Public procurement notice: Prior Information Notice Without Call For Competition
Published: 2019-02-06
Buyer: Highways England
Country: UK
Contract type: Works
CPV classification: 45000000: Construction work | 45100000: Site preparation work | 45112000 | 45112730 | 45221000: Engineering works for bridges and tunnels

Technical requirements: Highways England (HE) is the government company charged with operating, maintaining and improving England's motorways and major A roads. We have a huge road investment programme to deliver and want to engage with suppliers to inform our approach to procuring our larger complex infrastructure projects.
Supplier feedback and providing for genuine two-way dialogue opportunity to take place between Highways England and the market, listening to what interested parties have to say and using this to shape the project and procurement development is extremely important to us; it is imperative that we work collaboratively to achieve the optimum solutions. At this stage we are primarily considering supplier feedback on the Lower Thames Crossing roads, tunnels, early works delivery manager, archaeology and information technology services procurements.
Highways England commenced an engagement process in 2018 to identify suppliers who are interested in working with us on the Lower Thames Crossing project for the tunnels and roads elements of the scheme. This PIN now supersedes the original and allows for wider Market engagement on archaeological, enabling works, information technology services as well as an updated market engagement process relating to the tunnels and roads aspects in relation to the Lower Thames Crossing project only.
This project is the largest in Highways England’s Road Investment Programme, with the overall project estimate being between 5 300 000 000-6 800 000 000 GBP, and represents a major opportunity for the construction sector Although this Prior Information Notice (PIN) covers all contracts for consultation, each element listed above will be procured separately with independent and separate procurements.
Following the completion of the Lower Thames Crossing pre-application consultation in December 2018, we are now developing the development consent order application to seek permission to build the crossing. Over 28 000 people responded to the consultation, which makes it the largest ever response to a consultation of its type.
Following the government’s announcement on the future of Private Finance, Highways England will continue to work closely with government to progress the projects to the required timescales.
This is a large and complex project, which will require critical capabilities from balanced, diverse and sustainable supply chain partners. Highways England remain committed and look forward to talking to all those in the UK, European and International markets who are interested in helping us deliver these projects.
As a 14,5-mile scheme, the Lower Thames Crossing project comprises of two bored tunnels beneath the River Thames with interconnecting link roads to the M25, A13, and A2. At 16 metres in diameter, it will be one of the largest bored tunnels in the world. The crossing will feature three lanes in both directions with a maximum speed limit of 70 mph and is the largest single road investment project in the UK since the M25 was completed more than 30 years ago. At 2,4 miles, it will also be the longest road tunnel in the country and we expect it to add 90 % extra capacity for customers crossing the Thames east of London. The roads element of the project covers the northern link roads between the tunnel and the M25, at 15,9 km in length. The roads element also includes the southern link roads between the tunnel and the A2 at 3 km in length. Plans to improve and widen the highway will increase capacity on the A2 and M25.
Highways England intends to use an e-Sourcing portal (Bravo) to communicate and undertake further market engagement activities for the above scheme. Please register on the portal in order to be involved in market engagement for any aspect of the Lower Thames Crossing project.
It is anticipated that initial market engagement for the enabling works and roads and tunnels packaging will commence in Q1 2019 and further engagement will follow in the near future. Details of any further events will be provided to those registered to this PIN and your comments sought, on more specific elements of the projects. Invites to specialist events will be targeted to suit those relevant specialisms.
By issuing this PIN, Highways England wishes to formally make the market aware of potential opportunities in relation Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) project.
We will be carrying out a programme of engagement with interested parties in respect of a range of categories of works and services in relation to the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) project, which may include:
Collaboration is at the heart of the relationships necessary to deliver at the scale and pace required. We have planning to hold further supplier engagement events to provide an overview of Lower Thames Crossing opportunities available to the market in the forthcoming year in relation to major infrastructure projects and to provide an overview of the procurement vehicle options proposed specifically for the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) project.
Highways England is committed to ensuring fairness, openness, and transparency. The overarching aim of all the market consultation exercises is for genuine 2-way dialogue to take place between Highways England and the market, listening to what interested parties have to say and using this to shape the commercial and procurement strategies which set out the approach to the market.
This Prior Information Notice (PIN) is issued solely for the purpose of commencing a market consultation exercise and does not constitute any commitment by Highways England to undertake any public procurement exercise.