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Highway Structures Major Works - Framework 2027

Somerset County Council

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Planning

16 Sep 2026 at 12:44

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

24 Mar 2026 at 14:40

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Planning

01 May 2025 at 10:04

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Somerset Council is planning a major works framework for highway structures and related works across Somerset. The scope covers on-highway structural work and off-highway rights of way areas, including urgent traffic management, masonry bridge and retaining wall repairs, structural concrete repairs, bridge waterproofing, major bridge reconstruction, retaining wall reconstruction, geotechnical engineering and earth-retaining structures, drainage, working in water and temporary watercourse management, and carriageway and footpath resurfacing. The procurement is for works, classified under engineering and construction works (CPV 45220000). It is intended to create a bespoke framework, with individual task orders issued under NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract Option A. The framework is relevant to contractors with experience delivering comparable highway, bridge, civil engineering, geotechnical, drainage or watercourse projects for public-sector infrastructure.

This procurement is at the planning and preliminary market engagement stage; it is an intention to procure, not an invitation to tender. Somerset Council expects to use an open procedure for a single planned lot and a framework agreement. The indicative contract period is 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2031. The estimated value is £60 million excluding VAT and £72 million including VAT. A tender notice is expected on 28 October 2026. The council planned an online market engagement event for 28 September 2026, covering the framework, procurement process, contract conditions, design and questions. The proposed evaluation uses the Cow Bridge scheme: the most economically advantageous tender is intended to receive both the framework and Cow Bridge scheme, while the next three highest-ranked suppliers are intended to join the framework. Quality questions will form part of the evaluation.

The future framework should suit established civil engineering and infrastructure contractors, including SMEs, with the capability and capacity to deliver complex structural works through multiple task orders. Relevant experience is likely to include bridge and retaining-wall repair or reconstruction, structural concrete and waterproofing work, geotechnical engineering, drainage, resurfacing, traffic management, and construction in or around watercourses. Suppliers able to manage design interfaces and deliver works under NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract Option A should prepare for the procurement. The council is seeking businesses with expertise in the successful delivery of similar works, rather than a single specialist trade. Contractors with broad highway structures capability may be well placed, while firms with complementary expertise could consider forming delivery partnerships or supply-chain arrangements before the tender process begins.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Highway Structures Major Works - Framework 2027

Notice Description

The publication of this preliminary market notice starts the market engagement process for Somerset Council's (the Authority's) major works highway structures framework. The Authority wishes to engage with potential suppliers with an expertise in the successful delivery of similar works and provide an overview of the Authority's proposed approach and procurement process. The Authority wishes to enter into a bespoke framework agreement for this work, with subsequent task-orders being issued under a NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract Option A. The procurement process will be evaluated using the Cow Bridge scheme, with the most economically advantageous tender being awarded both the Framework and the Cow Bridge scheme, and the next three being awarded the framework. There will be quality questions as part of this evaluation.

Planning Information

A Preliminary Market Engagement Event will be hosted online by Somerset Council on Monday 28th September 2026 at 12:00. Suppliers should use the messaging function on the portal to request the meeting link: Portal address - https://supplierlive.proactisp2p.com/Account/Login Reference - EPRO1000596/ERFX1003489 Title - Highway Structures Major Works - Framework 2027 - Market Engagement The meeting will be hosted on Microsoft Teams - the link can be accessed through a web browser and does not require that you have Microsoft Teams installed. The Preliminary Market Engagement Event is intended for the Authority's officers to share information with regards to this contract. The Draft Agenda for the Preliminary Market Engagement Event will be as follows: • Introductions • Framework Overview • Procurement Process • Conditions of Contract • Design • Questions • Closing Information Attendance or non-attendance will not prejudice any supplier's participation in any subsequent procurement exercise/s. The slides, information presented, and any questions & responses provided will be made available following the event. The publication of this preliminary market notice starts the market engagement process for Somerset Council's (the Authority's) for the refurbishment and improvement works. The Authority wishes to engage with potential suppliers with an expertise in the successful delivery of similar works and provide an overview of the Authority's proposed approach and procurement process. The Authority wishes to enter into a bespoke framework agreement for this work, with subsequent task-orders being issued under a NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract Option A. The objective of the Authority is to deliver the following outcomes: The Framework Agreement for Structures Major Works, will cover both the on highway structural work and the off highway rights of way areas, and will comprise the following work types: • Urgent traffic management • Masonry bridge & retaining wall repairs • Structural concrete repairs • Bridge waterproofing • Major bridge reconstruction • Retaining wall reconstruction • Geotechnical engineering & earth retaining structures • Drainage works • Working in water & temporary watercourse management • Carriageway & footpath resurfacing

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-050b03
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/087729-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Works
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

CPV Codes

45220000 - Engineering works and construction works

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£60,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Sep 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
28 Oct 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2031 4-5 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
Somerset 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
TAUNTON
Postcode
TA1 4DY
Postcode Area
Taunton
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK6 North Somerset, Somerset and Dorset
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK62 Somerset
Delivery Location
TLK23 Somerset CC
Local Authority
Somerset
Electoral Ward
Bishop's Hull & Taunton West
Westminster Constituency
Taunton and Wellington

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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