Winner revealed for £350m HS2 partner role

A CH2M-led joint venture has won the prestigious £350m delivery partner contract for phase one of HS2, Building understands.

Sources close to the process have told Building that HS2 Ltd has selected the CH2M/Atkins/Sener joint venture as the engineering delivery partner (EDP) for the £21.4bn first phase of the project.

The JV beat competition from two other heavyweight joint ventures - Bechtel/Jacobs/Idom Merebrook and WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff/Ramboll - to land the role, which is the largest consultancy role to be awarded to date by HS2.

According to market sources, the joint venture is split 50/40/10 between CH2M, Atkins and Sener respectively.

Sener is a €1.3bn-turnover (£950m) Spanish engineering giant which has extensive experience in high-speed rail both in Spain and California, United States.

When contacted by Building, HS2 Ltd said it was unable to comment as it said the process was ongoing. CH2M has been contacted for comment.

The EDP contract is valued at between £250m and £350m over the course of its 10-year duration.

It was expected to be awarded in the first quarter of this year, and according to reports an official announcement could be made this week.

HS2 phase one has a “funding envelope” of £21.4bn according to a parliamentary briefing paper published in December.