Member Article

Increased collaboration at the heart of new £96m North East Highway Surfacing Framework

An ethos of a more collaborative approach to highway construction is prevailing in the region, thanks to a new framework deal between leading North East institutions working with local businesses.

Entering a four year agreement, the North East Procurement Organisation, working in partnership with the North East Highways Alliance, will work with thirteen contractors to improve the region’s roads. An annual spend value of £24 million across the region, per year, is estimated within the framework.

The collaborative agreement, which was led on behalf of NEPO by Darlington Borough Council, covers sixteen specialist lots ranging from standard carriageway resurfacing to road markings.

The framework will aim to implement all the Local Authorities’ annual planned maintenance to principal, non – principal and unclassified road networks.

A pipeline of works has been forecast from the Local Authorities programmes with both direct awards and further competitions emerging in various package sizes. It is envisaged that the more joined up approach will drive benefits and efficiencies throughout the period of the framework.

The contract will be delivered under the NEC3 Form of Contract and specific KPI’s have been developed to deliver and monitor Social Value in key areas such as Employment & Skills.

Jeff Alexander, chair of Construction Alliance Northeast (CAN), an organisation which was recently formed to lobby for fairer procurement methods on behalf of its 500-plus SME member companies, welcomed the approach adopted by NEPO and Darlington Borough Council.

He said: “It is encouraging to hear about the more collaborative approach to highways procurement which has been adopted in the case of this framework.

“By using local firms with local knowledge, it is possible to provide a greater range of value added benefits. This is not only good news for the client, but for the regional economy as a whole.”