Local Highway Maintenance Support Contract

Kent County Council (KCC), as the upper‑tier authority, is the Highway Authority for highways maintainable at public expense and has a statutory duty to maintain the highways and their assets in accordance with Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980. This duty includes responsibility for maintaining, managing and, where necessary, improving sections of the network and ensuring the highways are safe for the travelling public. To meet and deliver these statutory obligations, KCC requires competent contractors, as there is no internal resource available to undertake this work.

There are approximately 5,445 miles of local roads in Kent (616 miles of A roads, 279 miles of B roads, 1,172 miles of C roads and 3,378 miles of unclassified roads), making it one of the largest and most heavily trafficked local authority networks in the country.

The Local Highways Maintenance Support Contracts augment the delivery of highway maintenance services directly at a local level for the residents and businesses of Kent. The works undertaken as part of these contracts are managed by the local Highway Managers and their teams, ensuring budgets are used appropriately to repair and prevent potholes and improve highway condition at targeted locations.

The core services included in these contracts relate to the delivery of pothole repairs, small‑ to medium‑sized patching repairs, and small‑scale resurfacing and associated works. They also support resources that can be utilised during emergency and severe weather events where necessary.

Works orders under this contract are raised by KCC Highway staff. The works consist of small and medium patching, generally within the carriageway, with occasional small areas of footway patching as required. Pre‑site inspections will be undertaken jointly between KCC and the Contractor, where necessary, to minimise any issues that may prevent the works from being carried out. Other in scope activities and civil engineering works will also be undertaken as required.

The Contractor will deliver a programme of works over a 6‑ to 8‑month period, usually between April and October, when weather and road temperatures are optimal for highway repairs. Works may, however, be required outside of these times where necessary.

The Contractor will provide sufficient resources to ensure minimal deviation from projected timescales. Operatives must be fully trained, possess the required qualifications and expertise to deliver the works, and must take before‑ and after‑photographs at each site.

The key aim of these contracts is to deliver a permanent, high‑quality, first‑time repair, including adjusting ironworks and reinstating all white lining.

The Contractor is responsible for managing all aspects of traffic management in accordance with the Code of Practice for Safety at Street Works and Road Works and the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.

The service has been divided into six geographical areas, each of which has been awarded a separate contract.

The contracts have an initial term of three years, with the option to extend for a further two years. The initial contract period runs from 08 April 2026 to 07 April 2029. The optional extension period runs from 08 April 2029 to 07 April 2031. The extension may be applied in a variety of increments up to a maximum of two years.

These contracts are zero‑value arrangements, as no work is guaranteed under the contract. However, the contracts have a maximum combined contract value of £100,000,000, equating to approximately £16,666,666.67 per lot over the full duration of the contract, including any extension periods.