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TVCA-PROC-0794 - Cost Validation - Transport Schemes

Tees Valley Combined Authority

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

07 Sep 2026 at 13:23

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Tees Valley Combined Authority procured independent cost consultancy services for its CRSTS Highways and Active Travel Programme. The work covers reviewing and validating scheme cost estimates, benchmarking, cost assurance and independent advice during project development, Early Contractor Involvement activities and delivery contracts. The requirement is civil engineering consultancy (CPV 71311000), focused on transport schemes, projects and work packages across Tees Valley. The consultancy may also support additional cost reviews, assurance exercises, gateway and business-case reviews, funding assurance, and responses to technical, market, commercial or programme risks. The buying organisation is Tees Valley Combined Authority, based in Darlington. The procurement covered one lot and is relevant to firms providing independent transport infrastructure cost advice and assurance.

The procurement has been completed and the contract was awarded to DE Commercial Services Ltd on 7 September 2026. The award is £120,000 excluding VAT, or £144,000 including VAT. The contract runs from 14 September 2026 to 13 September 2030, with provision for two annual extensions taking the maximum period to 13 September 2032. The procedure was a below-threshold limited competition. Two bids were received, both reaching the final stage; one final-stage bidder was an SME. Evaluation resulted in an active award for the single lot. The scope allows additional services and potential value increases within the overall commission, including further schemes, deeper or additional reviews, changed project complexity and support at programme milestones.

This award demonstrates demand for independent cost consultancy supporting a public transport and active-travel investment programme, including highways schemes moving from development into procurement and delivery. A credible competitor would need demonstrable civil engineering cost consultancy experience, with the ability to validate estimates, benchmark costs against relevant market evidence and provide robust assurance rather than simply prepare prices. Useful capability includes independent challenge of scheme assumptions, commercial and technical risk analysis, review of business cases and funding submissions, and advice during Early Contractor Involvement and delivery-contract preparation. Suppliers should be able to handle changing scheme scope, sequencing and complexity, provide clear advice to funders, auditors and governance bodies, and scale reviews across multiple work packages. The award also shows that an SME can reach the final stage for this requirement.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

TVCA-PROC-0794 - Cost Validation - Transport Schemes

Notice Description

Procurement of independent cost consultancy services to undertake cost validation, assurance and review for Tees Valley Combined Authority's CRSTS Highways and Active Travel Programme. Services will include the review and validation of scheme cost estimates, benchmarking, cost assurance and the provision of independent advice to support project development, Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) activities and delivery contracts. The contract may require an extension where service delivery is affected by factors outside the Consultant's or TVCA's direct control, including: *Delays to scheme development, design progression, statutory approvals or business case approval processes. *Changes to programme delivery milestones, funding timescales or investment decisions, including CRSTS-related activities. *Delays arising from governance, stakeholder or funding approval processes. *Changes to project sequencing or procurement timetables requiring continued consultancy support beyond the original contract period. *Resource availability constraints across project partners, delivery organisations or the wider supply chain impacting planned delivery timescales. The contract value may increase where additional services are required within the overall scope of the commission, including: *Addition of further transport schemes, projects or work packages requiring cost assurance and validation services. *Additional cost reviews, assurance activities or independent challenge exercises requested by TVCA, funders, auditors or other stakeholders. *Changes to scheme scope, complexity, delivery methodology or procurement strategy resulting in increased consultancy inputs. *Variations in the number, duration or depth of cost assurance reviews required across the programme as schemes progress through development and delivery stages. *Additional support required at key programme milestones, gateways, business case stages or funding assurance reviews. *Unforeseen technical, market, commercial or programme-related issues requiring supplementary cost consultancy services to support decision-making and risk management.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f37b
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084406-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - limited competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

71311000 - Civil engineering consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£120,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
7 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
7 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
14 Sep 2026 - 13 Sep 2030 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Tees Valley Combined Authority
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
DARLINGTON
Postcode
DL2 1NJ
Postcode Area
Darlington
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC3 Tees Valley
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC33 Darlington
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Darlington
Electoral Ward
Sadberge & Middleton St George
Westminster Constituency
Stockton West

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

DE Commercial Services Ltd

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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