Tender
Neath Port Talbot tenders 405m pound SWTRA highways framework
By Staff Writer | 7 November 2026
Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council has opened the tender for the SWTRA Highways & Structures Framework 2027, a two-lot framework for work on the strategic road network in South Wales with an estimated value of 405m pounds excluding VAT.
The tender notice was published on 6 November 2026 under reference CPU26-27-01. The council is running the procurement by the open procedure, and the framework is estimated at 486m pounds including VAT. It will cover a wide range of civil and structural engineering projects, together with surfacing and ancillary works, on the strategic road network and its associated assets.
Two lots
Lot 1, Highways & Structures, carries an estimated value of 252m pounds excluding VAT. The notice lists the typical work under it as carriageway maintenance, structural renewals and upgrade programmes, cycling and active travel infrastructure, safety fencing, noise programmes, depot works, environmental and soft estate works, safety programmes, tunnel works, traffic management, asset renewals, and climate change, air quality and lighting schemes. It also covers condition inspections and monitoring of structures, strengthening of substandard bridges, mechanical and electrical work, and communications and intelligent transport schemes.
Lot 2, Surfacing & Ancillary Works, carries an estimated value of 153m pounds excluding VAT. Its typical work is pavement surfacing, pavement improvement, maintenance and emergency pavement works, traffic management, site clearance, drainage, ironwork, kerbing, footways, paved areas and road markings. The notice states that the lot values may be shared between the two lots.
The work is located across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, Monmouthshire and Newport, Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot, the Central Valleys, the Gwent Valleys, South West Wales and Swansea.
Term and use
Both lots are expected to run from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2031, with an option to extend for a further two years on an annual basis to 31 March 2033, a possible six years in all. The council justifies a term beyond four years on the grounds that a longer framework will give better value, market stability and programme outcomes, allow long-term asset management planning and contractor investment, and support longer major and complex infrastructure programmes.
The framework will take a maximum of eight suppliers and charges them no fee. Contracts may be awarded under it with or without competition. Besides Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire County Council and Monmouthshire County Council are named as contracting authorities that may use it. The notice marks both lots as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Evaluation and timetable
Tenders will be scored 60 per cent on price, 30 per cent on technical quality and 10 per cent on social value. The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement, and the notice records that a conflicts assessment has been prepared.
Enquiries must be raised by 12:00pm on 4 December 2026 and tenders submitted by 12:00pm on 18 December 2026, through the eTenderWales portal under reference itt_118645. Tenderers must also register on the Central Digital Platform. Submissions may be made in Welsh or English. The council estimates its award decision for 8 March 2027, and it has already given 1 September 2032 as the estimated publication date of the next tender notice for this recurring procurement.