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DVSA Publishing Services with The Highway Code and The Highway Code for Northern Ireland

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

09 Sep 2026 at 11:14

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

10 Apr 2026 at 15:13

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

12 Feb 2026 at 13:12

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency procured publishing services for the Official Highway Code and The Highway Code for Northern Ireland, together with commercial publications. The requirement supports DVSA’s statutory duty to publish the definitive guidance used by the road-using public and industry to meet road safety standards. It also brings Department for Infrastructure publications in Northern Ireland and Department for Transport material arising from the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions under one arrangement. The service is intended to develop products that inform, educate and advise, encourage positive behaviour change and support compliance. Target audiences include drivers and riders, MOT testers, dangerous goods drivers, commercial operators, employers of drivers and related industry users. Work is delivered across the United Kingdom and is classified as publishing services, with wider business and printing-related services also relevant.

This procurement is complete and was awarded to The Stationery Office Limited on 8 September 2026 after an open procedure for a concession contract. One valid bid was received. The awarded value is £40 million excluding VAT, or £48 million including VAT. The contract runs from 7 January 2027 to 6 January 2032, with two possible 12-month extensions taking the maximum period to 6 January 2034. Bids were due by 15 May 2026 at noon, enquiries by 22 April 2026 at noon, and the award decision was due by 24 August 2026. The single lot was evaluated on technical quality at 70% and commercial price at 30%, with economic and technical selection criteria. New relevant products may be added by either party, and the arrangement is expected to recur from 1 January 2034.

This award demonstrates established public-sector demand for a publisher able to produce authoritative driving and road-safety material for audiences across the UK, while also developing commercially viable publications. A credible future supplier would need publishing capability covering print products and related commercial services, strong technical delivery, and the ability to work with government source material and statutory guidance. The requirement also favours organisations able to turn specialist content into clear products for the general public, professional drivers, testing and compliance audiences, employers and commercial operators. Product development and innovation are important, including creating new publications that educate users, encourage safer behaviour and generate additional income. The buyer considered the opportunity suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises, so relevant organisations may compete individually or through suitable delivery partnerships.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

DVSA Publishing Services with The Highway Code and The Highway Code for Northern Ireland

Notice Description

The contract covers DVSA's statutory duty to Publish the Official Highway Code in print, as well as commercial publications. These are the definitive guides that support industry and the general road-using public in meeting and maintaining DVSA's standards. The contract will support the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland and - new to this retender - the Department for Transport publications stemming from Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions. This brings all the source materials for UK driving theory under one contract. The parties will work together to innovate new products to inform, educate and advise, promoting positive behaviour change and compliance that goes beyond the Highway Code and drivers and riders. We aim also to reach MOT testers, dangerous goods drivers and managers, commercial operators and employers of drivers to realise commitments in the DVSA Vision to 2030 and create new income streams. This is a concession contract. In the total value section, this shows the estimated value of the opportunity for publishing services.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Options: New relevant products may be added to the contract by either party.

Renewal: This contract contains 2x12 Month contract extension options.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-064f0a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085297-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

79970000 - Publishing services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£40,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£40,000,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
£40,000,000 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Sep 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
15 May 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
10 Apr 2026Expired
Award Date
8 Sep 20264 weeks ago
Contract Period
7 Jan 2027 - 6 Jan 2032 Over 5 years
Recurrence
2034-01-01

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS5 0DA
Postcode Area
Bristol
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK51 Bristol, City of
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Bristol, City of
Electoral Ward
Lawrence Hill
Westminster Constituency
Bristol East

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

THE STATIONERY OFFICE LIMITED

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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