Highways England has issued a tender for a design services contract in the East Midlands, which is expected to have a maximum ceiling value of £25m over five years.

The UK Government-owned company aims to appoint a single successful supplier on the public contract, which has an expected value of £5m to £10m per year, in the East Midlands, also known as Area 7.

Contract duties include preparing technical designs and undertaking supporting work for capital projects from an initial scheme feasibility phase through to the end of construction phase.

The contract is said to require areas of expertise including, but not limited to, structures, pavements, drainage, vehicle restraint systems, technology, environment, and geotechnics, as well as lighting and landscaping.

Highways England commercial and procurement director David Poole said: "The changes we are making in Area 7 really demonstrate Highways England’s commitment to delivering a different approach to maintenance and investment delivery over the next five years.

"The changes we are making in Area 7 really demonstrate Highways England’s commitment to delivering a different approach to maintenance."

"The design services tender is the third to be released under these new arrangements, and we are delighted to be making real progress towards our new way of working."

In addition, the contractor will be required to provide planning advice and design for improvement schemes, which are unlimited by value.

The contract is scheduled to be awarded on 1 April 2016, with design services beginning from 1 July of the same year.

In a separate development, Highways England announced the start of works on a project to replace the A138 Chelmer Viaduct in Chelmsford, Essex, UK.

The £28m project includes the construction of the new viaduct and the demolition of the existing viaduct, including three lanes of carriageway and a shared footway and cycleway.

Eight steel beams, each measuring 35m in length and weighs 52t, are currently being installed across the river Chelmer, to form the new bridge deck for the new viaduct over the river.

Up on completion in winter 2016, the project would reduce congestion and improve route safety.