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Department for Transport Shared Research, Evaluation and Analysis

THE DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Tender

01 Oct 2026 at 12:23

UK4 - Tender Notice
PlanningUpdate

10 Aug 2026 at 10:04

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

07 Aug 2026 at 10:24

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

11 Jun 2026 at 16:18

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Transport is buying research, evaluation and analytical services to support transport policy and operational decisions across England. The work spans accessible and inclusive transport; walking, wheeling and cycling; buses, roads, freight, passenger transport and road safety; vehicle regulation and standards; borders; transport technology, data and AI; and the Lower Thames Crossing. Services may include evidence reviews, primary and secondary research, modelling and forecasting, monitoring and evaluation, economic appraisal, cost-benefit analysis and analytical quality assurance. Suppliers will produce work-specific outputs such as reports, datasets, models and technical materials. The services may be commissioned by analysts across four departmental divisions. Delivery is across the United Kingdom.

The Department invited offers through a competitive flexible procedure, using an open procedure. This is a single-lot procurement for a call-off arrangement under which up to three suppliers may be appointed; commissions are allocated in ranking order on a rolling basis, with follow-on work potentially returning to the original supplier. The enquiry deadline was 26 October 2026 at 12:00, and the bid deadline is 12 November 2026 at 12:00. The expected award decision date is 18 January 2027. The contract is scheduled to run from 15 February 2027 to 14 February 2031, with a maximum extension date of 28 February 2032; commissions may continue beyond the contract end if completed within seven years of starting. The stated maximum value is £7.5 million excluding VAT, or £9 million including VAT. Quality scores 70%, social value 10% and price 20%.

The requirement suits research and consultancy businesses with strong analytical capability across transport policy, social research, evaluation, behavioural science, economics, operational research, statistics or transport modelling. Suppliers must be able to design, deliver, peer review, quality-assure and communicate robust, policy-relevant analysis, following relevant government guidance including the Magenta Book, Green Book and AQuA Book. The buyer expects clear documentation of assumptions and limitations and practical recommendations. Delivery requires enough technical expertise, project management, resilience and capacity to manage multiple commissions of differing length and complexity concurrently. Bids are assessed on organisational delivery experience, staff and technical capability, mobilisation and delivery model, handling delivery challenges, quality assurance and scenario responses. SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises are considered suitable. Suppliers can combine expertise through consortia or subcontracting, with the lead supplier accountable for delivery and quality.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Department for Transport Shared Research, Evaluation and Analysis

