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A Review of the Management and maintenance arrangements for motorways and trunk roads in England
Current contracts
Currently the Highways Agency procures maintenance and management services via Managing Agent contracts, Term Maintenance Contractor contracts, specific one - off ("discrete") contracts, and in some Areas, framework contracts. In addition communications systems maintenance is procured through regionally based contracts.
This document focuses upon the Managing Agent and Term Maintenance Contractor contracts and how these might be developed in the future.
Within an Area, the Managing Agent is responsible for carrying out all design work, asset inspections, network maintenance management, and supervision of the Term Maintenance Contractor. This also goes for all extra maintenance projects that might arise except for road improvement schemes of greater value than £1 million.
The Term Maintenance Contractor carries out all routine, cyclical and winter maintenance; and small capital maintenance and improvement works up to a limit of £100,000. The Term Maintenance Contractor also provides an emergency cover service.
The Regional Communication Maintenance Contractor maintains all motorway and trunk road communications equipment across several Agency Area networks.
The Managing Agent contracts are currently awarded for a 3-year initial period with two optional 12-month extensions. The Term Maintenance Contractor contracts are for 3 years with one optional 12-month extension.
The intention is that the first 4 Managing Agent and Term Maintenance Contractor contracts will be retendered in 2000.
Discrete major maintenance schemes (as distinct from routine, cyclical and winter maintenance) are currently procured by a range of methods, principally using Design and Build, "ICE5" or "ECC" contract forms.
Having a value limit for the works undertaken by the Term Maintenance Contractor ensures that a significant number of contracts are put out to competitive tender throughout the life of the term contract.
A balance needs to be maintained between
- sustaining a steady workload for the Term Maintenance Contractor
- supplying work for longer-term Framework contracts to be placed
- maintaining the flow of one-off contracts to a competitive regional/ local market.
