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Provision of dust risk profiling research across the strategic road network

National Highways Limited

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

06 Aug 2026 at 10:25

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

National Highways Limited intends to commission one supplier to produce a national dust risk profile for England’s strategic road network. This is a research consultancy service covering engagement with the supply chain, surveys, literature review and analysis of highway activities with potentially high dust exposure. The work is intended to guide priority health controls and address occupational health risks associated with tasks such as cutting, drilling, milling, scrabbling, hydrodemolition, concrete and stone demolition, mixing cementitious products, aggregate handling and potentially asbestos-related work. The buyer is the government-owned company responsible for operating, maintaining and improving the strategic road network. Delivery covers England, including the North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East and South West.

This procurement is at the planning stage and is currently a preliminary market engagement exercise under the Procurement Act 2023, rather than an invitation to tender. National Highways expects to issue a subsequent notice on 5 October 2026. Potential suppliers are asked to complete an online survey by 31 August 2026 to comment on whether the proposed requirement is reasonable and deliverable; this engagement will inform technical decisions, standards and potential procurement strategies. The intended contract is a single lot and single-supplier service, with an expected term from 4 January to 31 March 2027. Its estimated value is £180,000 excluding VAT, or £216,000 including VAT. The procurement is above the applicable threshold, and the lot is planned as suitable for SMEs and VCSEs.

The requirement will suit research consultancies and occupational health, industrial hygiene or environmental health specialists able to investigate dust exposure across a complex, nationally distributed highway supply chain. Relevant capability includes designing and carrying out stakeholder engagement and surveys, reviewing technical and scientific literature, analysing high-exposure construction and maintenance tasks, and translating evidence into practical health controls. Suppliers should understand dust hazards associated with silica, cementitious products, concrete, stone, aggregates and asbestos, together with the potential consequences including silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancer. Experience of highway construction, road maintenance, occupational exposure assessment, health-and-safety risk management or standards development would be well aligned with the stated requirement. The buyer has indicated that it is testing whether its expectations can be delivered by the market, so prospective suppliers should be ready to shape the specification through the planned engagement.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of dust risk profiling research across the strategic road network

Notice Description

National Highways is a government owned company responsible for operating, maintaining and improving the strategic road network in England. We are looking to secure the provision of a single supplier to guide priority health controls by producing a national dust risk profile through engagement, surveys, literature review and analysis of high-exposure highway tasks. Highways work involves many tasks that create dust including cutting, drilling, milling, scrabbling, hydrodemolition and demolishing of concrete and other stone products, mixing of cementitious products, handling of aggregates and potentially asbestos. Exposures to these dusts can cause lung diseases such as silicosis, COPD and cancers. The Supply Chain Safety Leadership Group (SCSLG - https://nationalhighways.co.uk/suppliers/health-safety-and-wellbeing/home-safe-and-well/supply-chain-leadership/) has identified dust exposure as one of the top four occupational health risks to address in its Significant Risk Thinking. We are now conducting pre-market engagement to test if our expectations can be delivered by the market or if adaptation is required.

Planning Information

Potential suppliers are asked to complete an online survey to confirm their interest and comment on whether National Highways' expectations for the requirement are reasonable. The survey can be found at https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/81z615esXZ. This notice is issued as part of a Preliminary Market Engagement exercise under the Procurement Act 2023. Participation does not constitute a commitment to procure or award any contract, nor does it provide any guarantee of involvement in future commercial opportunities. Information gathered may be used to inform technical decision-making, standards development and potential future procurement strategies.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06dd49
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/074538-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

73210000 - Research consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£180,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
6 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
5 Oct 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
4 Jan 2027 - 31 Mar 2027 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
National Highways Limited
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BIRMINGHAM
Postcode
B4 6GA
Postcode Area
Birmingham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG3 West Midlands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG31 Birmingham
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England)
Local Authority
Birmingham
Electoral Ward
Ladywood
Westminster Constituency
Birmingham Ladywood

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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