Hampshire County Council Announces £100M Framework for Transport and Infrastructure Services

Hampshire County Council (HCC) has launched a procurement process for a major new consultancy framework worth up to £100 million (excluding VAT), aimed at delivering a wide range of transport, highways, and infrastructure services over a four-year period.

Set to begin on 2 March 2026 and run until 28 February 2030, the new framework will succeed the current Place, Connectivity & Infrastructure Professional Services Framework, which has been in place since 2022 and includes firms such as Jacobs, WSP, and Stantec.

Designed to support the development and maintenance of critical infrastructure across Hampshire and beyond, the upcoming framework will provide access to a broad suite of technical and engineering consultancy services. HCC will lead the framework but has confirmed that it will also be open to other public sector bodies throughout England, including local authorities, health trusts, emergency services, and educational institutions—particularly in the South East and South West regions.

To manage the diversity of services required, the framework has been split into nine distinct lots, divided between two categories: Lot A for large, multidisciplinary consultancy contracts, and Lot B, which consists of eight smaller specialist service areas. Bidders can apply for either Lot A or one or more of the Lot B categories, but not both.

Lot A alone is expected to account for £80 million of the total value (excluding VAT) and will accommodate up to three large consultancies. Services under this lot will cover a wide scope including transport infrastructure planning, highway and structural design, construction cost estimation, safety auditing, flood and water management, ecology and environmental assessments, landscape design, intelligent traffic systems, and Building Information Modelling (BIM).

The remaining eight Lot B categories—each valued at approximately £2.5 million (excluding VAT)—are focused on more targeted disciplines. These include:

• Engineering design (e.g. bridges, drainage, and visualisations)

• Transport planning, including active travel and future mobility

• Strategic planning and data modelling

• Environmental and sustainability advisory

• Ecology and arboriculture services

• Community and stakeholder engagement for travel schemes

• Traffic management and parking strategies

• Street lighting and electrical infrastructure design

  
  

To support efficient delivery, the framework will operate under the NEC4 contract suite, specifically the Professional Service Contract (PSC) and Professional Service Short Contract (PSSC). A central HCC consultancy team will manage service requests, call-offs, contract administration, payment processing, and issue resolution.

In addition to streamlining procurement for public bodies, the framework aims to embed sustainable transport solutions, promote low-carbon practices, and ensure long-term value for money through competition and innovation.

The total value of the framework, including VAT, is estimated at £120 million. HCC’s move signals a strong commitment to enhancing transport infrastructure while providing opportunities for both large and specialist consultancy providers to support the region’s development agenda.