The purpose of this Preliminary Market Engagement notice is to notify the market of further upcoming market engagement opportunities ahead of tender publication. Further details are set out in the Engagement section of this notice.
Planning Information
All prospective bidders are invited to attend a virtual pre-market engagement event on 16 April 2026 which will be conducted via Microsoft Teams at 11:00am. The event will provide an opportunity to hear directly about recent changes to some of the approaches previously briefed on, the influence of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) on the procurement, and the next stages of the programme, as well as to raise early questions and engage in discussion. The key items on the agenda are as follows: 1. Introduction - key programme and LGR update 2. Independent Contracts 3. Procurement updates - Competitive Flexible Procedure and high-level procurement timetable and change in ECC procurement system 4. Further market engagement details We strongly encourage all interested suppliers to attend, at all levels of the supply chain. If you would like to attend, please send your expression of interest to FHP.Team@essex.gov.uk by midday on 15 April 2026 including the names and email addresses for attendees from your organisation. A link to the event will then be issued. Please note that you will be issued with a questionnaire shortly after the virtual market engagement event on 16 April 2026 with a response deadline of 28 April 2026. There will also be an in-person event and potential 1-2-1s week commencing 11 May 2026. Important information Respondents are advised that the purpose of this notice is to engage directly with the market. The Procurement description, estimated contract start and end date, estimated date of publication or estimated contract value should not be taken as a final "version" of ECC's requirements. This notice is not a call for competition to procure any works or services. Interested parties will not be prejudiced by any response, or lack thereof, to this notice. Nor shall a response to this notice guarantee an opportunity to participate in this market engagement exercise or any future procurement process that ECC may conduct. The virtual market engagement event will be recorded, and a link will be available upon request. Essex County Council is not liable for any costs, fees or expenses incurred by any party responding to this notice or any party who may participate in the market engagement exercise. For reference, previous Prior Information Notices issued under the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (old notices) associated with this project can be located via the following notice identifiers: F01. 2023/S 000-017107, F01. 2023/S 000-027435, F01. 2024/S 000-012457, F14. 2025/S 000-003014
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-04fc31
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032116-2026
- Current Stage
- Planning
- All Stages
- Planning
Procurement Classification
- Notice Type
- UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
- Procurement Type
- Standard
- Procurement Category
- Services
- Procurement Method
- Not Specified
- Procurement Method Details
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Tender Suitability
- Not specified
- Awardee Scale
- Not specified
Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)
- CPV Divisions
45 - Construction work
50 - Repair and maintenance services
63 - Supporting and auxiliary transport services; travel agencies services
71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services
-
- CPV Codes
45233000 - Construction, foundation and surface works for highways, roads
50230000 - Repair, maintenance and associated services related to roads and other equipment
63712200 - Highway operation services
71000000 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- £3,000,000,000 £1B-£10B
- Lots Value
- Not specified
- Awards Value
- Not specified
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 8 Apr 20263 days ago
- Submission Deadline
- Not specified
- Future Notice Date
- 31 Oct 2025Expired
- Award Date
- Not specified
- Contract Period
- 31 Mar 2028 - 31 Mar 2035 Over 5 years
- Recurrence
- Not specified
Notice Status
- Tender Status
- Planned
- Lots Status
- Planned
- Awards Status
- Not Specified
- Contracts Status
- Not Specified
Buyer & Supplier
Contracting Authority (Buyer)
- Main Buyer
- ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL
- Contact Name
- Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
- Contact Email
- Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
- Contact Phone
- Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Buyer Location
- Locality
- CHELMSFORD
- Postcode
- CM1 1QH
- Post Town
- Chelmsford
- Country
- England
-
- Major Region (ITL 1)
- TLH East (England)
- Basic Region (ITL 2)
- TLH3 Essex
- Small Region (ITL 3)
- TLH36 Heart of Essex
- Delivery Location
- TLH3 Essex
-
- Local Authority
- Chelmsford
- Electoral Ward
- Moulsham and Central
- Westminster Constituency
- Chelmsford
Further Information
Notice Documents
-
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032116-2026
8th April 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender -
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068984-2025
28th October 2025 - Pipeline notice on Find a Tender -
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068980-2025
28th October 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender -
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/045741-2025
4th August 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender -
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/030867-2025
9th June 2025 - Pipeline notice on Find a Tender -
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013538-2025
8th April 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender -
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/012600-2025
2nd April 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
View full OCDS Record for this contracting process
The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.
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"description": "As the local highways authority for Essex, Essex County Council (ECC) is responsible for managing and maintaining one of the largest and most diverse local highway networks in the country. In doing so, ECC fulfils its statutory duties under the Highways Act 1980 to ensure the network is safe, resilient and fit for purpose for residents, businesses and road users, and that traffic moves freely across the network under all conditions. This includes significant programmes of routine and reactive highways activity, such as asset maintenance and renewal, drainage management, winter services and the design and delivery of new transport infrastructure. ECC has previously undertaken market engagement in respect of its future Highways and Transportation Services. The procurement was paused to allow greater clarity to emerge around Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) and its potential implications for future service delivery and governance arrangements. With greater clarity now in place, ECC is re commencing engagement with the market as it prepares to re-procure its Highways and Transportation Services, within the current Administrative Area of Essex. Ahead of commencing the procurement, ECC is undertaking this Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) exercise to provide an update on ECC's emerging approach to the future delivery of Highways and Transportation Services, particularly in the context of anticipated Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) and the transition to any future Unitary Authorities. The planned commencement date for the new Essex Highways and Transportation Services is 01 April 2028 with an initial seven-year term and potential options to extend for up to seven additional years. The current estimated maximum value of the contracts over a maximum fourteen-year term is PS3 billion (excluding VAT). The contracting authority is Essex County Council and any Successor Body meaning one or more entities which assumes any of the ECC's functions (as applicable) as a result of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). The purpose of this Preliminary Market Engagement notice is to notify the market of further upcoming market engagement opportunities ahead of tender publication. Further details are set out in the Engagement section of this notice.",
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