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Motorway Control Instation

DfI Transport and Road Asset Management (TRAM)

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

18 Aug 2026 at 15:23

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

15 Apr 2026 at 09:01

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

14 Apr 2026 at 14:49

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

DfI Transport and Road Asset Management (TRAM) procured services to replace Northern Ireland’s end-of-life motorway control instation platform. The scope covers licensing National Highways’ CHARM solution, implementation, configuration and ongoing support for the new system. It supports safety-critical motorway operations, including variable message signs, lane control and MIDAS traffic monitoring, while enabling a transition to IP-based communications and future technologies such as cooperative intelligent transport systems and connected and autonomous vehicles. The work is for motorway operations in Northern Ireland, with delivery recorded for the United Kingdom. The procurement is primarily for traffic control and traffic monitoring services. The requirement is intended to maintain business continuity as the existing platform and contract reach the end of their useful term.

The procurement is complete and was awarded directly to Kapsch TrafficCom Limited. The award date was 14 April 2026, with an awarded value of £11,220,000 excluding VAT (£13,464,000 gross). The contract was signed on 3 August 2026 and runs from 3 August 2026 to 2 August 2032. It has a further potential two-year extension, subject to DfI Accounting Officer approval, with a maximum extent date of 2 August 2034. The contract value is £10,895,000 excluding VAT (£13,074,000 gross). There was one completed lot. The direct award was justified on technical grounds: TRAM stated that Kapsch was the only supplier able to provide a motorway control instation service compatible with the CHARM model, with no reasonable alternatives.

This award indicates demand for specialist motorway control and traffic management technology, combining platform licensing with systems implementation, configuration and long-term operational support. Suppliers seeking to compete for comparable work with TRAM would need credible capability in advanced traffic management systems, motorway control-room technology, traffic monitoring, variable message signs, lane control and incident-management functions. Experience integrating or supporting the CHARM model, or demonstrating compatibility with its technical architecture, would be particularly important because compatibility was the stated basis for selecting the incumbent. Relevant suppliers would also need to support safety-critical services, maintain high platform availability, resolve priority incidents promptly and manage planned maintenance reliably. Capability in IP communications and emerging connected-vehicle technologies would strengthen a future offering.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Motorway Control Instation

Notice Description

This contract is to enable the installation and support for a new NI motorway control instation system to replace the current end-of-life platform. The contract will incorporate the licensing of National Highways' CHARM solution and a contract for implementation, configuration, and ongoing support. This approach ensures business continuity ahead of the expiry of the existing contract and enables the continued operation of safety critical motorway functions such as VMS, lane control, and MIDAS. The contract facilitates the transition to IP based communications and supports the deployment of future technologies, including C-ITS and connected and autonomous vehicles.

Procurement Information

Section 41 and paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 provides justification of a Direct Award when the following conditions are met in relation to public contract: (a) due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and (b) there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works. Kapsch TrafficCom is the only supplier who can provide a motorway control instation service compatable with the National Highways Common Highways Agency Rijkswaterstaat Model (CHARM).

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06821f
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078629-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

63 - Supporting and auxiliary transport services; travel agencies services

CPV Codes

63712700 - Traffic control services

63712710 - Traffic monitoring services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£11,220,000 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
£10,895,000 £10M-£100M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
14 Apr 20264 months ago
Contract Period
3 Aug 2026 - 2 Aug 2032 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DfI Transport and Road Asset Management (TRAM)
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BELFAST
Postcode
BT7 2JA
Postcode Area
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN06 Belfast
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Belfast
Electoral Ward
Central
Westminster Constituency
Belfast South and Mid Down

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

KAPSCH TRAFFICCOM 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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