This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

21 Oct 2026 at 09:08

Summary of the contracting process

National Highways has procured consultancy services from Ove Arup & Partners to deliver the second phase of its Simister Island travel-choice project. The work supports construction of the M60 junction 18 scheme in Greater Manchester: it is intended to reduce disruption and delays, and maintain customer satisfaction during roadworks. The supplier will finalise and manage travel-choice interventions for selected weekend closures, develop a communications plan with agreed stakeholder messages, and continue engagement with the Major Project Delivery Team, Transport for Greater Manchester and other key stakeholders. The plan builds on work developed in the project’s first phase. The affected journeys include commuting, leisure and business travel, as well as freight movements. Delivery is focused on Simister Island and the surrounding Greater Manchester area.

The procurement is complete and the contract was awarded to Ove Arup & Partners Limited on 21 October 2026. The award value is £80,989.53. The contract runs from 23 October 2026 to 31 May 2027. National Highways selected the supplier through a selective call-off from a framework agreement. The original tender deadline was 15 September 2026. The procurement was classified as services, with development consultancy as its specific category. The work was presented as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises. The scope involves selected weekend closures and stakeholder communications; the evaluation basis and any detailed eligibility requirements are not set out in the available procurement information.

This award shows demand for consultancy that combines travel behaviour interventions, customer communications and stakeholder coordination around major roadworks. A credible competitor for similar work for National Highways would need to turn an existing travel-choice plan into practical measures for defined closure periods, shape messages for different road-user audiences, and coordinate approvals with transport bodies and major-project teams. Experience addressing congestion, journey reliability and customer satisfaction during construction would be directly relevant, particularly where commuter, leisure, business and freight movements are affected. The framework call-off route indicates that suppliers would need to be positioned to compete through the relevant framework. The requirement was considered suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises, and the award demonstrates that this focused consultancy package can be delivered by a large consulting firm.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

S30154 Simister Island Travel Choice - Phase 2

Notice Description

Delivery of bespoke communication activities and travel choice interventions to support a reduction in actual delay during construction phases of the M60 Simister Island, relative to the forecasted disruption. Within Greater Manchester, M60 J18 Simister Island is due for construction during Roads Period 3 (2026-2031). During construction phase, there are forecasted delays which will impact our customers and local communities. From a customer perspective, the number of journeys through this junction is significant (90,000 vehicles a day) and are a blend of commuter, leisure and business travel plus significant freight movements. This task will proceed the first phase of this project, delivering and project managing the previously developed travel choice plan though bespoke communications activities and other travel choice interventions for different key customer audiences, to minimise predicted congestion and maintain customer satisfaction as best as possible during the roadworks phase. This project is listed in our Customer Experience Division Portfolio business case for RIS3. This project aims to meet the needs of all users and providing fast and reliable journey times and reduce delay during roadworks (PI). Our Customer Service Strategy also sets out how we will cater for all our customers and support an improvement in customer journey experience. Travel choice activities will play a key role in enhancing the travel experience throughout the delivery phase of these major works. The project will focus on: - Leading finalisation and management of travel choice interventions on selected weekend closures between contract start and 31 March 2027, developed as part of previous Task S30042 - Development of a Travel Choice Communications Plan including agreement of key messages with stakeholders - Continued engagement with the Major Project Delivery Team, Transport for Greater Manchester and other identified key stakeholders.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-599ad698-70bf-429c-b7e8-cc3246c80a6d
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/a14b3367-34e5-4b87-9952-9ab984248c65
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Call-off from a framework agreement
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services


CPV Codes

73220000 - Development consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£80,989 Under £100K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£80,989 Under £100K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Oct 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
21 Oct 20266 days ago
Contract Period
23 Oct 2026 - 31 May 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
National Highways
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BIRMINGHAM
Postcode
B4 6GA
Postcode Area
Birmingham
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG3 West Midlands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG31 Birmingham
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Birmingham
Electoral Ward
Ladywood
Westminster Constituency
Birmingham Ladywood

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Ove Arup & Partners Ltd

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

Loading OCDS record...