The Preferred Bidder Designate is the consortium of companies led by Bouygues Travaux Publics. It was the successful bidder in the tendering process. Negotiations are taking place to arrive at a Final Contract which, if successful, will see the Bouygues consortium appointed Concessionaire in late summer 2007. To contact the Bouygues consortium write to:

Franck Pasquier, Civil Works Department, Challenger 1, avenue Eugene Freyssinett, Guayancourt, 78061 Saint Quentin En Yvelines cedex. Email: [email protected]

The project procurement will be fully compliant with all relevant UK and EU requirements. There are several stages to this process. We are now at the stage where a formal Invitation to Tender (ITN) has been issued and negotiations can begin.