Tender

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

DfT National Freight Model

THE DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Tender

08 Sep 2026 at 13:26

UK4 - Tender Notice
PlanningUpdate

01 Apr 2026 at 13:53

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

01 Apr 2026 at 13:45

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Transport is procuring a new National Freight Model: an in-house, cross-modal freight modelling capability for transport policy development, appraisal, forecasting and decision-making across the UK. The service covers the design, development, calibration, validation and implementation of a multimodal model representing domestic and international freight movements across road, rail and domestic maritime modes. It must estimate freight demand and flows by commodity, vehicle type and mode, and assess infrastructure, land-use, economic, logistics and policy changes. The work also includes research, data acquisition, methodology development, stakeholder engagement, training, documentation and handover so the Department can operate and maintain the model independently. This is a research and transport systems consultancy service delivered across the United Kingdom.

The procurement has reached tender: the Department invited offers through an open procedure, with electronic submission allowed in English. It is a single lot. The enquiry deadline was 21 September 2026 at 17:00, bids were due by 9 October 2026 at 17:00, and the award decision was scheduled for 20 October 2026. The contract is planned from 9 November 2026 to 31 March 2028, with an option to extend by up to 12 months to 31 March 2029. Its estimated value is £1,950,000 excluding VAT and £2,340,000 including VAT. Evaluation is based on quality and social value at 80%, including a 70% quality weighting and 10% social value weighting, alongside commercial cost at 20%.

This opportunity suits SMEs and specialist consultancies with strong freight and transport modelling expertise, including experience developing, validating and handing over trusted, transparent and maintainable models. Bidders should be able to manage a complex programme within agreed time, cost and quality requirements, and demonstrate relevant delivery experience from their organisation, consortium members or key subcontractors. The team also needs digital delivery capability to develop, deploy, document and transfer the model within the Department for Transport’s Google Cloud Platform environment. Relevant strengths include data collection or acquisition, analytical research, innovative modelling methodologies, stakeholder engagement, training and knowledge transfer. Suppliers must also be prepared to meet the buyer’s insurance and liability requirements and explain how they will deliver the Equal Opportunity social value theme.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

DfT National Freight Model

Notice Description

The Department for Transport (DfT) intends to procure a supplier to develop a new National Freight Model (NFM), an in-house, cross-modal freight modelling capability designed to support transport policy development, appraisal, forecasting and decision-making across the UK. The NFM will replace existing freight modelling approaches and provide a modern analytical framework capable of representing freight movements across road, rail and domestic maritime modes. The contract will include the design, development, calibration, validation and implementation of a multimodal freight model capable of estimating current and future freight demand and flows by commodity, vehicle type and transport mode. The model must support the analysis of domestic freight movements and international freight movements to and from the United Kingdom, including maritime and rail freight services. The NFM will be required to assess the impacts of changes to infrastructure, land use, economic conditions, logistics behaviours and government policy interventions. It will also enable the testing of alternative scenarios and sensitivities to support transport planning, network resilience analysis, decarbonisation initiatives, freight mode shift assessments and wider strategic policy development. The successful supplier will be expected to develop and document the model, provide supporting methodologies, undertake any necessary data collection or acquisition activities, deliver stakeholder engagement and training, and ensure that the Department can operate, maintain and further develop the model independently following completion of the contract. The procurement may include associated research, data acquisition, innovative analytical approaches and the development of new methodologies necessary to deliver the required modelling capabilities and outcomes. HOW TO ACCESS THE ITT: * Interest bidders will need to register to DfTs e-procurement platform (Jaggaer), using the below link: https://dft.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html * Once registered - bidders can access the ITT via the below link: *https://dft.app.jaggaer.com/go/6836254501A080BE9F9F

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: The core deliverables under this contract are required to be completed by 31 March 2028. However, in accordance with the Scope of Requirements, the Authority reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to extend the contract for a further period of up to 12 months, until 31 March 2029.

Planning Information

Initial response - via DfTs e-sourcing platform: Register via: https://dft.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html Access the PQQ via: https://dft.app.jaggaer.com/go/16288810019D490830DF We have provisionally selected 6th May, 12:30 - 14:30 for the workshop to take place, and expect it to be an online event via MS Teams. Please note, if you cannot attend the workshop but still want to provide written feedback, please still confirm your expression of interest to receive the draft schedule of requirements.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-067ac4
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084877-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

71311200 - Transport systems consultancy services

73110000 - Research services

73210000 - Research consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,950,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,950,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Sep 20264 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
9 Oct 20262 days to go
Future Notice Date
30 Jun 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
9 Nov 2026 - 31 Mar 2028 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
THE DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT
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
SW1P 4DR
Postcode Area
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
Vincent Square
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Further Information

Notice Documents

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...