The South Wales Trunk Road Agent is preparing a new framework for civil engineering, structural works, surfacing and ancillary activity across the strategic road network and associated assets in South Wales.
The estimated framework value is £270 million excluding VAT, or £324 million including VAT. The tender notice is currently expected on 7 September 2026, giving contractors time to review their capability and organise evidence before the competition opens.
What the framework will cover
The SWTRA Highways and Structures Framework 2027 is expected to contain two lots:
- Lot 1: Highways and Structures. This will cover a range of civil and structural engineering projects on the strategic road network and related assets.
- Lot 2: Surfacing and Ancillary Works. This will focus on road surfacing and the supporting activities needed to deliver and maintain those works.
The framework is expected to begin on 1 February 2027. The initial term is four years, with a possible extension of up to two years, creating a maximum term of six years.
Geographic coverage
The notice identifies delivery across South Wales, including:
- Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan;
- Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot;
- the Central Valleys;
- the Gwent Valleys;
- South West Wales;
- Monmouthshire and Newport; and
- Swansea.
Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council is leading the procurement alongside Carmarthenshire County Council and Monmouthshire County Council.
The earlier engagement has closed
The preliminary market engagement notice was published retrospectively. The engagement sessions took place in April 2025, before the latest notice was issued, and suppliers should not treat the current notice as a new invitation to take part.
The latest information supersedes the original pipeline notice and reflects changes to the lot titles, value, duration and anticipated tender date. The next relevant milestone is the publication of the formal tender notice.
What contractors can do now
Although the final tender documents are not yet available, prospective bidders can carry out a focused pre-bid review. This should include:
- deciding whether to target highways and structures, surfacing and ancillary works, or both;
- identifying contract examples that match the likely scale, complexity and road-network environment;
- reviewing capacity across South Wales, including labour, plant, depots and subcontractors;
- checking highways, structures, surfacing and traffic-management accreditations;
- preparing evidence for programme control, emergency response and work on live networks;
- strengthening health, safety, environmental and carbon examples;
- developing local supply chain and social value commitments; and
- confirming who will own the bid when the tender is released.
Starting this work before publication reduces the amount of foundational evidence that must be assembled during the live submission window.
Likely bid themes
The precise evaluation criteria will be set out in the tender documents. Based on the framework scope, bidders should expect close scrutiny of their ability to plan and deliver safely on a live strategic road network.
Responses may need to address stakeholder coordination, traffic and network disruption, quality assurance, asset information, supply chain resilience, environmental controls and rapid response to changing site conditions. Evidence should show measurable outcomes rather than relying on broad capability statements.
Thornton & Lowe’s transport tender support helps highways and infrastructure contractors prepare bid strategies, develop technical responses and review submissions against the evaluation criteria.
Official notice and timing
Read the SWTRA preliminary market engagement notice. The formal tender notice is estimated for 7 September 2026.
Get ready before the tender opens
Thornton & Lowe can help contractors complete a pre-bid assessment, identify evidence gaps and establish an efficient writing and review plan before the live deadline begins.
Contact our bid team to discuss preparation for the SWTRA framework.
