Contract

National Roads Telecommunication Service (NRTS)2 - Extension

  • National Highways

F03: Contract award notice

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-008110

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-04e9ea

Published 5 March 2025, 4:51pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

National Highways

Bridge House, Walnut Tree Close

Guildford

GU1 4LZ

Email

Gavin.Murphie@nationalhighways.co.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UK - United Kingdom

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://nationalhighways.co.uk/

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

National or federal Agency/Office

one.5) Main activity

General public services


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

National Roads Telecommunication Service (NRTS)2 - Extension

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 64200000 - Telecommunications services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

This is a variation to the original contract (detailed in Contract Notice (2016/S 060-101548) to extend the contract by an additional year.

The contract is for the provision, operation, and maintenance of telecommunications services between the roadside and various central locations for National Highways, the body responsible for England's motorway and trunk road network.

Whilst the authority for National Roads Telecommunications Service (NRTS2) project is National Highways Limited (and any future successor to this organisation), the Secretary of State for Transport will be a named beneficiary of the NRTS2 contract as some of the assets/contracts to which the NRTS2 services relate are in the name of the Secretary of State (e.g. those relating to the M6 toll motorway and the Severn River Crossing).

The scope of the NRTS2 contract includes the maintenance, deployment and further development of the NRTS services which currently provide services to approximately 38,000 locations on 3,500km of motorways and trunk roads, which provide connectivity between control centres and roadside devices.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)

Value excluding VAT: £659,004,157

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 32000000 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment
  • 45000000 - Construction work
  • 48000000 - Software package and information systems
  • 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

As per the Contract Notice (2016/S 060-101548), this contract is for the provision, operation, and maintenance of telecommunications services between the roadside and various central locations for National Highways, the body responsible for England's motorway and trunk road network.

Whilst the authority for National Roads Telecommunications Service (NRTS2) project is National Highways Limited (and any future successor to this organisation), the Secretary of State for Transport will be a named beneficiary of the NRTS2 contract as some of the assets/contracts to which the NRTS2 services relate are in the name of the Secretary of State (e.g. those relating to the M6 toll motorway and the Severn River Crossing).

The scope of the NRTS2 contract includes the maintenance, deployment and further development of the NRTS services which currently provide services to approximately 30,000 locations on 3,500km of motorways and trunk roads, which provide connectivity between control centers and roadside devices.

On the 26th of February 2025, National Highways entered into a deed of variation to the NRTS2 contract dated 18 December 2017 with Telent Technology Services Limited (NRTS 2 Contract) to extend the duration of the NRTS2 Contract by an additional 12 month period. The NRTS 2 contract was originally awarded for a maximum term of 9 years (allowing for a 2 year extension) pursuant to the OJEU notice with reference 2016/S 060-101548 and is now due to expire on 15 March 2028.

The value of the extension is £160,000,000 which allows for the delivery of the existing services and any optional services that may be required during the extension.

The extension of time is a permitted modification pursuant to both Regulation 72(1)(b) and (e). It allows for additional services that are necessary where a change in contractor cannot be made for economic or technical reasons without causing significant inconvenience or a substantial duplication of costs. Further the services will be delivered under the existing contract and the extension is not a substantial modification to the terms of the NRTS2 Contract.

For the avoidance of doubt, National Highways is not required to publish this notice but does so in the interests of transparency.

National Highways is currently engaged in the procurement the procurement of the National Roadside Telecommunications Services 3 contract (the NRTS3 Contract) (PIN reference 2024/S 000-041155, with the Tender Notice expected to be published in April 2025). The extension of time under the NRTS2 Contract allows for additional time for National Highways to complete both the procurement of the NRTS3 Contract under the new Procurement Act 2023 and its required governance processes, given the significance and value of the NRTS3 Contract, whilst ensuring continuity of existing services during this period. The NRTS3 Contract is expected to be awarded in 2028 under a competitive flexible procurement and a sufficient time needs to be allowed for a suitable transition and mobilisation period with the existing supplier.”

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 70

Cost criterion - Name: Price / Weighting: 30

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No

two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No

two.2.14) Additional information

As per notice reference number 2025/S 000-001867, this Contract Award Notice serves to inform the market of the award of a 12-month extension to Telent Technology Services Limited to deliver the National Roads Telecommunications Service (NRTS)2. The extension is based on the existing terms and conditions of the contract, increasing the total cost and term.


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below

  • The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations

Explanation:

The extension of time is a permitted modification pursuant to both Regulation 72(1)(b) and (e). It allows for additional services that are necessary where a change in contractor cannot be made for economic or technical reasons without causing significant inconvenience or a substantial duplication of costs. Further the services will be delivered under the existing contract and the extension is not a substantial modification to the terms of the NRTS2 Contract.

For the avoidance of doubt, National Highways is not required to publish this notice but does so in the interests of transparency.

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes

four.2) Administrative information

four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure

Notice number: 2016/S 060-101548


Section five. Award of contract

Title

National Roads Telecommunication Service (NRTS)2 - Extension

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

26 February 2025

five.2.2) Information about tenders

Number of tenders received: 1

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

Telent Technology Services Limited

Point 3 Haywood Road

Warwick

CV34 5AH

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UK - United Kingdom
National registration number

00703317

The contractor is an SME

No

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)

Total value of the contract/lot: £659,004,157


Section six. Complementary information

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Department for Transport

Great Minster House, 33, Horseferry Road.

London

SW1P4DR

Country

United Kingdom