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LTC Strategic Regulatory Advice

National Highways Limited

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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24 Aug 2026 at 14:26

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

National Highways Limited commissioned an independent specialist organisation to provide strategic regulatory advice for the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC). The work covers developing a regulatory approach and plan based on regulatory best practice, with the aim of gaining support from the Department for Transport and the Office of Rail and Road. It builds on earlier work concerning the Economic Regulatory Regime and business plan development, and supports the development of LTC’s regulatory business plan and regulatory strategy. This is a professional business and management consultancy service, delivered in the United Kingdom. The requirement was a single service package, suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises.

The procurement is complete and the contract was awarded through a direct award to Fingleton Limited. The stated reason was the supplier’s extensive existing knowledge of LTC, prior work on the Economic Regulatory Regime and business plan, unique insight into the Office of Rail and Road, and deep regulatory experience. National Highways considered continuity essential and judged that changing adviser would duplicate preparatory work and risk divergent advice. The awarded value is £260,000 excluding VAT, or £312,000 including VAT. The contract period runs from 1 September 2026 to 31 December 2027. A contract signature was scheduled for 31 August 2026. The procurement was above the relevant threshold.

This award demonstrates demand from National Highways for senior regulatory strategy and business planning advice connected with major transport infrastructure. A credible future competitor would need substantial knowledge of the Lower Thames Crossing or comparable complex infrastructure programmes, alongside practical experience of economic regulatory regimes, regulatory business plans and investment cases. Strong understanding of the Office of Rail and Road and the Department for Transport would be important, as would the ability to translate regulatory best practice into an approach that secures stakeholder support. The buyer’s justification also indicates that continuity, efficient use of existing preparatory work and a consistent advisory position are commercially significant. Specialist consultancies with public-sector regulatory experience and the capacity to provide sustained strategic advice are therefore well placed.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

LTC Strategic Regulatory Advice

Notice Description

Engagement of an independent specialist organisation to develop an approach and plan for LTC based on regulatory best practice, designed to gain traction with the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).

Procurement Information

The supplier has gained extensive knowledge of LTC and will build on the work already done in relation to the Economic Regulatory Regime (ERR) and business plan development thus providing the most efficient and effective advice to LTC. The supplier provides unique insights into the Office of Road and Rail (ORR), and have deep regulatory experience to support the development of LTC's regulatory business plan and regulatory strategy. The continuity of service across this workstream is imperative if LTC are to meet their timetable with regards to the investible business. Bringing on a new advisor at this stage when preparatory work has already been undertaken by will almost certainly necessitate replication of scope in order for the incoming parties to get comfortable with the current status, duplicating the work already undertaken and billed at this stage and creating the opportunity for unhelpful divergences in position As such the current advisor has been significantly specialised by virtue of their experience to date on LTC that they are uniquely qualified to meet the scope, rendering any broader process ultimately uncompetitive The proposed scope does not represent a departure from the work done to date so s significant preparatory activity has been undertaken, and this is a build on such work, thus providing best value for money for LTC

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06eaa5
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080400-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

79410000 - Business and management consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£260,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
24 Aug 20262 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
24 Aug 20262 days ago
Contract Period
1 Sep 2026 - 31 Dec 2027 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
National Highways Limited
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

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Fingleton Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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