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HS2 Partnering Programme

HS2

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

25 Sep 2026 at 11:01

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

18 Sep 2026 at 16:58

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

12 Aug 2026 at 13:40

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

11 Aug 2026 at 15:41

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

High Speed Two (HS2) Limited plans to procure professional services to support delivery of the remaining phases of the HS2 programme. As the programme moves from major civil engineering into railway systems installation, integration, testing and commissioning, partners may provide project and programme management, technical and engineering expertise, and commercial delivery. The intended scope is broad and indicative; HS2 expects to refine or expand the capability areas after market engagement. The work relates to HS2, the high-speed rail line between London Euston and Birmingham, with onward services planned via the existing rail network to cities including Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow. The procurement covers professional consultancy and engineering services, including railway and transport systems, project management and cost management.

This is at planning stage: HS2 has set out an intention to procure, but has not issued an invitation to tender. It anticipates partnering arrangements, but has not decided the procurement route or contractual vehicle; its stated position on whether it will use a framework remains subject to review. The programme is above the relevant procurement threshold. The single planned lot has a contract period from 1 October 2027 to 30 September 2037. HS2 expects a further notice on 1 April 2027. Market engagement is intended to gather views on capacity and capability, packaging and lotting, contract duration, risk allocation and incentives. The planned engagement activities include a supplier broadcast, questionnaire and individual meetings; these have been temporarily postponed. The buyer has not stated a budget or estimated contract value.

The work is likely to suit suppliers able to provide professional services at the scale and complexity of a major rail programme, particularly firms with strengths in project and programme management, engineering and technical consultancy, and commercial delivery. Relevant experience may include railway systems, transport infrastructure, civil engineering, design, cost estimation and control, quantity surveying, procurement, environmental planning, telecommunications, surveying and programme integration. HS2 is seeking market insight into available capacity and capability, potential service packaging, contract terms, risk sharing and financial or behavioural incentives, so suppliers with informed views across these areas can contribute to shaping its requirements. Small and medium-sized enterprises are identified as suitable for the planned lot. Participation in engagement is not a prerequisite for any later competition, and each organisation bears its own participation costs.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

HS2 Partnering Programme

Notice Description

High Speed Two (HS2) is Britain's new high-speed rail line. Once complete, it will almost halve the journey time between London Euston and Birmingham to just 49 minutes, with trains running north via the existing rail network to destinations such as Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow. As the programme resets and transitions from major civil engineering works towards railway systems installation, integration, testing and commissioning, HS2 Ltd is reviewing how partner capability may support the successful delivery of the remaining phases of the programme. To support this, HS2 Ltd currently anticipates procuring partnering arrangements for the provision of professional services. The scope is expected to cover, but may not be limited to, the following capability areas: * Project and Programme Management * Technical and Engineering * Commercial Delivery The capability areas identified above are indicative only and may be refined, amended or expanded following engagement with the market and the continued development of HS2 Ltd's requirements. For the purposes of completing this notice, please note: * HS2 Ltd has indicated that a Framework Agreement will not be established. However, no decision has yet been made regarding HS2 Ltd's proposed contractual vehicle or procurement route. The final contractual vehicle and procurement route will be informed by the outcomes of market engagement activities, together with the continued development and refinement of HS2 Ltd's requirements. HS2 Ltd reserves the right to determine the most appropriate approach following completion of these activities. Accordingly, suppliers should not interpret any information contained elsewhere in this notice as confirmation that a Framework Agreement will not be established as part of HS2 Ltd's procurement strategy. * The CPV codes included within this notice have been selected to reflect HS2 Ltd's current understanding of the services and capabilities that are envisaged to fall within the scope of the proposed partnering arrangements. These codes are indicative only and may be refined, amended, removed and/or expanded following market engagement activities and the continued development and refinement of HS2 Ltd's requirements. Accordingly, suppliers should not interpret the CPV codes included in this notice as a definitive statement of the final scope of any future procurement opportunity.

