Better information for your journey
The National Traffic Control Centre collects real-time information on road conditions.
The Project Control Framework
On 1st April 2008 we launched the Project Control Framework. The Framework sets out how we, together with the Department for Transport, manage and deliver major improvement projects.
Free Traffic Information Seminars
Helping your business get its customers, drivers and goods where they should be, on time and stress-free.
Capability Assessment Toolkit 3
Introducing new and challenging indicators in the area of corporate social responsibility.
Efficiency Gains from Collaborative Roads Procurement
Delivering efficiency and best value is central
The capability assessment toolkit (CAT)
4.1 structure of the CAT
The CAT has been developed using the well-established principles that underpin a number business excellence models. Other sources of information that guided its design and development include:
- the Agency's Procurement Strategy
- the Agency's values: customer service, best value, improvement, teamwork, diversity and integrity
- a number of construction industry best practice documents
- the Construction Client's Charter
- Investors in People
- supplier feedback
The CAT considers what it is that companies need to do to be effective. It is structured as follows:
- Direction and leadership
- Strategy and planning
- People
- Partnering
- Processes
- Internal resources
B CAPABILITY INDICATORS
For each attribute, three indicators describe features of the capability that could be demonstrated.
C CAPABILITY LEVEL DESCRIPTIONS
For each of the indicators there are five levels of capability, 0 to 4.
The documentation making up the toolkit (CAT) is in two main parts:- supplier self-score handbook
- self-score framework of 18 sheets (1 per indicator) comprising:
- self-score proformas on front of page
- electronic self-score and next steps templates
The full framework of capability attributes, indicators and level descriptions is given in appendix III.
4.2 the CAT process
The capability assessment process has two distinct stages:
- supplier self-score
- validation by client CAT practitioners
An overview of the key stages involved in the CAT process are shown above.
4.2.1 self-score stage
Companies are asked to score themselves using a CAT self-score framework and guidelines and return those scores to the Agency's Supply Chain Management Team.
The submission is required in two parts:
- Part 1 submission
- basic information pack
This information is required to plan the validation exercise:
- company name
- company address
- company CAT Champion, ie the person within your organisation responsible for co-ordinating and submitting your CAT self-score and next steps information and assisting our client CAT practitioners with the validation exercise.
- organagram (in 2 sections please)
- Section 1
a diagram showing the key people within your organisation - Section 2
a chart showing the entire structure of your organisation, clearly identifying the parts of your company that provide services and/or works for the Highways Agency
a brief pen picture of the activities of those parts of your company structure that provide services and/or works for the Highways Agency
- Section 1
- availability dates for validation
Part 2 submission
electronic self-score and next steps templates
These comprise:
- the company's score for and evidence to support 'where we are now'
- the information to support where the company plans to be in 12 months
Further details of this stage are provided in section 5.0 of this handbook.
Please note that detailed submission requirements will be notified separately.
4.2.2 validation stage
A team of fully trained and briefed client CAT practitioners will spend time with the companies to validate the self-scores. The validated scores will be held on the Agency's procurement database and will be used in conjunction with past performance and strategic overview information to determine tender lists.
Further details of this stage are provided in section 6.0 of this handbook.
