Medway Council: Highways Infrastructure Contract

Contracting authority

Contracting authority:

Medway Council

Public Procurement Organisation Number:

PWYH-3898-LDQR

Address:

Medway Council, Gun Wharf, Dock Road
Chatham
ME4 4TR
UK

Contact name:

Nigel Ford

Email:

nigel.ford@medway.gov.uk

Telephone:

01634332088

Website:

Not provided

Organisation type:

REGIONAL_AUTHORITY

Devolved regulations that apply:

None

Procedure

Procedure type:

Open procedure

Preliminary market engagement conducted:

Not provided

Special regime:

None

Scope

Title:

Highways Infrastructure Contract

Reference number:

HIC II

Main category:

WORKS

Description:

The Virtual workshop will be held on Tuesday 14th April at 10am - 12pm via teams. The Invitation to the teams link along with the questionnaire will be distrubed to all registered suppliers prior to the virtual session.

Medway Council manages a significant highway network asset with a gross replacement value of approximately £2 billion, comprising:
•845km of adopted highway
•1,100km (approximately) of adopted footway
•27,007 streetlights
•406 bridges and retaining walls
•The Medway Tunnel — a critical asset with a high consequence of failure profile)
•Approximately 91,000 other highway assets including street furniture

The scale, complexity and critical asset profile of Medway's network, including the Medway Tunnel, makes this a significant and technically demanding network to operate and manage. The current term maintenance contract is delivered by Volker Highways and commenced in August 2017. The contract runs to 31st July 2027, creating a clear procurement programme requirement for the successor contract to be in place in advance of this date, with a likely procurement commencement early Summer 2026.

Total value (estimated):

GBP 110,000,000 excluding VAT

GBP 132,000,000 including VAT

Contract dates (estimated):

01/08/2027 to 31/07/2034

CPV classifications:

45200000 - Works for complete or part construction and civil engineering work.

50200000 - Repair, maintenance and associated services related to aircraft, railways, roads and marine equipment.

71000000 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services.

73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services.

90600000 - Cleaning and sanitation services in urban or rural areas, and related services.

Delivery regions:

UKJ41 - Medway

Participation

Suitable for SMEs:

No

Suitable for VCSEs:

No

Engagement

Engagement deadline:

01/05/2026

Engagement status:

The engagement has not yet been carried out.

Engagement process description:

Medway Council will host an open virtual Market Engagement Workshop during the week commencing 13th April 2026. The precise date and time will be confirmed upon registration — interested organisations should register their interest using the contact details provided in Section 6 of this notice to receive workshop invitations and joining instructions.
The workshop will be open to all interested suppliers across all tiers and will cover:

•Background to Medway Council and its strategic context for the procurement
•Overview of the current HIC, network profile, and key assets (including the Medway Tunnel)
•Summary of the contract options in-scope and key considerations for the future contract landscape.
•Medway's approach to social value, sustainability, innovation, and digital technology
•Indicative procurement timetable and anticipated process, including the Competitive Flexible Procedure
•Open Q&A session

The workshop is intended to provide all interested organisations with a consistent and transparent briefing on the opportunity before any further engagement sessions take place.

Further Targeted Engagement
A Questionnaire will be provided to all supplier who register and shall complete and return prior to the Engagement Workshop. This questionnaire will provide the Council with important insights that will help to shape the future contract. Suppliers are not obliged to complete the questionnaire and any nil-responses will not be taken into account.
Medway Council may opt to undertake a series of further targeted engagement sessions with interested suppliers on specific contract topics.

Submission

Publication date of tender notice (estimated):

13/07/2026

Other organisations