National Highways Scheme Delivery Framework (SDF2) – What You Need To Know

With an anticipated spend of £14.5 billion and 12 lot-specific workstreams, gaining a place on the framework will allow construction suppliers to acquire (or retain) a key client and grow their business’ revenue.

We provide key details of the Scheme Delivery 2 Framework, minimum requirements to bid and how bidders are evaluated on the framework agreement.  

About the National Highways Scheme Delivery Framework 2

The current incarnation of the framework comprises 50 public sector suppliers carrying out £3.6 billion worth of works over the past four years, and is due to expire in 2027.

The new incarnation of the framework is split into 12 workstreams and six geographic lots, comprising:

• General Civils, Drainage and Concrete
• Pavements
• Tunnels
• Technology Design
• Design
• Traffic Management
• Structures
• Joints & Waterproofing
• Landscaping
• Road Markings
• Signs & Street Lighting
• Vehicle Restraints Systems.

The pavement workstream was previously a separate framework that is being folded into the new version of the Scheme Delivery Framework. There is also a national main contractor lot available for more complex, high-value works orders where suppliers are capable of delivering through self-delivery and subcontracted workforce.

The first stage of the framework was released earlier this month following extensive preliminary market engagement, including six face-to-face workshops and two online events for prospective bidders.

Bidders looking to submit a tender for the first stage of the submission need to register their interest on the National Highways Jaggaer portal.   

What are the minimum requirements to bid?

As with many public sector contracting authorities, National Highways are keen to integrate small- and medium-sized businesses within their supply chain. As such, minimum requirements for this stage comprise:

• Two references for similar projects under the lot(s) you are bidding for which align with National Highways’ scope of requirements
• A carbon reduction plan outlining your Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions and measures for reducing carbon emissions (e.g. phasing in hybrid/electric vehicle fleet)
• Minimum turnover thresholds based on the lot or workstream your organisation is tendering for (with the exception of the national lot, these are relatively low).

To support compliance and submission of a correct plan, the central government have published a carbon reduction plan template for bidders to review and model their own plan after.

What tender procedure is the authority using?

Under the Procurement Act 2023, National Highways are employing the ‘competitive flexible’ procedure for this framework. An initial stage, titled the ‘Conditions of Participation’, effectively stands in for the SQ/PSQ in this instance.

Responses to the narrative responses comprise 100% of the formal evaluation criteria at this stage, and it is critical that bidders – including incumbent providers on the contract – do not become complacent with these responses.

It is likely that hundreds of organisations will be bidding for the same lot, and with only 4–20 suppliers progressing to ITT stage (depending on the lot), the Conditions of Participation stage will be highly competitive.

How are bidders evaluated for the framework?

In addition to providing the minimum requirements, the Conditions of Participation stage requires responding to several narrative questions, including:

• Case studies and contract examples detailing how your organisation managed works, controlled risks and delivered benefits outside the contract scope
• Where you previously planned capacity and capability of internal resource against client demand
• Approaches to a ‘self-delivery’ model, inclusive of outlining experience and expertise of your resource
• How you will support National Highways’ net zero targets through carbon reduction initiatives in your own organisation.

This stage of the framework is now live, with a submission deadline of 14 November – leaving a little over a month for bidders to complete their submission.

Invitation to tender stage

Following this, the invitation to tender (ITT) stage of the opportunity will be evaluated on a 70/30 split in favour of quality. Although the full version of the question set has yet to be published, topics included in the original contract notice include:

• Health and safety
• Stakeholder engagement and communication
• Management and collaboration
• Organisation and resources
• Commercial methodology and cost control
• Social value.

A 70% weighting on quality underscores the importance of providing targeted, high-quality and persuasive responses to the quality questions. Without support from an expert bid and tender writer, it is unlikely you will gain a place on the framework.

Support with highways tenders and frameworks

At Executive Compass, our tender writers have completed hundreds of highways and roads maintenance bids over the past 16 years – bolstering our fully auditable, 85% success rate. As such, we are ideally positioned to support as your bid partner for both stages of the National Highways Scheme Delivery Framework 2.

To find out more about our bid services, contact us today at 0800 612 5563 or via email info@executivecompass.co.uk.