Gloucestershire County Council has awarded Ringway Infrastructure Services a highways maintenance contract worth a potential £245m.
The contract begins on 1 April 2019 and is due to last an initial seven years, with an option to extend year-on-year for a further four, making 11 years in total up to 2030.
Gloucestershire's previous contractor was Amey.
The £245m total covers the full potential 11 years at around £20m a year, plus extras from sundry additonal government funding.
The procurement process involved a first stage, which gave five suppliers an invitiation to tender based on an 80% quality and 20% price split evaluation. The council then took the three best bids and after a round of competitive negotiations a final bid was requested as part of a second stage that employed a 80% price and 20% quality evaluation.
A council officer told Highways that quality and self-delivery was a key focus for the procurement. The council was looking for a supplier that could employ its own people and use its own equipment, and and so sub-contract only for the more specialist work if necessary.
Earlier this year Gloucestershire announced a £150m investment package in highways over the next five years.
Ringway will be responsible for looking after the county’s 3,300 miles of highways specifically:
• Pothole repairs
• Winter gritting and snow clearing
• Gully cleaning • Verge and grass cutting
• Surface dressing
Ringway already delivers similar services for neighbouring authorities such as Worcestershire, where they have worked for over 13 years, as well as Wiltshire and Highways England in the South West.
Cllr Vernon Smith, cabinet member for highways at Gloucestershire County Council, said: 'Throughout the process Ringway impressed on all fronts and I’m confident they will do a great job keeping our roads and verges maintained. They bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience in delivering services in our region.'
Mike Notman, managing director for Ringway added that he was '100% committed to supporting the county’s wider targets for social, economic and environmental sustainability and are delighted to partner with the council to deliver these over the term of the contract'.
As with the award of any new contract, there is now a ten day ‘standstill’ period but, subject to no comments being received, the final award will be made on 5th October.