Planning Information

Engagement objectives Given the scale, complexity and critical importance of the remaining phases of the HS2 programme, HS2 Ltd is seeking to engage with the market at an early stage to help inform and shape its future procurement and commercial strategy for partner capability. The objectives of the engagement are to gather market insight on a range of topics, including, but not limited to: ● Market capacity and capability to support HS2 Ltd’s remaining delivery phases ● Potential packaging and lotting approaches across project and programme management, commercial delivery, technical and engineering capabilities ● Potential contract duration and term options ● Risk allocation across HS2 Ltd and partners ● Incentivisation mechanisms, including financial, behavioural and programme-level approaches ● Any other matters that may assist HS2 Ltd in refining its requirements and procurement approach HS2 Ltd reserves the right to amend, add to, remove or reprioritise areas of focus during the course of the engagement as its requirements, procurement and commercial strategy continue to develop. Structure of Engagement It is anticipated that preliminary market engagement will be undertaken through a phased approach, including a supplier broadcast, questionnaire and 121s. Further details of the preliminary market engagement activities are communicated below. • In the initial Preliminary Notice released on 12th August 2026, interested parties were asked to register their interest to the preliminary market engagement. Parties who have met this deadline will receive a link to the Supplier Broadcast, which will outline priorities for this programme and market engagement. • Parties who have not yet registered their interest in engaging in preliminary market engagement are able to do so by using the following link: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/HS2PPDL/. When registering your interest please ensure that you provide the organisation name and contact details for the individual(s) who will represent your organisation. Please register your interest by 5pm (UK time) on 1st October 2026. If you have any queries, please contact scc@hs2.org.uk using “HS2 Partnering Programme” as the subject header. • We have temporarily postponed the Supplier Broadcast and subsequent preliminary market engagement activities. We will communicate updated information to the market imminently. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and look forward to engaging in the future. Other Information regarding Participation Organisations wishing to participate should note that engaging in this preliminary market engagement exercise is not a prerequisite to participating in any subsequent competitive process. HS2 Ltd will review responses to this engagement process and may conduct further iterative engagement processes, as it may require. In any subsequent procurement HS2 Ltd will make all relevant market engagement documents available to potential suppliers. Participation in this preliminary market engagement exercise will be wholly at each responding organisation's own cost. No expenses or costs incurred by any organisation responding to this notice and/or participating in this engagement process will be reimbursed by HS2 Ltd. This market engagement exercise and any associated documents or communications should not be regarded as an investment recommendation or defined opportunity. No information contained in the documents or in any communication made between HS2 Ltd and any organisation in connection with any aspect of this market engagement exercise shall be relied upon as constituting a contract, agreement or representation that any contract shall be awarded. Whether or not HS2 Ltd subsequently commences a procurement and/or thereafter awards any contract related to this potential opportunity shall be solely at its discretion. The information provided during this preliminary market engagement is indicative and subject to ongoing revision. High Speed Two (HS2) Limited reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to modify, update, or amend any timelines, scope, or content set out herein, based on the outcomes of this preliminary market engagement process.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e1ac
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/090888-2026
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
SME
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

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

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

CPV Codes

71000000 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

71220000 - Architectural design services

71242000 - Project and design preparation, estimation of costs

71244000 - Calculation of costs, monitoring of costs

71250000 - Architectural, engineering and surveying services

71310000 - Consultative engineering and construction services

71311000 - Civil engineering consultancy services

71311100 - Civil engineering support services

71311200 - Transport systems consultancy services

71311230 - Railway engineering services

71311300 - Infrastructure works consultancy services

71313400 - Environmental impact assessment for construction

71315300 - Building surveying services

71316000 - Telecommunication consultancy services

71320000 - Engineering design services

71324000 - Quantity surveying services

71351914 - Archaeological services

71400000 - Urban planning and landscape architectural services

71541000 - Construction project management services

72220000 - Systems and technical consultancy services

72224000 - Project management consultancy services

79411000 - General management consultancy services

79415200 - Design consultancy services

79418000 - Procurement consultancy services

79421000 - Project-management services other than for construction work

90712000 - Environmental planning

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
25 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Apr 20276 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Oct 2027 - 30 Sep 2037 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
HS2
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BIRMINGHAM
Postcode
B4 6GA
Postcode Area
Birmingham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG3 West Midlands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG31 Birmingham
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Birmingham
Electoral Ward
Ladywood
Westminster Constituency
Birmingham Ladywood

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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