Norfolk County Council has begun market engagement for three highways term contracts worth a total of £612m.
A highways and infrastructure services term maintenance and works contract is said to be worth an estimated £500m over 12 years ‘at today’s prices’; a professional services contract is worth a further £100m; while a traffic signals contract is said to be worth around £12m.
The highway authority said the works contract covers a wide range of services, including highways maintenance, some £15m a year of surfacing and surface dressing, road improvement schemes, bridge works, drainage, grass cutting and road marking.
The contract can also cover other infrastructure projects, such as waste facilities, buildings associated with bus interchanges, and flood defence works.
As well as highways, the professional services contract also involves economic growth, climate and other professional services.
Norfolk is the highest-ranked county council for overall public satisfaction in the National Highways and Transport Public Satisfaction Survey 2023.
Interim executive director of community and environmental services Grahame Bygrave said: ‘We have built a national reputation for being able to deliver against DfT funding, including recently Transforming Cities and Bus Service Improvement Plan monies.
‘We are keen to enter into refreshed contractual arrangements that maintain our collaborative approach, deliver best value and minimise disruption to the public.'
Director of procurement and sustainability Al Collier said: ‘We are very keen at this stage to talk to the market about a range of issues including contract length, commercial terms, tender evaluation, innovation, carbon and social value.’
The council has invited potential bidders to express their interest in the contracts, download documents and arrange one-to-one meetings at https://in-tendhost.co.uk/norfolkcc.
It said it aims to publish the first contract notice in December 2024 with the new contracts expected to begin in April 2026.