Notice Description

Invitation to tender documnets can be accessed at the following link- https://dft.app.jaggaer.com/go/7987765301A0F7302D0B Suppliers not already registered on the Department for Transport's e-sourcing portal Jaggaer here- dft.app.jaggaer.com The Department for Transport (DfT) is procuring a shared research, evaluation and analysis call-off contract to provide flexible access to timely, high-quality research, monitoring, evaluation, economic analysis and related analytical support across a range of transport policy areas. The proposed contract is expected to support analytical requirements across four divisions, which cover a broad range of transport policy areas: Accessible and inclusive transport (particular focus on those with physical and mental health conditions and/or groups with different protected characteristics) Active travel (cycling, wheeling and walking) Buses, planning and housing Devolution of responsibility for transport in England, including devolution deals, place-based policy, and strategy for integrated transport Local highways maintenance Local Authority capability and capacity Passenger transport (light rail, taxis, private hire vehicles, community transport) Road Freight (including: roadworthiness and vehicle regulation; international freight; HGV driver skills, hours and working conditions; traffic commissioners and operator licencing) Multimodal Freight (including: modal shift; freight innovation funding; work to improve connectivity of data and insights across the freight network) Dangerous Goods Future Borders (including policies to improve traffic management in Kent) Borders Resilience and Response (managing disruption at borders and along the strategic road network) Road safety (including supporting road users, safer vehicles, post collision care, safer infrastructure, and enforcement) Motoring Agencies (DVSA, DVLA and VCA - including MOT and driver licensing) International Vehicle Standards Connected and Autonomous vehicles AI, data, and other emerging transport technologies Vehicle Infrastructure (e.g. charging) Strategic Roads (Strategic Road Network managed by National Highways) Traffic and Technology (including traffic management, parking, street works etc.) Micro-mobility, such as e-scooters, and other forms of transport innovation (e.g. pavement robots) Lower Thames Crossing These divisions are home to more than 80 analysts with expertise in social research, evaluation, behavioural science, economics, operational research, statistics, and transport modelling; any of whom could commission work through the contract during its lifetime. The proposed contract would replace and expand the remit of an existing call-off contract that commenced in March 2023. The requirement is for a call-off contract under which up to three suppliers may be appointed and individual commissions would be agreed as requirements arise. The maximum budget is PS7,500,000 excluding VAT, if three Suppliers are appointed, this will result in 3x contracts of equal PS2,500,000 value. The proposed contract term is 4 years. Commissions agreed before the contract end date may continue, provided each commission is completed within seven years of its start date. The proposed contract will cover a broad range of research, evaluation, economic analysis and related analytical services. This may include, but is not limited to: evidence reviews and synthesis; qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods primary research; secondary analysis of existing datasets; advanced quantitative analysis, modelling and forecasting; behavioural, user-centred and accessibility-focused research; monitoring and evaluation, including process, impact, outcome and value for money evaluation; cost-benefit analysis, economic appraisal and economic evaluation; and analytical quality assurance. Suppliers would be expected to demonstrate broad analytical capability and be able to design, deliver, peer review, quality assure and clearly communicate high-quality, policy-relevant analysis in line with relevant government guidance, including the Magenta Book, Green Book and AQuA Book. Across all work, suppliers will be expected to apply proportionate methods, document assumptions and limitations clearly, and translate findings into practical recommendations for policy, operational or funding decisions. Suppliers would be expected to provide sufficient technical expertise, capacity, resilience and project management capability to deliver multiple commissions concurrently, including short-term, medium-term and longer-term projects of varying complexity. Suppliers may deliver requirements through their own organisation, consortium arrangements, named subcontractors or other approved delivery partners. Due to the broad nature of the proposed requirements, the Department encourages suppliers to consider whether consortium, subcontracting or other partnership arrangements would help them provide the necessary breadth of expertise, capacity and resilience. Any such arrangements should include clear lines of responsibility, with the lead supplier retaining appropriate oversight and accountability for quality, timeliness, confidentiality, continuity and management of all work delivered under the contract. Outputs from the contract would be used to inform policy and operational decisions and to build the evidence base across a range of transport policy areas. Outputs may include, depending on the individual commission, reports, slide packs, spreadsheets, datasets, analytical code, models, evidence logs, technical annexes and other supporting materials. The DfT expects outputs to be robust, proportionate, clearly communicated, appropriately documented, quality assured and suitable for policy, analytical and, where relevant, public audiences. Individual commissions will have tailored milestones, deliverables and outputs.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Options: The Department reserves the right to increase the total contract value by up to a maximum of 50% of the original total contract value, dependent on the volume of work comissioned through the contract.

Planning Information

The DfT intends to conduct preliminary market engagement to help inform the proposed procurement strategy, contract structure and requirements. The objectives of this engagement are to: raise awareness of the proposed opportunity and anticipated analytical requirements; test market interest, capacity and capability to deliver the proposed range of services; seek views on whether the proposed scope, contract mechanism, commissioning approach and timetable are clear, proportionate and deliverable; understand any barriers to participation, including for SMEs, specialist suppliers, consortia and subcontracting arrangements; gather supplier feedback on how the Department can support fair, transparent and effective competition; and inform development of the final procurement documents, subject to internal approvals. The Department intends to hold a supplier engagement event on Tuesday 8 September 2026 from 13:00 to 14:00. The event will be held online via Microsoft Teams and will include a structured presentation followed by supplier Q&A. To support broad participation across the market, attendance at the event is limited to a maximum of two attendees per organisation. Please sign up to the webinar by following this link: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/c57b03ef-906e-471c-bdf4-4462ee3b0fd8@28b782fb-41e1-48ea-bfc3-ad7558ce7136?source=copyLinkLegacyShareEventDialog If you have any questions, please contact DFTc.Procurement@dft.gov.uk. Suppliers will be invited to submit questions during the event and may also be invited to provide written feedback afterwards. Where appropriate, questions and answers or common themes arising from the engagement may be shared with interested suppliers to support equal access to information. Participation in this preliminary market engagement is not a prerequisite for participating in any subsequent procurement. As part of this preliminary market engagement, the Department may seek supplier feedback on the clarity, proportionality and deliverability of the proposed requirements. This preliminary market engagement is for information-gathering purposes only and does not form part of a formal procurement process. The Department is not obliged to proceed with any procurement as a result of this notice or the engagement activity. Any future procurement activity will be advertised in line with applicable public procurement requirements. Participants are responsible for their own costs of taking part.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06b362
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/092804-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
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

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

CPV Codes

71620000 - Analysis services

73110000 - Research services

73300000 - Design and execution of research and development

79311400 - Economic research services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£7,500,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£7,500,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
1 Oct 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
12 Nov 20262 months to go
Future Notice Date
1 Oct 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
15 Feb 2027 - 14 Feb 2031 4-5 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

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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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