Notice Information
Notice Title
Department for Transport Shared Research, Evaluation and Analysis
Notice Description
The Department for Transport (DfT) is considering 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 current draft 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 current draft maximum budget is PS6,000,000 excluding VAT. The proposed contract term is February 2027 to February 2031, or until the budget is exhausted, whichever is sooner. Commissions agreed before the contract end date may continue, provided each commission is completed within seven years of its start date. The proposed contract is expected to 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 proposed 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 are expected to have tailored milestones, deliverables and outputs. Suppliers may be expected to provide sufficient documentation to enable the Department to understand, review, use and, where appropriate, update or reuse outputs in future. The DfT expects that any future contract will include requirements on the safe, transparent and proportionate use of AI, including generative AI, machine learning and AI-enabled tools used to support research, evaluation or analysis. Supplier views may be sought through preliminary market engagement on how AI can be used responsibly while managing data protection, security, ethics, transparency, bias and quality risks. The information provided in this notice is indicative and non-binding. The scope, value, timetable, procurement approach, contract structure and requirements may be refined following preliminary market engagement and internal approvals.
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/075573-2026
- Current Stage
- Planning
- All Stages
- Planning
Procurement Classification
- Notice Type
- UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
- Procurement Type
- Framework
- Procurement Category
- Services
- Procurement Method
- Not Specified
- 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
-
- CPV Codes
71620000 - Analysis services
73110000 - Research services
73300000 - Design and execution of research and development
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- £6,000,000 £1M-£10M
- Lots Value
- Not specified
- Awards Value
- Not specified
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 10 Aug 20262 weeks ago
- Submission Deadline
- Not specified
- Future Notice Date
- 1 Oct 20262 months to go
- Award Date
- Not specified
- Contract Period
- 1 Feb 2027 - 28 Feb 2031 4-5 years
- Recurrence
- Not specified
Notice Status
- Tender Status
- Planned
- Lots Status
- Planned
- Awards Status
- Not Specified
- Contracts Status
- Not Specified
Buyer & Supplier
Contracting Authority (Buyer)
- Main Buyer
- 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
-
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/075573-2026
10th August 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender -
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/075146-2026
7th August 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender -
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/055403-2026
11th June 2026 - Pipeline notice on Find a Tender
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
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.