Professional services in relation to the design of A22 Major Road Network Junction Improvements - Award of Contract

In 2024, East Sussex County Council (ESCC) were successful in receiving Large Local Major (LLM) Main Road Network (MRN) funding from the Department of Transport (DfT) to progress the A22 Corridor Package scheme (as submitted in the OBC) to a Full Business Case (FBC) and subsequent construction, subject to DfT approval of the FBC. The A22 Corridor Package scheme comprises a package of improvements to five junctions on the A22 in the South Wealden and Eastbourne area of East Sussex, as well as a series of sustainable improvement schemes. In September 2024, a contract was awarded to Jacobs UK Ltd, via Direct Award, to address the first (early/transitional) activities from OBC to FBC and to produce and then submit the Full Business Case when it is ready. As part of the FBC, the Council are required to include an accurate price for carrying out these improvement works. For a contractor to be able to price the works, a detailed design is now required. As the OBC was produced by Jacobs Ltd and they are also producing the FBC, the Council believe that they are in the best position to progress this detailed design work. Following the Direct Award process of the Framework below, Jacobs UK Ltd were provided a scope of requirements and asked to submit a proposal through the Crown Commercial Services (CCS), Construction Professional Services Framework (RM 6165). The proposal fulfilled the Councils requirements and was within the framework pricing guidelines and the Council's budget. The contract value is a target price under the NEC4 Professional Services contract.