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Supplier Guide Part 4 – Procurement at National Highways

There are two ways to secure work with National Highways

  • Indirectly via National Highways’ supply chain
  • Directly for National Highways

The cross-government Crown Commercial Services Framework is used by National Highways and its supply chain to procure specialist services.

Indirect Route –via National Highways’ Extended Supply Chain

National Highways procures most of its work through multi-disciplinary first-tier suppliers. These suppliers use sub-contractors and sub-consultants for much of this work. This model opens a range of opportunities to work for National Highways indirectly.

First-tier suppliers support National Highways in the delivery of its objectives and require their own supply chain to support them. The section below on “what is expected of suppliers” applies in large to indirectly employed suppliers as well.

Suppliers that have been successful in the procurement process with National Highways can be found in a number of ways;

National Highways suppliers procure work throughout the life of their contracts or frameworks and opportunities with them can be identified in a number of ways;

  • Various Supply Chain Portals where tender opportunities are published, CompeteFor, being one of the best known which is supported by the government and is growing its number of supporters.
  • Contacting the supplier directly once identified either at company or project level.
  • Local meet the buyer events often advertised by CECA.

First-tier suppliers work with their own suppliers in a variety of ways:

  • Close strategic supply chain relationships formed over time for mutual benefit. These companies who are part of the extended supply chain can be large organisations who in turn are supported by their own supply chain. This opens the door for other companies to work on National Highways contracts. Opportunities of this nature can also be identified through the websites and contact points outlined above.
  • Suppliers that are used regularly but the relationship is more transactional.
  • New suppliers may be vetted by systems such as Achilles or Construction Line.
  • CECA has developed a single Common Assessment Standard for construction pre-qualification (PQ) that many suppliers have committed to using.
  • Category management. These are suppliers that have been selected by National Highways and work for first-tier supplier through enabled contracts. Currently this applies to surfacing and specialist products via Crown Commercial Services. Further information can be requested from Categorymanagementteam@highwaysengland.co.uk

Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

National Highways is working to support government targets around increasing opportunities for SMEs, and requires its directly employed suppliers to contract at least 25% of their work to SMEs.

Direct Route – tendering for work directly with National Highways

National Highways has two main Procurement Routes for the selection of Tenderers.

The Open procedure does not pre-qualify suppliers. It allows tenderers to self-declare their status against exclusion grounds and only the successful tenderer’s Selection Questionnaire (SQ) response is assessed.

The Restricted Procedure requires potential suppliers to go through a full pre-qualification process before being invited to tender for contracts.

For both procedures, there are three pre-qualification routes:

  1. Full pre-qualification for high-value and high-risk works contracts – aligned to the revised PAS91 – 2013 questionnaire.
  2. Mini pre-qualification for lower-value and lower-risk works – aligned to the revised PAS91 – 2013 questionnaire.
  3. Core pre-qualification for goods and services contracts – based on the Cabinet Office core questionnaire mandated for use as stated in Procurement policy note 08/16: Standard Selection Questionnaire.

The contract notice will give details of which procurement route is being followed, who to contact for the contract specific pre-qualification pack, and further details about any specific requirements being used in the pack.  

Part 5: Process for awarding a contract

If you would like further information, or to feedback on this guide, please e-mail scd@nationalhighways.co.uk