Official UK procurement notice
Highways Professional Services Framework
Authority: Liverpool City Council (Local council)
What is being bought4 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionLiverpool City Council (LCC) intends to invite suppliers to tender for a new version of the Professional Services Framework (the PSF) to commence from October 2026. The current PSF is due to expire in October 2026, with LCC requiring similar services and commissions from the consultancy market to support planned delivery from October / November 2026.
The framework will be split into the following four (4) lots:
Lot 1 - Sustainable Transport Planning and Policy Advice
Lot 2 - Highways and Infrastructure Design Support Services
Lot 3 - P&P Management and NEC Contract Administration Support Services
Lot 4 - Commercial and Contract Management Support Services
- How the procedure runs: Stage 1: PSQ Stage PSQ Documents are issued to anyone who wishes to participate. The PSQ assesses the Conditions of Participation (CoP) and a selection of lot specific "quality" questions based on previous experience which each have individual weightings to total 100%. The 8 highest ranked bidders for Lots 1 - 3 will be shortlisted and invited to progress to the second stage. The 6 highest ranked bidders for Lot 4 will be shortlisted and invited to progress to the second stage. Stage 2: ITT Stage Assesses Quality and Price based on their relative percentage (%) weighting. The overall highest ranked bidders will be awarded a place on the framework. The numbers of bidders to be awarded a place on the framework per lot are as follows: Lot 1 - 4 suppliers Lot 2 - 4 suppliers Lot 3 - 4 suppliers Lot 4 - 3 suppliers Full description of the competition can be found within the published tender documents.
CPV: Highways consultancy services
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Open framework
- Call-offs
- call-offs may be awarded directly or by further competition
- Framework period
- 4 yrs from 6 Oct 2026
- Buyer regions
- UKD7
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
1.50% of call-off value · The Supplier shall pay to the Authority a rebate in the amount of 1.5% of all Qualified Funds due to the Supplier in respect of Contracts called off under this Framework Agreement.
Qualified Funds shall include monies received by the Supplier from Other Contracting Bodies (that is, not LCC) under Contracts established with and for the benefit of those Other Contracting Bodies by call off under this Framework Agreement.
Who may buy through it
- All departments of Liverpool City Council including any arm's length company organisations
- Halton Borough Council, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council, St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council, Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (the "LCRCA") (and each a "Local Authority") and any subsidiaries, affiliated or associated joint-venture vehicles of each Local Authority including local authority trading companies and local authority housing companies, registered providers of social housing including but not limited to a list of providers registered with the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH); and
- Transport for Liverpool City Region (TfLCR) (previously known as Merseytravel) or such other organisation as may exist in the future as the LCRCA regional transport network.
Published description of the framework
Bidders will be shortlisted a PSQ stage, with 8 bidders being invited to progress to the ITT stage for lots 1-3 and 6 bidders being invited to progress to the ITT stage for lot 4.
At ITT stage, the award criteria weightings will be set and the highest ranked bidders on each lot will be awarded a place on the framework. The following are the number of bidders who will be awarded a place on the framework per lot:
Lot 1 - 4 bidders
Lot 2 - 4 bidders
Lot 3 - 4 bidders
Lot 4 - 3 bidders
At ITT stage, bidders will be asked to complete the provided pricing schedules which will form the basis of the framework rates.
Lots and requirements (4)Procurement structure
4 lots · all with a published value · same evaluation weights on every lotEvery one of these 4 lots carries the same published figure, £100,000,000: it is the framework's maximum for the whole notice, not each lot's own budget, and no share per lot is published. The cards below say ceiling above rather than repeat it.
Lot #1Sustainable Transport Planning and Policy Adviceceiling above
The Supplier shall provide the staff, resource, technical competence and expertise for the
successful delivery of all documentation, records, approvals, outputs, drawings, designs, reports, submissions and any other documentation or services reasonably required by the Contracting Authority to finalise delivery of:
a) Feasibility studies
b) Detailed design services
all in relation to Sustainable Transport & Policy for highways for the Contracting Authority.
Further lot specific information can be found within the tender documentation.
Lot #2Highways and Infrastructure Design Support Servicesceiling above
The Supplier shall provide Consultancy services related to highways, traffic, streets and urban design including but not limited to investigation, planning, design, operations, compliance, integration, construction and maintenance.
The services will include activities that support development of projects at various stages from feasibility and concept design to preliminary and detailed design. This will be to support delivery and operation of a range of projects including major highway improvement projects, bus priority, walking wheeling and cycling infrastructure, junction and crossing design, public realm,
landscaping and placemaking, highway maintenance and highway development control design support across different types of streets in Liverpool, including streets on the Key Route Network
(KRN).
