Each of the four contracts will cover a specific London area and will run for eight years. They will be used by TfL, and the London boroughs will also be able to call on the selected contractors too. This means that for the first time a single contract will cover maintenance and new build work for all classes of road in any given area of London. Until now, highways works have been carried out by a range of different contractors.
So far, a third of the councils have indicated that they will use the new contracts.
The 10 contractors shortlisted to tender for the four area-based London Highways Alliance Frameworks are:
- Amey
- Balfour Beatty Living Places
- Ringway Jacobs
- Colas-VolkerHighways-URS Scott Wilson
- MGWSP (May Gurney, WSP)
- EnterpriseMouchel
- FM Conway-Aecom
- Skanska Construction UK/ Project Centre
- Costain-J Murphy & Sons-Capita Symonds
- Bam Nuttall-Hyder Consulting
Tender documents will be issued on the 29 February with contracts awarded by the end of 2012.
The new contracts have been designed, as part of the Transforming London's Highways Management initiative, which hopes to create more consistency in the quality of works and materials used, and to minimise disruption by encouraging coordinated working.
Under the contracts work will be carried out to a common specification, which will allow work to be carried out more economically through sharing resources and using a common set of basic materials, it is claimed.
TfL director of roads for surface transport Dana Skelley said: “By having highway contracts which can be used by all London boroughs, we can not only deliver greater efficiencies in terms of cost and disruption, but also work together more closely to trial innovation and improve the road network for all.”
The winning contractors will also be required to pay the London Living Wage (currently £8.30 per hour), take on local apprentices and help tackle any skill gaps within local workforces.
Contractors or subcontractors must also be members of TfL's Freight Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) and ensure that all vehicles weighing more than 18 tonnes are fitted with side guards, blind-spot warning devices and appropriate rear signage to minimise the risks to vulnerable road users.
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