Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
National Highways Limited
Three Snowhill, Snow Hill Queensway
Birmingham
B4 6GA
UK
Telephone: +44 03001235000
E-mail: ancillaryprocurement@lowerthamescrossing.co.uk
NUTS: UK
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://nationalhighways.co.uk/
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
National or federal agency/office
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Lower Thames Crossing - Legal Advisers Phase 2
II.1.2) Main CPV code
79111000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Legal advice is required to support National Highways and the Department of Transport in all tasks relating to the delivery of the Lower Thames Crossing Project to the private sector under the Private Regulated Entity Model.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
1 350 000.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
79100000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Legal advice is required to support National Highways and the Department of Transport in all tasks relating to Phase 2 to transfer the delivery of the Project to the private sector under the Private Regulated Entity Model.
The main phases are expected to be as follows (model may be subject to alteration as detailed design progresses):
a) The setting up of a company (LTC Co), into which contracts, people and assets relevant to the construction, operation and maintenance of LTC and the Dartford Crossing will be transferred;
b) Establishing new legislation to enact the required model, including expanding the functions of an existing regulator or creating an Economic Roads Regulator, setting out its powers and duties and establishing the ability of LTC Co to impose and collect user charges for the use of infrastructure; and
c)The sale of LTC Co resulting in the creation of a privately owned Regulated Company (Reg Co).
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 80%
Cost criterion: Commercial
/ Weighting: 20%
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition
Justification for selected award procedure:
The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the Directive
Explanation
This contract has been procured via a mini-competition process via use of the Crown Commercial Services (CCS) Framework - RM6179 Legal Services Panel - Lot 2.
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
Section V: Award of contract
Title: Lower Thames Crossing - Legal Advisors Phase 2
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
25/11/2025
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 4
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Ashurst LLP
London
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 1 350 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
High Court of Justice England
London
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
19/12/2025