Further information on this lot can be found in the published tender documents.
Lot #3P&P Management and NEC Contract Administration Support Servicesceiling above
The Supplier shall provide the staff, resource, technical competence and expertise for the successful application of Project and Programme Management Support Services (PPMSS),
primarily to support the delivery of the Highways Capital Programme. The Highways Capital Programme being with the Sustainable Transport, Highways and Parking department (TH&P),
Liverpool City Council (LCC).
This will contribute to successful delivery of PPM best practice, with these support services contributing positively to producing and managing all documentation, records, approvals, outputs, drawings, designs, reports, contract administration, drafting, submissions and any other documentation or services reasonably required by the Contracting Authority.
The PPMSS will contribute to the various aspects of the project lifecycle, including but not limited to;
a) Feasibility Studies
b) Business Cases
c) Concept, Preliminary and Detailed Design phases of delivery
d) Client-side Project Management
e) NEC4 Project Manager, NEC Supervisor and NEC Service Manager roles, primarily where consultancy support has been commissioned by LCC TH&P and requires contract management across all relevant phases of the project lifecycle of the commission all in relation to programme management for highways for the Contracting Authority.
Further information on this lot can be found within the published tender documents.
Lot #4Commercial and Contract Management Support Servicesceiling above
Commercial and Contract Management support services are required to support to assist in the successful delivery of Highways Schemes across the full range of projects under the responsibility of Transportation, Highways & Parking (TH&P). This includes, but is not limited to:
- Capital Works and Programmes:
Support all commercial, procurement, and contract management activities associated with the delivery of capital programmes of works.
- Maintenance Programmes:
Provide commercial and contractual support for ongoing maintenance works across the TH&P portfolio.
- Core Responsibilities:
o Management of all commercial aspects of projects, including cost control, forecasting, and reporting.
o Procurement support, including tender preparation, evaluation, and contract award processes.
o Contract administration and compliance monitoring throughout the project lifecycle.
o Risk and change management relating to commercial and contractual matters.
The majority of services will focus on ensuring robust commercial governance and effective contract management to enable timely and cost-efficient delivery of TH&P's capital and maintenance programmes.
Further information on this lot can be found within the published tender documents.
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Published award criteria (2)
- Quality
- Price
- Price carries 30 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 3 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- “Highways Professional Services Framework” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract: call-offs may be direct or by further competition.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Closed
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Framework agreement
- Who may use this agreement
- - All departments of Liverpool City Council including any arm's length company organisations - Halton Borough Council, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council, St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council, Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (the "LCRCA") (and each a "Local Authority") and any subsidiaries, affiliated or associated joint-venture vehicles of each Local Authority including local authority trading companies and local authority housing companies, registered providers of social housing including but not limited to a list of providers registered with the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH); and - Transport for Liverpool City Region (TfLCR) (previously known as Merseytravel) or such other organisation as may exist in the future as the LCRCA regional transport network.
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 22 May 2025, 09:13 BST
- Last source update
- 13 Apr 2026, 15:47 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 2 Sept 2026
- Authority reference
DN788248- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-018137- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-051c88Find a Tender
- How it runs
Stage 1: PSQ Stage
PSQ Documents are issued to anyone who wishes to participate. The PSQ assesses the Conditions of Participation (CoP) and a selection of lot specific "quality" questions based on previous experience which each have individual weightings to total 100%.
The 8 highest ranked bidders for Lots 1 - 3 will be shortlisted and invited to progress to the second stage. The 6 highest ranked bidders for Lot 4 will be shortlisted and invited to progress to the second stage.
Stage 2: ITT Stage
Assesses Quality and Price based on their relative percentage (%) weighting. The overall highest ranked bidders will be awarded a place on the framework. The numbers of bidders to be awarded a place on the framework per lot are as follows:
Lot 1 - 4 suppliers
Lot 2 - 4 suppliers
Lot 3 - 4 suppliers
Lot 4 - 3 suppliers
Full description of the competition can be found within the published tender documents.
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 20 Apr 2026, 12:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 26 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
call-off levy · 1.50% of call-off value · The Supplier shall pay to the Authority a rebate in the amount of 1.5% of all Qualified Funds due to the Supplier in respect of Contracts called off under this Framework Agreement.
Qualified Funds shall include monies received by the Supplier from Other Contracting Bodies (that is, not LCC) under Contracts established with and for the benefit of those Other Contracting Bodies by call off under this Framework Agreement.
