Specialist Professional and Technical Service 3 (SPaTS3) Framework

National Highways is the government company responsible for maintaining and operating the major road network in England. An opportunity has been published to potential suppliers and the scope of works that could be delivered through the SPaTS3 Framework is shown below.

The Suppliers will be expected to provide road transport-related technical consultancy, engineering advice, research and innovation services. The services required come under the following headings:

• a)asset operation, maintenance, assurance and performance
• b)business support (in key areas of specialist / technical support)
• c)communications and data transfer
• d)customer insight research, market research and publicity
• e)design standards manuals and departures
• f)economics, statistics and transport modelling
• g)enforcement policy
• h)environmental
• i)geotechnical engineering
• j)Health, Safety & Well being, security, road safety and vehicle restraint
• k)highway structures
• l)identity & image
• m)incident management and traffic officer service
• n)intelligent transport
• o)management information systems
• p)network resilience
• q)pavement engineering
• r)pilots and trials
• s)post implementation evaluation
• t)quality management
• u)risk and value management
• v)road user behaviour
• w)strategic transport planning and policy
• x)sustainability
• y)traffic signals and road lighting
• z)transport engineering

There will be a maximum of 6 suppliers appointed. It is expected that the successful suppliers will utilise a diverse supply chain to provide specialist support in the required areas.

Work under the framework may be awarded following mini-competition, following a single response to a request for expressions of interest or through a direct award to a single supplier.

The main site of performance of the activities is England. However, successful suppliers may be requested to work outside of England in support of the organisations enabled to use this framework, as noted in the additional information.

Further details of the requirements of the topic areas and the processes to award work are included in the tender documents.

Additional information:

A six-year duration is necessary due to the extensive mobilisation period and investment costs required by suppliers to meet all obligations and deliver projects effectively, making a four-year duration insufficient. Additionally, SPaTS3 supports economic, environmental goals, and the government's objectives, including Carbon Net Zero, during Roads Period 3 (RIS3).

The Contracting Authority will use an eTendering system in this procurement exercise. Information on how to take part in this Tender is detailed below:

1. Register your company on the eSourcing portal (this is only required once)

Visit - https://nationalhighways.ukp.app.jaggaer.com/ and click the link to register

Accept the terms and conditions and click 'continue' - Enter your business and user details - Note the username you chose and click 'Save' when complete - You will shortly receive an email with your unique password.

2. Express an Interest in the tender - Login to the portal - Click the 'PQQ/ITTs Open to All Suppliers' link. (These are Pre-Qualification Questionnaires or Invitations to Tender open to any registered supplier).

Click on the relevant PQQ/ITT to access the content (ITT_768 - Specialist Professional and Technical Service 3 (SPaTS3)).

Click the 'Express Interest' button at the top of this page. This will move the PQQ/ITT into your 'My PQQs/My ITT's page. (This is a secure area reserved for your projects only). You can access any attachments by clicking the 'Buyer Attachments' in the 'PQQ/ITT Details box.

3. Responding to the tender - Click 'My Response' under 'PQQ/ITT Details', you can 'Create Response' or 'Decline to Respond' (please give a reason if declining).

You can use the 'Messages' function to communicate with the buyer and seek any clarification. Note the deadline for completion, then follow the onscreen instructions to complete the PQQ/ITT.

There may be a mixture of online and offline actions for you to perform (there is detailed online help available). Submit your reply using the 'Submit Response' button at the top of the page. If you require any further assistance, please consult online help or contact the eTendering help desk.

You should also be aware that if your bid is successful the resulting contract will be published. In some circumstances, limited redactions will be made to tender documentation and/or contracts before they are published in order to comply with existing law, to protect commercial interests and for the protection of national security.

Further information will be set out in the Tender Documents. Contract dates stated are indicative and may be subject to change.

Expressions of interest must be submitted from the applicants' registered office address. Each member of a Joint Venture (JV) must submit a letter from their own registered office confirming all company names in the proposed JV. Applicants can only participate in one JV.

This framework is enabled for the use of National Highways & DfT.