---
title: "Waterborne Freight Research"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-a4218e27-d072-4b16-93b0-7cc482242e71"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-a4218e27-d072-4b16-93b0-7cc482242e71"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-a4218e27-d072-4b16-93b0-7cc482242e71.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-a4218e27-d072-4b16-93b0-7cc482242e71.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "THE DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT"
published: "2026-10-22"
---

# Waterborne Freight Research

Buyer: THE DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-a4218e27-d072-4b16-93b0-7cc482242e71

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## Summary

The Department for Transport commissioned research into barriers, enablers and opportunities to increase the use of waterborne freight across the UK. The work is research services, including marine research, and is delivered in London. The study is intended to inform understanding of how freight transport by water could be used more widely. The Department for Transport is the buyer. This is a focused policy and transport research requirement rather than a procurement of freight operations, vessels or infrastructure works.

The procurement is complete and was awarded to ECORYS UK LIMITED through a selective call-off from a dynamic purchasing system. The award was made on 9 October 2026, for £183,484. The contract period runs from 7 October 2026 to 12 July 2027. The original estimated procurement value was £183,494, and tenders were due by 9 September 2026. The requirement was assessed as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises. The published information describes the research subject and procurement route but does not set out an evaluation formula or detailed eligibility requirements.

For research consultancies, this award demonstrates Department for Transport demand for applied evidence on freight policy and the potential to shift goods movement to waterways. A credible competitor for a similar requirement would need to design and deliver robust research into the barriers to adoption, the conditions that enable uptake, and the practical opportunities for expanding waterborne freight in the UK. Relevant strengths would include transport and freight-sector knowledge, marine research capability, policy analysis and the ability to turn findings into clear, decision-useful evidence for a national government client. The successful supplier was an SME, indicating that this focused research work can be delivered by a smaller business. The work is research rather than service operation or infrastructure delivery.

## Notice

Notice of an awarded contract to a supplier to undertake research into barriers, enablers, and opportunities to increase the use of waterborne freight in the UK

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/937e1d54-eae0-436b-90b1-282967fd14f9 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Dynamic |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Call-off from a dynamic purchasing system |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 22 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 9 Oct 2026 |
| Contract period | 7 Oct 2026 - 12 Jul 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £183,494 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £183,484 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | THE DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Postcode area | South West London |
| Postcode | SW1P 4DR |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West |
| ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London |
| Local authority | Westminster |
| Electoral ward | Vincent Square |
| Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster |
| Delivery location | TLI London |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | Ecorys UK Limited |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73110000 - Research services
- 73112000 - Marine research services

## Release History

- 22 Oct 2026 at 13:24 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/937e1d54-eae0-436b-90b1-282967fd14f9

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/937e1d54-eae0-436b-90b1-282967fd14f9
  22nd October 2026 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/d09237e5-a963-4f90-be13-d9ea7e17f45d
  n/a

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-a4218e27-d072-4b16-93b0-7cc482242e71. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-a4218e27-d072-4b16-93b0-7cc482242e71.json.