Highways England is seeking the views of its supply chain in the development of a new procurement model for its Smart Motorways Programme. “The aim of the new model is to enable Highways England to achieve its ambitions for the strategic road network through securing a sustainable supply chain by developing close, more collaborative and longer-lasting relationships with suppliers – helping to deliver “whole-life” value to its contracts,” explains HE website. The proposal is for new ways of working between Highways England and the supply chain, “drawing on an incentive-driven commercial model & maturing towards an integrated operating model.” Interested supply chain parties have now registered their interest and an engagement and market-sounding exercise will take place. It is stressed that non-participation in the exercise will not prevent any supplier from participating in the procurement process – possibly due in May.