BwDBC Surfacing & Civils Framework 2026
Framework Description
This is Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council's highways framework for surfacing and civils works (Find a Tender notice 082821-2026). It is split into four lots covering surfacing, civil engineering, cold milling and asphalt surface repairs. Contractors could bid for one or more lots. The framework is live, with an initial term to 30 September 2028 and two optional 12-month extensions that could take it to 30 September 2030.
Context & Use Case
Blackburn with Darwen's highways team uses the framework for the maintenance, renewal and improvement of roads across the borough. Each lot covers one specialism: highway surfacing, civils works, cold milling, and repairs to asphalt surfaces. The award notice estimates £20 million each for the surfacing and civils lots and £5 million for cold milling, and lot values can be shared between lots.
Scope of Services
Surfacing and resurfacing of carriageways Civil engineering works on highway assets Cold milling and planing Repairs and patching of asphalt surfaces
Lots
Lot 1 Surfacing; Lot 2 Civils; Lot 3 Cold Milling; Lot 4 Repairs to Asphalt Surfaces
Who Can Apply
Best suited to highways contractors with relevant plant, trained operatives and local authority experience in at least one of the four specialisms. The tender has closed and the framework is now live, so new firms cannot be added during this term. The next opportunity will be the re-tender, expected near the end of the term or any extension.
Buyer Benefits
Having contractors appointed by specialism gives the Council competition within each lot and a fallback if one firm is fully booked. It reduces the number of individual tenders the highways team must run each season. Contractors who keep to programme, report clearly and maintain safety records are the ones buyers keep using.
Next Steps
Appointed contractors should confirm their lot terms and how schemes will be issued, then keep performance data from each job to support future bids. Firms outside the framework should log 30 September 2028 and 30 September 2030 as likely re-tender points and gather highways case studies in the meantime. Notice 082821-2026 on Find a Tender gives the award details and the appointed suppliers.
How Athena Can Help
Athena works with highways contractors at both ends of this framework. If you are on a lot, we help you win individual schemes through clear method statements, compliance checks and pricing that still delivers margin. If you are not, we can plan your route back in.
That starts with a bid audit of past awards to see which councils and lots suit you, followed by a six-to-twelve-month framework plan so you are ready when Blackburn with Darwen, and neighbouring authorities, go back to market.
