Highways Agency

• Guidance for One-off CAT3 Assessments
• Supplier Selection and Development

Capability Assessment Toolkit (CAT) 3

The Highways Agency has worked in close collaboration with representatives of the construction and maintenance industry to develop the Capability Assessment Toolkit in advance of the next round of assessments.

The revised CAT framework keeps all the categories from previous frameworks while introducing new and challenging indicators in the area of corporate social responsibility.

• Overview
• Indicators (87KB PDF)
• Content Guidance (1.7MB PDF)
• Process Guidance
• Scoring Guidance
• Glossary
• Frequently Asked Questions

Supplier Information

The Highways Agency has recently completed the second phase of its Capability Assessment (CAT3) programme. We have now scored the services offered by 42 major project and maintenance organisations that support the Agency in delivering our network operator role on motorways and major trunk roads in England.

This is the third round of the assessments that were initially introduced by the Agency in 2002. The capability assessment now includes several new indicators increasing the focus on diversity, innovation, risk management, corporate social responsibility and putting customers at the heart of the Agency’s business.

The assessment is designed to help the organisations to identify strengths and areas for development in the capabilities needed for a wide range of work, including the maintenance and improvement of roads.

It helps to ensure service supply companies used by the Agency know what we require from our contracts to meet the needs of people who use our roads or are affected by them. Annually, the supply chain delivers services on motorways and trunk roads worth around £1.5bn.

Archie Robertson, Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, said:

"The capability assessments represent a significant investment by the Agency in the continued development and improvement of our supply chain. We are very pleased with the commitment and positive approach demonstrated by all our suppliers, both in developing the assessment toolkit and the steps they have taken to progress their own services to focus on making improvements and achieving best practice in delivering customer services."

The Civil Engineering Contractors Association and Association of Civil Engineers said:
"Our members have collaborated with the Highways Agency to develop the revised Capability Assessment Toolkit (CAT) ahead of the new round of assessments. We recognise the significant investment made by the Agency, throughout the three earlier rounds, to increase the capability of its key suppliers and the services they provide to the public. This places the Agency in a unique position as a major client."

The Agency uses both capability and actual performance data to influence decisions relating to the selection of tenderers. CAT3 scoring is out of a theoretical maximum of 288. Whilst there is a degree of grouping in overall supplier scores, there is a significant contrast in the indicator scoring profile behind each headline score. This forensic information will be used to drive improvement and identify best practice.

The pre-qualification process for larger value TPI Contracts, MAC and TechMAC Contracts uses CAT3 scores.

The tables below provide a brief overview of the 33 Suppliers included in the first phase, and the 9 Suppliers included in the second phase of the CAT 3 Assessments:

Suppliers included in Phase 1 of the CAT 3 Assessment Programme (65KB PDF)

Suppliers included in Phase 2 of the CAT 3 Assessment Programme (34.1KB PDF)

One-Off CAT 3 Assessments

Previous Versions of the Capability Assessment Toolkit (1 & 2)

Documentation on previous versions of the Capability Assessment Toolkit (1 & 2)