Public procurement notice: Prior Information Notice Without Call For Competition
Published: 2016-05-18
Buyer: Highways England
Country: UK
Region: Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area
Contract type: Services
CPV classification: 71310000 | 71312000: Structural engineering consultancy services | 71320000 | 71500000
Estimated value: 275000000 GBP

Technical requirements: The A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down severs the Stonehenge part of the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site and acts as a bottleneck for users of the route resulting in an adverse impact on the cultural heritage landscape, the surrounding natural environment and the community of Winterbourne Stoke. There is severe congestion, particularly during the summer months, in addition to a poor safety performance.
The proposed scheme forms part of a package of proposals for the A303/A30/A358 corridor to achieve an Expressway standard, improving the vital connection between the South West and London and the South East and including the upgrade of remaining single carriageway sections on the route to dual carriageway. As part of the proposals, this scheme is stated a priority project in the National Infrastructure Plan 2014, and is listed within the top 40 priority infrastructure projects. The Road Investment Strategy (2015-2020) states that construction will start within this roads period (i.e. by the end of March 2020), subject to necessary approvals and the scheme continuing to demonstrate value for public money.
— Cultural heritage: to contribute to the conservation and enhancement of the World Heritage Site by improving access both within and to the site.
— Environment and community: to contribute to the enhancement of the historic landscape within the World Heritage Site (WHS), to improve biodiversity along the route and to provide a positive legacy to communities adjoining the road.
— Economic growth: in combination with other schemes on the route, to enable growth in jobs and housing by providing a free flowing and reliable connection between the East and the South West peninsula.
— Transport: to create a high-quality route that resolves current and predicted traffic problems and contributes towards the creation of an expressway between London and the south west.
The scheme is currently in the options phase, with an options consultation planned for spring 2017 and with a preferred route announcement planned to be made in summer 2017. It is anticipated that we will require design and construction support from spring/ summer 2017, with a Development Consent Order application planned to be made in summer 2018.
We will be holding a Market Engagement day on Monday 6.6.2016 in Bristol. This event will provide more information on the scheme itself, and further details on the likely commercial and procurement strategy. It is intended that the engagement day will address both construction and design aspects.
Please can you express an interest in attending by emailing annabel.dunn@highwaysengland.co.uk who will then provide you with the time and location of the event.
The estimated date for the publication of the OJEU(s) and the start of the procurement is June/July 2016.
The Contracting Authority intends to use an eTendering system in this procurement exercise and reserves the right to use a reverse auction.