Tender

Intelligent Transport Systems including traffic signals, variable message signs and car park signs

SOUTHEND-ON-SEA CITY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Tender

09 Apr 2026 at 11:27

PlanningUpdate

10 Dec 2025 at 16:30

Planning

10 Dec 2025 at 16:28

Summary of the contracting process

Southend-on-Sea City Council is actively seeking a supplier for its Intelligent Transport Systems project. This tender involves the supply, installation, and maintenance of traffic management systems including traffic signals, variable message signs, and car park signs within the city. The procurement is in the tender stage with a deadline for tender submission set for 29th May 2026. The contract, valued at approximately £3 million gross, will commence on 1st August 2026. The process is being conducted through an open, competitive flexible procedure under the UK Procurement Act 2023, inviting any interested organisations to partake in a pre-tender dialogue to refine project scopes and requirements.

This procurement opportunity presents vast potential for businesses in the traffic management and transport infrastructure sector. Suppliers with experience in delivering comprehensive transport systems, combined with the capability to manage, integrate, and expand equipment portfolios, will find this tender especially suited to their strengths. The open procedure allows broad participation without pre-qualification, focusing on quality and price criteria, thus encouraging innovation and competitive pricing that could lead to substantial business growth for the successful contractor over the initial four-year contract term, extendable by up to an additional four years.

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Notice Title

Intelligent Transport Systems including traffic signals, variable message signs and car park signs

Notice Description

Southend-on-Sea City Council is looking to appoint a suitable Supplier to supply, install and maintain intelligent transport systems and associated equipment including traffic signals, Variable Message Signs, RGB Signs, School Warning Signs, Car Park Guidance Signs, Car Park Count controllers and Vehicle Speed Activated Signs. All equipment is within the City of Southend and the Council will provide the Supplier with access to an asset management system where all faults and issues will be logged. The Supplier will be required to interrogate the Council's system on a daily basis to pick up faults, attend to rectify faults and then update the Council's system to confirm that the fault has been rectified. The Supplier will also be required to undertake annual inspections and internal cleaning of equipment. The Supplier will also be required to supply and install new equipment. This will vary throughout the life of the contract due to the level of funding available and/or external grant money becoming available. The required services are set out in full in the Scope (one of the associated tender documents). The mechanisms for ordering work under the Contract are set out in the associated tender documents together with details of the volume and value of work that may be ordered.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: Extensions will be at the discretion of the Council. As part of its decision whether to extend the Contract, the Council will consider the level of performance achieved by the contractor throughout the contract period. The Contract will be for an initial period of 4 years (unless terminated earlier in accordance with its terms), with the option to extend by a period or succession of consecutive periods (each to be no less than a year in duration) up to a further 4 years. The total estimated values set out above are inclusive of the maximum extensions of the service period permitted under the Contract (8 years in total).

Planning Information

Southend-on-Sea City Council ("the Authority") will be undertaking a procurement for Intelligent Transport Systems including traffic signals, variable message signs and car park signs. The new arrangements will commence in 2026 and this market engagement will help to determine the exact start date for the new contract. The Authority wishes to engage with potential providers to understand the market and help to refine the model prior to the formal start of the procurement process. The Authority is inviting potential providers to complete a questionnaire and to attend a virtual meeting via Teams to discuss the requirements (it is anticipated that meetings will last no longer than one hour). Key areas the Authority is keen to explore are: • Suppliers in the market who can deliver the services for the Authority • Suppliers' capability and ability to manage existing equipment as well as adding new equipment as required and ensuring all equipment works together • Mobilisation period required between award of contract and commencement of service • Any other areas potential suppliers would like to highlight to enable the Authority to achieve maximum value for money Organisations who would like to attend a market engagement meeting and complete a questionnaire can express their interest by emailing antonbull@southend.gov.uk Expressions of interest must be received by Monday 5th January 2026 and meetings will take place between now and 9th January 2026. Appreciating the time of year, the Authority is open to extending this time period if necessary.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05f32a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032349-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

45 - Construction work

50 - Repair and maintenance services


CPV Codes

34924000 - Variable message signs

34970000 - Traffic-monitoring equipment

34992000 - Signs and illuminated signs

34996000 - Control, safety or signalling equipment for roads

45233290 - Installation of road signs

45233294 - Installation of road signals

45316200 - Installation of signalling equipment

45316210 - Installation of traffic monitoring equipment

45316211 - Installation of illuminated road signs

45316212 - Installation of traffic lights

45316213 - Installation of traffic guidance equipment

50232200 - Traffic-signal maintenance services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£3,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£3,000,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Apr 20263 days ago
Submission Deadline
29 May 20262 months to go
Future Notice Date
1 Feb 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Jul 2026 - 31 Jul 2030 4-5 years
Recurrence
2034-02-23

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SOUTHEND-ON-SEA CITY 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
SOUTHEND-ON-SEA
Postcode
SS2 6FA
Post Town
Southend-on-Sea
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH3 Essex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH31 Southend-on-Sea
Delivery Location
TLH31 Southend-on-Sea

Local Authority
Southend-on-Sea
Electoral Ward
Victoria
Westminster Constituency
Southend East and Rochford

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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