Planning

Highways Infrastructure Contract

MEDWAY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

08 Apr 2026 at 08:28

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

30 Mar 2026 at 08:47

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Medway Council is currently in the planning stage of the Highways Infrastructure Contract (HIC II), an essential procurement process located in Chatham, United Kingdom. This process falls under the categories of construction and civil engineering works, maintenance services, and related consultancy services. The procurement is being planned to ensure the continuation of highway maintenance services following the expiry of the current contract with Volker Highways in July 2027. This expansive contract covers significant infrastructure, including highways, footways, streetlights, and the Medway Tunnel. A virtual market engagement workshop has been announced for the week commencing 13th April 2026, with the exact date to be confirmed. Interested parties are encouraged to register to receive further details. The engagement activities aim to provide a consistent and transparent briefing on this opportunity, with further targeted sessions potentially following the initial workshop.

This tender offers considerable business growth opportunities, particularly for companies experienced in civil engineering, infrastructure maintenance, and consultancy services. With a gross contract value anticipated to reach approximately £132 million, the scale of work is substantial, involving key assets like 845km of highway and 27,007 streetlights. Companies with expertise in complex network management and those that foster innovation and digital technology in infrastructure will find this an advantageous opportunity. Small, medium, and large-scale enterprises that can contribute to sustainability and social value while efficiently managing such extensive and critical infrastructure are encouraged to engage in the planned market activities to fully understand the project's scope and align their proposals accordingly.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Highways Infrastructure Contract

Notice Description

The Virtual workshop will be held on Tuesday 14th April at 10am - 12pm via teams. The Invitation to the teams link along with the questionnaire will be distrubed to all registered suppliers prior to the virtual session. Medway Council manages a significant highway network asset with a gross replacement value of approximately PS2 billion, comprising: *845km of adopted highway *1,100km (approximately) of adopted footway *27,007 streetlights *406 bridges and retaining walls *The Medway Tunnel -- a critical asset with a high consequence of failure profile) *Approximately 91,000 other highway assets including street furniture The scale, complexity and critical asset profile of Medway's network, including the Medway Tunnel, makes this a significant and technically demanding network to operate and manage. The current term maintenance contract is delivered by Volker Highways and commenced in August 2017. The contract runs to 31st July 2027, creating a clear procurement programme requirement for the successor contract to be in place in advance of this date, with a likely procurement commencement early Summer 2026.

Planning Information

Medway Council will host an open virtual Market Engagement Workshop during the week commencing 13th April 2026. The precise date and time will be confirmed upon registration — interested organisations should register their interest using the contact details provided in Section 6 of this notice to receive workshop invitations and joining instructions. The workshop will be open to all interested suppliers across all tiers and will cover: •Background to Medway Council and its strategic context for the procurement •Overview of the current HIC, network profile, and key assets (including the Medway Tunnel) •Summary of the contract options in-scope and key considerations for the future contract landscape. •Medway's approach to social value, sustainability, innovation, and digital technology •Indicative procurement timetable and anticipated process, including the Competitive Flexible Procedure •Open Q&A session The workshop is intended to provide all interested organisations with a consistent and transparent briefing on the opportunity before any further engagement sessions take place. Further Targeted Engagement A Questionnaire will be provided to all supplier who register and shall complete and return prior to the Engagement Workshop. This questionnaire will provide the Council with important insights that will help to shape the future contract. Suppliers are not obliged to complete the questionnaire and any nil-responses will not be taken into account. Medway Council may opt to undertake a series of further targeted engagement sessions with interested suppliers on specific contract topics.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-067751
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/031725-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Works
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

50 - Repair and maintenance services

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

CPV Codes

45200000 - Works for complete or part construction and civil engineering work

50200000 - Repair, maintenance and associated services related to aircraft, railways, roads and marine equipment

71000000 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

90600000 - Cleaning and sanitation services in urban or rural areas, and related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£110,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Apr 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
13 Jul 20264 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Jul 2027 - 31 Jul 2034 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
MEDWAY 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
CHATHAM
Postcode
ME4 4TR
Post Town
Rochester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ4 Kent
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ41 Medway
Delivery Location
TLJ41 Medway
Local Authority
Medway
Electoral Ward
Chatham Central & Brompton
Westminster Constituency
Rochester and Strood

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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