All submissions must be made via ProContract where the full suite of tender documents can be accessed. Link to the advert on ProContract is below, or alternatively bidders can find this opportunity on ProContract using the reference DN788248.
Timeline
22 May 2025 → 6 Oct 2026 · 9 dates- Planning notice published22 May 2025, 09:13 BST
- Market engagement15 Sept 2025, 23:59 BST
Liverpool City Council (LCC) intends to invite suppliers to tender for a new version of the Professional Services Framework (the PSF) to commence from October 2026. This document is intended to launch LCC's pre-market engagement in respect of a new PSF, inform suppliers of plans for the procurement process and to offer potential market participants an opportunity to inform LCC's approach and timetable. The current PSF is due to expire in October 2026, with LCC requiring similar services and commissions from the consultancy market to support planned delivery from October / November 2026.
LCC is conducting this pre-market engagement exercise to engage with potential suppliers to provide it with market information prior to launching the formal procurement process. LCC is asking suppliers to assist it in refining its understanding of market experience and capability and wishes to provide a platform for suppliers to engage directly with LCC on this opportunity.
An overview of the pre-market engagement exercise is set out below:
Step 1: Publication of Preliminary Market Engagement Notice and Pre-Market Engagement Documents
This stage was initiated by the publication of the notice. This serves as an invitation to prospective suppliers to participate in this pre-market engagement exercise.
The market engagement document, which sets out further background to the procurement and includes a short questionnaire for completion can be found on ProContract using the reference DN788248. Link to ProContract: procontract.due-north.com/Login ↗
Step 2: Questionnaire Responses (Questionnaire can be found and must be submitted on ProContract using the reference DN788248).
LCC is keen to hear the views of potentially interested suppliers on a number of issues which are set out in the questionnaire in Annex 1. The objective of the questionnaire is to enable interested parties to provide their key insights and recommendations to LCC in respect of its approach to the procurement and the PSF.
Completed questionnaires should be submitted to LCC no later than midday 15 September 2025. Please submit your response via the portal on ProContract. LCC will review all responses to questionnaires submitted and will undertake internal review sessions. Feedback will be collated and will be used to shape LCC's approach to the procurement and the Framework agreements.
Step 3: Open Day
LCC intends to introduce the PSF to prospective suppliers at an open day on 7th October 2025 9.30am - 12:30pm. The event will be held at St George's Hall (Concert Room).
The purpose of the open day is for LCC to present its current thinking on the procurement and Framework and explain some of the general and specific requirements for the appointed suppliers. It is also an opportunity for LCC to engage with suppliers on LCC's vision and ambition for creating this Framework. If you wish to attend the open day, please contact LCC via the messaging function on ProContract as soon as possible, but in any case, request no later than 24 September 2025. Please note that room in the Concert Room at St George's Hall is limited and therefore LCC reserve the right to restrict the number of individuals attending from each organisation. Once registered, details on how to participate in the open day will be provided to you.
- Next notice expected267 days ago2 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Tender notice published242 days ago27 Feb 2026, 16:31 GMT
- Latest notice published197 days ago13 Apr 2026, 15:47 BST
- Admission / appointment period ends190 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown20 Apr 2026, 12:00 BST
- Clarification questions by123 days ago26 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
- Award decision expected by55 days ago2 Sept 2026, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts22 days ago6 Oct 2026, 00:00 BST
Notice history
10 events · 5 releases on Find a Tender · since 22 May 2025- Pipeline notice published22 May 2025, 09:13 BSTUK1
- Preliminary market engagement notice published22 Aug 2025, 16:40 BSTUK2
- Preliminary market engagement notice published4 Sept 2025, 14:23 BSTUK2
- Tender notice published27 Feb 2026, 16:31 GMTUK4
- Published value published: £100,000,00027 Feb 2026, 16:31 GMT
- Status changed to active27 Feb 2026, 16:31 GMT
- Procurement method changed27 Feb 2026, 16:31 GMT
- Deadline published: 8 Jul 2026, 12:00 BST27 Feb 2026, 16:31 GMT
- Tender notice published13 Apr 2026, 15:47 BSTUK4
- Deadline moved to 20 Apr 2026, 12:00 BST13 Apr 2026, 15:47 BST-79 days · was 8 Jul 2026, 12:00 BST
Published amendments (1)
Change to submission date.
Routine re-releases (5)
- 2025-08: 1 release · 22 Aug 2025
- 2025-05: 1 release · 22 May 2025
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (7)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specificationsAccess: https://procontract.due-north.com/Home/About The opportunity can be found using the reference DN788248
- Bidding documents and specifications
Notices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- Pipeline notice Pipeline notice on Find a Tender