Smart motorways procurement plan
On 1 February 2018, ICE announced their involvement in helping Highways England explain how its proposed new commercial procurement model for smart motorways could work.
Highways England is developing a new procurement model to deliver the Smart Motorways Programme (SMP). This falls under the wider Routes to Market programme for procurement.
Working with the Department for Transport, Highways England operates, maintains and improves motorways and major A-roads. Its work supports economic growth by connecting people and businesses across England while making the network safer for those using and working on them.
The new SMP procurement model proposes new ways of working between the agency and its supply chain, drawing on an incentive-driven commercial model. The aim is to secure a sustainable supply chain by developing close, more collaborative and longer lasting relationships with suppliers – helping to deliver 'whole-life' value to their contracts.
Highways England is running workshops, information sessions about the new procurement model and asking for feedback.
ICE, alongside the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA), is working with the agency to coordinate workshops examining the new procurement models in further detail.
To register your interest in participating in the engagement exercise, please send an email to highwaysengland.co.uk RTMYourQuestions@highwaysengland.co.uk with the following information by 5pm on 8 February 2018 (registrations of interest cannot be received after this date):
- Organisation name, website and key contact details.
- Organisation size/turnover.
- Industry/sector specialism.
- Areas of experience/expertise.
Please note that Highways England will supply further information about the proposed model, as well as information on the different engagement methods, by mid-February 2018 to those who have registered an interest.
This article was originally published here on 1 Feb 2018 by ICE. It was written by Simon Barney.
--The Institution of Civil Engineers
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Articles by ICE on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- Digital Roads 2025.
- Highways England.
- How to connect unconnected vehicles.
- Rapid Engineering Model REM.
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- Vision and validate: a third way in designing the roads of the future.
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