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Highways and Infrastructure Professional Services Contract

Norfolk County Council

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Tender

29 Sep 2026 at 18:42

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

08 Sep 2026 at 15:58

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
PlanningUpdate

11 Jun 2026 at 15:51

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

10 Jun 2026 at 11:05

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Norfolk County Council is seeking a single supplier or delivery team for a broad highways and infrastructure professional services contract, delivered across Norfolk. The work is intended to support the Council’s in-house highways teams and covers highway design, project delivery and maintenance; major infrastructure and bridges; asset management, inspections and surveys; business cases and funding applications; environmental, ecology, archaeology and heritage advice; transport, spatial and maritime planning; flood and water management; land and property; economic development; quantity surveying and commercial support; procurement and construction-phase services; and energy, water, sewage and waste advice. The scope also includes specialist resources for capital improvement schemes, statutory approvals, stakeholder engagement and consultation. Services range from strategic advice and feasibility work through design, tender support and delivery. The Council expects a collaborative approach that provides practical, innovative and cost-effective services in Norfolk.

The Council has reached the tender stage and has invited applications through a competitive flexible procedure, managed electronically. Applicants first submit a request to participate; the three highest-scoring applicants are then invited to submit initial tenders, take part in dialogue and submit final tenders. Enquiries were due by 16 October 2026 at 10:00 BST, and expressions of interest by 2 November 2026 at 10:00 GMT. The stated contract period runs from 28 July 2027 to 30 November 2032, with extension possible up to 31 March 2040. The estimated value is £86.3 million excluding VAT (£103.56 million including VAT), excluding indexation and mobilisation. This is a single-lot contract. Evaluation is weighted 70% for quality and 30% for price; the Council may refine criteria or weightings during the process.

This opportunity is suited to established multidisciplinary consultancies, engineering firms and specialist providers able to combine professional advice with design and delivery support across highways and related infrastructure. A strong bid will need to show that it can integrate with the Council’s wider highways team, coordinate specialist disciplines and deliver across Norfolk. Relevant capabilities include civil and structural engineering, transport and spatial planning, environmental and ecological assessment, asset management, commercial and quantity surveying, business-case development, project management and construction support. Suppliers with experience spanning early feasibility and statutory approvals through procurement and implementation will be well placed, as will teams able to provide specialist resources when required. The Council emphasises pragmatic, innovative and cost-effective delivery, collaboration and value for money. It has designed the process to facilitate SME participation. Local government reorganisation and devolution may affect future delivery arrangements and contract volume, which the Council intends to address collaboratively.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Highways and Infrastructure Professional Services Contract

