Mane Rail & Infrastructure Issue 9 - February 2018 | Page 8

8 | MANE RAIL & INFRASTRUCTURE | FEBRUARY 2018

In January Network Rail prepared to invite bids for its southern multi-discipline frameworks across Anglia, South East and Wessex routes.

It will cover control period six (CP6), stretching from April 2019 to 2024, however there is the option to extend if approved for three years into CP7.

The value of the work could be worth anywhere between £2bn and £7bn this will depend on regular spending settlements.

Network Rail is running the SMD Framework as three lots for each area, previously the Anglia region was undertaken by Volker Fitzpatrick, BAM Nuttall secured Sussex, Geoffery Osborne won Wessex and Costain took Kent. Now the chance for new firms to bag these regions has risen.

The firms will have control of the works such as electrification, signalling, enhancements, communications and track works. Network Rail is to host a briefing event at the end of January in the Oval Cricket Ground to set out the requirements and scope of the frameworks.

Highways England is getting ready to hold a suppliers day as they prepare to invite bids this March for Area 10 highways/motorways. The upkeep and small construction work contracts will be worth up to £550m.

Since 2012, Balfour Beatty and Mott MacDonald have held the region in a joint venture covering, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire.

At the end of 2017, the team secured a contract extension to March 2019, Highways England will start its new-style contracts then.

Highways England will take lead in managing both renewal and improvement schemes as well as routine maintenance, they will appoint a principal maintenance and response contractor. The bidding race, starting around Valentine’s Day, is a key package with a value of £326m.

In a spate £220m framework, subcontractor improvement packages are also up for grab in early March.

RACE FOR BIDDING BEGINS ON NEW HIGHWAYS PROJECT

NETWORK RAIL INVITES BIDS ON SEVERAL ROUTES