Award

A review of National Highways' culture, approach, and processes to promote, incentivise and embed innovation

OFFICE OF RAIL AND ROAD

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

14 Apr 2026 at 11:37

TenderUpdate

04 Dec 2025 at 16:57

Tender

04 Dec 2025 at 16:08

Summary of the contracting process

The Office of Rail and Road, a central government public authority, has successfully awarded a contract for consultancy services aimed at reviewing the culture, governance, and processes of National Highways to embed innovation. The procurement process was conducted openly under the "Below threshold - open competition" method. AECOM LIMITED, a large-scale consultancy business, has been awarded the contract, which commenced on 20 February 2026 and is set to conclude on 31 January 2027, with a potential extension up to March 2027. The awarded contract, valued at £87,530.78 in total, focuses on business and management consultancy services, and involves broad stakeholder engagement and rigorous reporting aligned with RIS3 objectives. The contract's legal basis is supported by UK legislation 2023/54.

This procurement presents significant business growth opportunities, particularly for businesses specialising in consultancy within the public sector. The project includes an analysis of historical innovation projects, evaluating processes, and establishing benchmarks against comparable industries, thus rewarding expertise in business evaluation and strategic innovation. Companies that have experience in similar projects, and possess strong methodologies and stakeholder engagement tactics, are well-positioned to compete effectively for such opportunities. Furthermore, the evaluation criteria favour SMEs and VCSEs, focusing on methodology, delivery, experience, and cost/value for money, creating a conducive environment for diverse businesses to demonstrate their capabilities and enhance their profile within the government consultancy space.

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Notice Title

A review of National Highways' culture, approach, and processes to promote, incentivise and embed innovation

Notice Description

Provision of consultancy services to carry out a two-phase independent review of National Highways' culture, governance and processes for promoting, incentivising and embedding innovation. The services include analysis, stakeholder engagement, reporting and recommendations to support improved efficiency and transition of innovation into business-as-usual delivery.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: This contract is planned as a fixed-term engagement (February 2026 - January 2027). ORR does not currently anticipate any extensions, but reserves the right to extend the contract if required, subject to satisfactory performance, funding availability, and business need. Possible circumstances for extension include: Supporting implementation of recommendations after the final report. Providing follow-up assurance or benefit validation. Addressing delays outside the supplier's control (e.g., stakeholder access). Additional benchmarking or analysis identified during Phase 2. Any extension would be on the same terms and conditions as the original contract and agreed in writing before commencement.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05ef10
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/033717-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security


CPV Codes

79410000 - Business and management consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£80,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
£80,000 Under £100K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£72,942 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Apr 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
26 Jan 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
20 Feb 20262 months ago
Contract Period
20 Feb 2026 - 31 Jan 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
OFFICE OF RAIL AND ROAD
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
E14 4QZ
Post Town
East London
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI42 Tower Hamlets
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Tower Hamlets
Electoral Ward
Canary Wharf
Westminster Constituency
Poplar and Limehouse

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

AECOM

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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.

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