Highways Agency - Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers

Introduction to the handbook

1.0 introduction to the handbook

The purpose of this handbook is to provide information and guidance on the key aspects of the Capability Assessment Toolkit (CAT) in particular:

• how it fits into the Highways Agency's (the Agency) procurement process
• how it is structured
• how the capability assessment process works

The guidance contained within this handbook is designed to give the suppliers required to undertake a CAT self-score exercise sufficient information to make informed decisions. This handbook should be read in conjunction with the electronic self-score and next steps templates that outline aspects to be considered when undertaking a self-score exercise.

It is not intended to give all the answers, but to encourage suppliers to use their own judgement and to help ensure a consistent approach.

application

Data obtained from the CAT will initially be used in major highways procurement exercises, but will be applied to other work categories in due course.

who should read it?

In addition to providing information and guidance for suppliers that are required to return a completed CAT electronic self-score template, this handbook will be a useful reference document for:

• suppliers
• advisors
• members of the Agency's Supply Chain Management Teams
• members of the Agency's Procurement Directorate
• Agency Project Sponsors and their teams