Highways Agency
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Delivering sustainable value with the supply chain - Highways Agency publishes its new procurement strategy

The Highways Agency has published its new procurement strategy today, setting out its approach to procurement of goods, services and construction expertise for the next 5-10 years.

The strategy sets out how the Highways Agency will procure the goods and services it needs as the operator of England’s major roads, including for delivery of the Government’s investment programme of up to £6 billion to improve motorways and major A roads.

 

The strategy – called “Delivering Sustainable Value through Supply Chain Management” – is structured around the three key themes of value for money, delivery and sustainability and sets out a prioritised plan of actions.

 

It builds on the earlier strategy of 2001 and highlights new areas such as the Agency’s drive to greater commercial awareness and practices.  The current project to map and better understand supply chain patterns, participants and their contributions is also described - part of the continuing search for greater efficiencies and improved value for money.

 

David Poole, the Highways Agency’s Procurement Director, said:

 

“Our new procurement strategy shows how we continue to build on the successes of the previous work, but it also makes clear the key role for procurement in meeting the evolving needs of our customers and the strategic road network.

 

“The approach will be essential in helping the Agency operate more commercially.  Specific initiatives, like supply chain mapping and the purchase and management of common category requirements hold the prospect of delivering parts of the managed motorway programme and other projects more efficiently and at better value for money.

 

“In this strategy we make it clear that we will be taking further steps to reward best-performing suppliers and those who respond most positively to the increasing challenges of the sustainability agenda.”

 

The procurement strategy can be downloaded via the Highways Agency’s website www.highways.gov.uk, or can be obtained in traditional booklet form by e-mailing karl.anderson@highways.gsi.gov.uk.

Notes to editors

1.    The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. It manages, maintains and improves England’s motorways and trunk roads on behalf of the Secretary of State.

2.    The Highways Agency’s new Procurement Strategy “Delivering Sustainable Value through Supply Chain Management” is published today.   Copies are available from the Highways Agency national press office on 0207 081 7443.

3.    The new strategy builds on the previous strategy of 2001 called “Delivering Best Value Solutions and Services” which was formally reviewed in 2005.  The 2001 strategy and the 2005 review may also be viewed on the Agency’s website.

4.    Real-time traffic information for England’s motorways and major A roads is now available:

- From our new Traffic Radio service, available on DAB digital radio and the internet at www.trafficradio.org.uk To tune into the DAB service, simply press the 'scan' button on your radio. The radio will tune into all available channels and you can select the new service by scrolling through the channels until you reach 'Traffic Radio'.

- On the internet at www.highways.gov.uk/trafficinfo

- By phone from the Highways Agency 24-hour voice activated phone service on 08700 660 115.  (Calls from BT landlines to 0870 numbers will cost no more than 8p per minute; mobile calls usually cost more).    

Before using a mobile, find a safe place to park. Never stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway except in an emergency. Make sure it’s safe and legal before you call.

5.    For more general information about the Highways Agency and its work, visit the Highways Agency website www.highways.gov.uk or telephone the Highways Agency Information Line on 08457 50 40 30 at any time.  (Calls to 0845 numbers cost no more than 4p/min from BT residential landlines. Call charges from other landlines and mobile networks may vary).

Issued by the Highways Agency Press Office.

 

For further information please contact the National Press Office on

0207 081 7443 (24-hour).

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