Published date: 29 July 2025

Awarded contract - This means that the contract has been awarded to a supplier.


Closing: 13 June 2025, 7pm

Contract summary

Industry

  • Development consultancy services - 73220000

Location of contract

Any region

Value of contract

£100,000

Procurement reference

tender_494422/1503741

Published date

29 July 2025

Closing date

13 June 2025

Closing time

7pm

Contract start date

23 July 2025

Contract end date

31 March 2027

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Call-off from a framework agreement

A mini-competition or direct purchase from a pre-established framework agreement.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

No

Description

Phase 1 of the Product Certification Review (completed in March 2025) provided an independent assessment of the "as-is" state of product certification/acceptance regime used by National Highways. It confirmed long-standing issues such as limited oversight and data on compliance, and uncertainties in how contractors verify product conformity. These findings reinforced the need for improvements to the system.
In parallel, the Grenfell Tower Inquiry's Phase 2 report and subsequent government initiatives have called for stronger regulation of construction products. The government's Construction Products Reform agenda (e.g. the 2025 Green Paper) signals impending changes such as a single construction products regulator, stricter accreditation of certifiers, mandatory competency requirements, and enhanced accountability for product safety. National Highways must proactively align its own product acceptance procedures with these evolving regulatory expectations to uphold safety and avoid the failures witnessed in tragedies like Grenfell.
National Highways also remains committed to its obligations under its Technical Regulation Protocol to update the Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works (MCHW) ensuring that product certification schemes requirements in the MCHW are upheld against accredited bodies.
By undertaking Phase 2, National Highways intends to implement a programme of improvements that will close the gaps identified in Phase 1, meet new regulatory requirements, and ultimately strengthen the assurance that all products used on the network are safe, compliant, and fit for purpose.

Award information

Awarded date

23 July 2025

Contract start date

23 July 2025

Contract end date

31 March 2027

Total value of contract

£239,133.60

This contract was awarded to 1 supplier.

WSP UK LTD

Address

Birmingham

Reference

No reference - other

Supplier is SME?

No

Supplier is VCSE?

No

About the buyer

Contact name

National Highways

Address

199 Wharfside Street
Birmingham
B1 1RN
England

Email

SPaTS2@nationalhighways.co.uk