Essex Highways and Transportation Contracts

Update Provided 22 April 2026

We are continuing to develop our understanding of how highways and transport services could be structured and delivered in the future. As part of this work, we are seeking further feedback from the market to help inform our thinking and ensure any future procurement and service design reflects a modern, resilient and future ready operating environment.

We invite all interested suppliers to complete the pre market engagement questionnaire via the Microsoft Form link below and submit your feedback by 5pm on 28 April 2026.

forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx ↗

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Previous Information (now expired)

All prospective bidders are invited to attend a virtual pre-market engagement event on 16 April 2026 which will be conducted via Microsoft Teams at 11:00am. The event will provide an opportunity to hear directly about recent changes to some of the approaches previously briefed on, the influence of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) on the procurement, and the next stages of the programme, as well as to raise early questions and engage in discussion.

The key items on the agenda are as follows:

1. Introduction - key programme and LGR update
2. Independent Contracts
3. Procurement updates - Competitive Flexible Procedure and high-level procurement timetable and change in ECC procurement system
4. Further market engagement details

We strongly encourage all interested suppliers to attend, at all levels of the supply chain. If you would like to attend, please send your expression of interest to FHP.Team@essex.gov.uk by midday on 15 April 2026 including the names and email addresses for attendees from your organisation. A link to the event will then be issued.

Please note that you will be issued with a questionnaire shortly after the virtual market engagement event on 16 April 2026 with a response deadline of 28 April 2026. There will also be an in-person event and potential 1-2-1s week commencing 11 May 2026.

Important information

Respondents are advised that the purpose of this notice is to engage directly with the market. The Procurement description, estimated contract start and end date, estimated date of publication or estimated contract value should not be taken as a final "version" of ECC's requirements.

This notice is not a call for competition to procure any works or services.

Interested parties will not be prejudiced by any response, or lack thereof, to this notice. Nor shall a response to this notice guarantee an opportunity to participate in this market engagement exercise or any future procurement process that ECC may conduct. The virtual market engagement event will be recorded, and a link will be available upon request.

Essex County Council is not liable for any costs, fees or expenses incurred by any party responding to this notice or any party who may participate in the market engagement exercise.

For reference, previous Prior Information Notices issued under the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (old notices) associated with this project can be located via the following notice identifiers: F01. 2023/S 000-017107, F01. 2023/S 000-027435, F01. 2024/S 000-012457, F14. 2025/S 000-003014