Award

Oxpens River Bridge Steel Material Procurement

OXFORD CITY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

TenderCancellation

19 Mar 2026 at 14:44

UK12 - Procurement Termination Notice
Award

10 Dec 2025 at 16:16

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Oxford City Council, located in Oxford, United Kingdom, initiated a tender process titled "Oxpens River Bridge Steel Material Procurement," targeting the construction industry category with a focus on structural steel materials. As of December 2025, the tender has progressed to the award stage, where the contract, valued at £500,000 excluding VAT, has been awarded to Briton Fabricators Limited. The procurement method employed was a direct award, justified by Briton's role as the original designer of the bridge and their ownership of the design copyrights, allowing for continuity and compatibility of the materials required. The contract period spans from January 19, 2026, to May 29, 2026, and seeks to ensure timely procurement of steel necessary for the bridge's construction to meet the programme window in September 2026.

This procurement offers significant opportunities for businesses in the steel fabrication sector, particularly those experienced in complex construction projects involving bespoke designs. Briton Fabricators Limited, an SME based in Nottingham, is the supplier selected due to their specialised expertise and previous involvement in the design phase. Businesses with capabilities in steel production and supply could explore potential collaborations or future tenders under similar frameworks, as the demand for specialist input in civic infrastructure projects continues to grow. This specific procurement highlights the importance of maintaining consistent supplier relationships and the ability to navigate technical complexities, positioning well-equipped firms for growth in public sector contracts.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Oxpens River Bridge Steel Material Procurement

Notice Description

For the early procurement of steel material for the main construction phase of the Oxpens River Bridge through a preferred specialist supplier to the steel supply company.

Procurement Information

The proposed Oxpens river bridge is an architecturally designed long box span bridge with 'arch edge beams' formed by SHS sections with vertical stiffeners to create wave sections. The complex nature of fabrication, transportation and installation of this structure has required significant and continuous input from the specialist contractor throughout the detailed design phase. Briton were sub-contracted by the original contractor for the design of the bridge, however the contractor has decided not to continue with the construction phase of the project, whereby a procurement under a Framework for a new contractor is underway. The construction phase of the project is limited by restrictions imposed by the Environment Agent and high risk of seasonal flooding. The window to install the main span is September 2026. To achieve this programme a steel order must be placed in mid-January 2026. The authority intends to procure the steel directly should a main contract not be awarded by mid-January to achieve the overall construction programme. As Briton prepared the designs for the project and own the copyright over them, they are required to calculate the amount of steel required based on the designs, the Council is unable to order the steel directly and would have to expend considerable additional costs for work already carried out in respect of further designs by another supplier, to be able to procure the steel required for the project. Otherwise, the Council could receive an incompatible amount of steel goods which would result in severely disproportionate difficulty in the operation of building the bridge. The Council could not have foreseen that Balfour Beatty would withdraw from the project but as a result, the Council needs to procure Britons to calculate and order the steel required for the project based on their existing designs to continue with the project under the new contractor. Therefore Oxford City Council are switching to a direct award to Briton under section 7 of Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023: Additional or repeat goods, services or works 7 The public contract concerns the supply of goods, services or works by the existing supplier which are intended as an extension to, or partial replacement of, existing goods, services or works in circumstances where- (a)a change in supplier would result in the contracting authority receiving goods, services or works that are different from, or incompatible with, the existing goods, services or works, and (b)the difference or incompatibility would result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operation or maintenance.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05f321
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025270-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

14 - Mining, basic metals and related products

CPV Codes

14622000 - Steel

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£500,000 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Mar 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
10 Dec 20254 months ago
Contract Period
19 Jan 2026 - 29 May 2026 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Cancelled
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
OXFORD CITY COUNCIL
Additional Buyers

MISSING

Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
OXFORD
Postcode
OX1 1BX
Post Town
Oxford
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ14 Oxfordshire CC
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Oxford
Electoral Ward
Holywell
Westminster Constituency
Oxford West and Abingdon

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

BRITON FABRICATORS

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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