Notice Description

As described in the preliminary market engagement notice (https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/054636-2026) dated 10 June 2026 and the planned procurement notice (https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085054-2026) dated 8 September 2026, Norfolk County Council (the "Council") is formally launching a procurement using the Competitive Flexible Procedure under section 20(2)(b) of the Procurement Act 2023 (the "Procurement") (the "Act") for a highways and infrastructure professional services contract (the "Contract"). On the launch of this Procurement, the Council is seeking suitably qualified applicants (the "Applicants") capable of integrating with the Council's wider highways team, delivering high-quality professional services in the Norfolk geographic area, and structuring its approach to the delivery of the Contract in a manner which is pragmatic, innovative, and cost-effective. The launch of the Procurement follows a period of sustained preliminary market engagement during which the Council engaged with prospective bidders regarding: (i) the approach to the Procurement (including the timeline, dialogue sessions, and possible award criteria); and (ii) the proposed approach to the Contract and scope of services under it. The Council has designed a lean, dialogue-focused approach to the Procurement that leverages the full flexibility afforded to it by the Act. The Procurement is designed to ensure that the principles of delivering value for money, maximising public benefit, sharing information with Applicants, acting with integrity, and facilitating SME participation are built into every stage of the process. Further detail regarding the stages and requirements are contained within the Procurement documents which can be accessed through the In-Tend platform. Please note that all materials prepared and shared with the market during the preliminary market engagement phase are available on the In-Tend platform via the clarifications facility. A full breakdown of the scope of services forming part of the Contract is contained within the Procurement documents, including a draft scope made available with those documents. By way of illustration, the Council anticipates that the services required under the Contract, which will be carried out collaboratively with the Council's in-house teams, will include: * Highway design services, project delivery (including early contractor involvement and developing works orders), stakeholder engagement and consultation, and specialist expertise required for the development of highway maintenance, asset management, and capital improvement schemes * Major highway infrastructure and other design services (feasibility, preliminary and detailed including planning and other statutory approvals), through integrated design teams as well as wider resource provision (including necessary specialist resources) *Bridges and structures design and advisory services, including asset management, inspection and maintenance *Business case development, including in support of funding applications to funders such as the Department for Transport and Homes England (e.g., cost benefit analysis, carbon analysis, etc.) *Environmental and ecology services (including carbon assessment), archaeology and heritage advisory services *Travel and Transport planning advisory services (including strategic planning and travel planning services) *Intelligent transport services, future mobility services, and design and advisory services *Spatial planning (including master planning, planning applications, statutory services, carbon assessments and environmental impact assessments) *Maritime services (including supporting design and project delivery for coastal, harbour and river environments) *Flood and water management design and advisory services *Land, property and asset management advisory services *Economic development advisory services, including feasibility studies/assessments, strategic and project specific modelling, government engagement/lobbying, and associated reporting *Quantity surveying, costing, commercial and contract administration services *Development of tender documentation and tender evaluation support *Construction phase services *Surveys and investigations *Development research, and developer design and build agreement checks *Heat, energy, water and sewage advisory services *Waste services, including advice on residual waste, household waste recycling centres, waste facilities planning advice/application, permitting As many prospective Applicants will be aware, the Council prepared this Procurement within the context of local government reorganisation ("LGR") and devolution ("Devolution") and had proceeded on the basis that government was minded as part of LGR to reorganise the various Norfolk councils into three new unitary authorities. On 7 September 2026 the government withdrew that decision and announced a "rapid review" of its LGR programme in respect of Norfolk. With regards to Devolution, on 4 December 2025, the then Secretary of State for Local Government made a written statement [UIN HCWS1128] stating that government intends to establish a Mayoral Strategic Authority for Norfolk and Suffolk as soon as possible, and that it was minded to hold inaugural mayoral elections in May 2028. The current secretary of state said, in her statement of 7 December 2026: "The Prime Minister is really clear that the Government's ambition is to ensure that every area in England has, or is in the process of establishing, a strategic authority by the end of 2027, with strategic authorities in place everywhere by the end of 2028". The Council is keen to emphasise that, despite the announcement, prospective Applicants should be confident that, in launching this Procurement in this manner and at this time, it intends to address any future considerations which may arise as a result of LGR and/or Devolution in a collaborative, solutions-focused manner which, to the greatest extent possible, protects: (i) the delivery of the Contract in the Norfolk area; and (ii) the volume of work under, and the value of, the Contract, whilst at all times being respectful of the time and costs likely to be incurred by Applicants in competing for this Contract. The values stated in this notice exclude indexation and mobilisation.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: As part of this Procurement, the Council intends to explore the duration of and conditions attached to any extensions, and will engage the Applicants shortlisted to participate in the next stage of the Procurement to understand their views on the optimal Contract period, including whether any option to extend should be linked to particular requirements. Currently, the Council envisages that: 1. the anticipated initial term of the Contract will incorporate a mobilisation period following the starting date (such length to be agreed with the appointed consultant), followed by a service period of five (5) years, such service period currently intended to commence November 2027; and 2. it will hold the right to extend the service period beyond the initial five (5) year term by one or more further period(s) up to 31 March 2040 in accordance with the terms of the Contract, in order to allow this Contract to be coterminous with the Council's works contract, if necessary or desirable.

Planning Information

Interested contractors are invited to provide a response to the market engagement questionnaire that has been made available via the Council's e-procurement system, Intend. Questionnaire responses should be submitted via In-tend to NCC by 13.00 BST on 25 June 2026. To express an interest and participate in the market engagement applicants must first be registered on the system at https://in-tendhost.co.uk/norfolkcc Full instructions for registration and use of the system can be found at https://intendhost.co.uk/norfolkcc/aspx/BuyerProfiles. Once registered you will be able to see the procurement project under the tenders` section and `express an interest` to view the documentation. If you encounter any difficulties whilst using the system you can contact the In-tend support team by phoning +44 8442728810 or e-mailing support@in-tend.co.uk On accessing In-tend you will find the questionnaire under the 'clarifications' section. Following its review of the questionnaire responses, the Council may invite suppliers to participate in discussions, on 30 June and 1 July 2026 Bird & Bird LLP's London offices (12 New Fetter Lane, EC4A 1AN). Again, this will help the Council to shape its current thinking and allow it to potentially discuss some of the feedback provided in a confidential environment. Given time constraints, the Council may not be able to offer such meetings to all suppliers. As such, the Council will likely only offer meetings to suppliers who submitted a questionnaire response and where the Council believes further clarity on any aspect of a response would be helpful in formulating its procurement strategy.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06b191
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/092090-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

CPV Codes

71241000 - Feasibility study, advisory service, analysis

71311000 - Civil engineering consultancy services

71313000 - Environmental engineering consultancy services

71320000 - Engineering design services

71354500 - Marine survey services

71356400 - Technical planning services

71410000 - Urban planning services

71530000 - Construction consultancy services

71600000 - Technical testing, analysis and consultancy services

72130000 - Computer-site planning consultancy services

72224000 - Project management consultancy services

73112000 - Marine research services

79311410 - Economic impact assessment

79410000 - Business and management consultancy services

90711000 - Environmental impact assessment other than for construction

90713000 - Environmental issues consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£86,300,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£86,300,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
28 Sep 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
28 Jul 2027 - 30 Nov 2032 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Norfolk 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
NORWICH
Postcode
NR1 2DH
Postcode Area
Norwich
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH5 Norfolk
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH51 Norwich and East Norfolk
Delivery Location
TLH14 Suffolk CC, TLH15 Norwich and East Norfolk, TLH16 North and West Norfolk, TLH17 Breckland and South Norfolk
Local Authority
Norwich
Electoral Ward
Lakenham
Westminster Constituency
Norwich South

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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