Planning

Specialist Highway Support Services

KENT COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

27 May 2026 at 10:38

Summary of the contracting process

Kent County Council is at the planning stage of a procurement process to engage suppliers for Specialist Highway Support Services, intending to strengthen its capacity in highways consultancy. Located in Maidstone, United Kingdom, this public authority seeks to benefit through a framework agreement structured in multiple lots. The current stage involves market engagement with suppliers, and key deadlines include the submission of a market engagement questionnaire by 17th June 2026. Specifically targeting the highways consultancy services industry, this planning initiative aims to gather market intelligence to inform procurement strategies and expand independent services access under an NEC framework.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in highways consultancy, independent cost consultancy, and utility support services. Companies proficient in providing contract administration, cost estimation, and programme reviews will find this opportunity particularly promising for business growth. By participating in this tender, businesses can enhance their portfolio by contributing to significant infrastructure projects across Kent and strengthen collaboration with utility companies during major highway scheme developments. The multi-lot framework offers avenues for various organisations to contribute, thereby supporting a diverse range of skillsets and capacities needed for these services.

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Notice Title

Specialist Highway Support Services

Notice Description

Kent County Council (the Council) would like to expand the services provided under framework to allow access to additional independent services. The services provided by the contract are required to: *Give KCC confidence in budget preparation and management for highway and transportation scheme across the County. *Support KCC in the preparation of NEC contract document and evaluation of tenders for major highway and transportation schemes. *Support KCC in the ongoing management of construction contracts including contract administration, assessment of Compensation Events and payment applications, monitoring and financial reporting. *Support the development of scheme proposals in relation to utilities and NRSWA requirements including liaison with individual utility companies to understand scheme impacts and diversions requirements. *Deliver NEC programme reviews at design, tender and construction stages. Proposed Framework Lot Structure: Lot 1 - Independent Cost Consultancy *provide independent cost consultancy services for the optioneering, bidding for funds, planning, preparation and construction of highway and transportation schemes across the County including quantity surveying, risk management and value management. *provide cost consultancy services to support the preparation of NEC contract documents and in the evaluation of tenders to provide the construction of major highway and transportation schemes. *provide cost consultancy services to support the NEC Project Manager during the construction of major highway and transportation schemes, including contract administration, assessment of Compensation Events and Payment Applications, monitoring and monthly financial reporting. Lot 2 - Specialist Utility Support *provide specialist utility support to improve dialogue and cost certainty with utility companies around diversions and scheme impacts following the NRSWA processes. Lot 3 - Programme Review Support *NEC programme review support for schemes (design and construction stages) to ensure compliance with scope and appropriate links, durations and logic. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at: https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/tenders/UK-UK-Maidstone:-Highways-consultancy-services./2GB25Z4A66 To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/respond/2GB25Z4A66

Planning Information

Kent County Council (the Council) is engaging with suppliers regarding capacity in the market to provide the Specialist Highway Support Services requirements, via a market engagement exercise. All interested suppliers are asked to complete the published market engagement questionnaire and return to the Council by Wednesday 17th June 2026 deadline. After which further virtual market engagement discussions may be held with suppliers to discuss responses further in more detail. As part of the Market Engagement exercise, all interested organisations are invited to complete a Market Engagement questionnaire via the Kent Business Portal (https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/) (Ref: 1039031180). This will be used to gather information, and build on our existing market intelligence to shape our procurement strategy. All responses to this questionnaire should be submitted via the Kent Business Portal, no later than 12pm on Wednesday 17th June 2026. All questionnaire responses will be treated as ‘commercial in confidence. Please use the following access code to submit your market engagement questionnaire: 2GB25Z4A66

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06a5cb
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/049536-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services


CPV Codes

71311210 - Highways consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£4,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 May 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
17 Jun 20262 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2027 - 31 Mar 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
KENT 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
MAIDSTONE
Postcode
ME14 1XQ
Post Town
Rochester
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ4 Kent
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ45 Mid Kent
Delivery Location
TLJ4 Kent

Local Authority
Maidstone
Electoral Ward
Penenden Heath
Westminster Constituency
Maidstone and Malling

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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